Discussion
Hi all
I'm looking for options regarding brake upgrades. I've been through the search engine and there are lots of threads, but nothing definitive.
I have a Chimaera 400 1995 on standard 15" front wheels. Front brakes are 240mm with 58mm depth. As the discs are quite corroded in the venting area I want to change them, and if I'm going to do that I may as well upgrade them sensibly as well (including pads/brake fluid etc.).
As I understand it, I can:
- go to 260mm with no change of calipers - are the pads different?
- go to 283mm with Cosworth calipers - does the carrier have to be changed? Which Cosworth?
- go to 300 (just) but need special calipers - who does these?
On top of this is grooves/dimples/drilled, probably grooved/dimpled if any - heard bad things about drilled.
To be honest (and I hope none of the Griffillas from the "chest hair side" are reading this) I don't really thrash it but I do want better brakes than currently, so not sure that 300s are justified. I also don't want to spend much more than £200 on the setup
So, have I read things right, and is it worth doing or should I look to spend a lot more to get any visible change?
I'm looking for options regarding brake upgrades. I've been through the search engine and there are lots of threads, but nothing definitive.
I have a Chimaera 400 1995 on standard 15" front wheels. Front brakes are 240mm with 58mm depth. As the discs are quite corroded in the venting area I want to change them, and if I'm going to do that I may as well upgrade them sensibly as well (including pads/brake fluid etc.).
As I understand it, I can:
- go to 260mm with no change of calipers - are the pads different?
- go to 283mm with Cosworth calipers - does the carrier have to be changed? Which Cosworth?
- go to 300 (just) but need special calipers - who does these?
On top of this is grooves/dimples/drilled, probably grooved/dimpled if any - heard bad things about drilled.
To be honest (and I hope none of the Griffillas from the "chest hair side" are reading this) I don't really thrash it but I do want better brakes than currently, so not sure that 300s are justified. I also don't want to spend much more than £200 on the setup
So, have I read things right, and is it worth doing or should I look to spend a lot more to get any visible change?
Konrod,
I am in a similar predicament and have posted similar questions with not much response.
The cheapest 285mm upgrade with 4 pot calipers as a kit (incl hoses, pads, discs & calipers) is the Hi-Spec kit advertised on all the TVR sites for approx £565 to £580 plus VAT, everything else new as a kit like Wilwood is extremely expensive.
I have not found a whole kit cheaper anywhere and by the time you add VAT this kit is still expensive.
From what I understand from the threads, the Cosworth items retro fit mention are Granada items.
Let me know if you see a 4 pot all inclusive kit cheaper.
Mr Nordic
I am in a similar predicament and have posted similar questions with not much response.
The cheapest 285mm upgrade with 4 pot calipers as a kit (incl hoses, pads, discs & calipers) is the Hi-Spec kit advertised on all the TVR sites for approx £565 to £580 plus VAT, everything else new as a kit like Wilwood is extremely expensive.
I have not found a whole kit cheaper anywhere and by the time you add VAT this kit is still expensive.
From what I understand from the threads, the Cosworth items retro fit mention are Granada items.
Let me know if you see a 4 pot all inclusive kit cheaper.
Mr Nordic
As an intermediate step you can space the existing callipers out using an adapter bracket, that avoids the cost of the new callipers so you just buy the bell/rotor and mounting bracket. Assuming that you stick with roughly the standard piston area (I suggest you do) I think you'll find that 285mm is a pretty good size, a very useful increase in heat dissipation and moves the bias forwards correcting what IMO is an excessive rear bias in the standard setup.
I did the Granda upgrade a while ago - well worth it IMHO - see previous post http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
GreenV8S said:
As an intermediate step you can space the existing callipers out using an adapter bracket, that avoids the cost of the new callipers so you just buy the bell/rotor and mounting bracket. Assuming that you stick with roughly the standard piston area (I suggest you do) I think you'll find that 285mm is a pretty good size, a very useful increase in heat dissipation and moves the bias forwards correcting what IMO is an excessive rear bias in the standard setup.
I took the route GreenV8S suggests, and for those very reasons. I did it as a final step rather than an intermediate one however. There's nothing wrong with the OE callipers apart from being a little on the heavy side and perhaps not supporting as many pistons as the latest creations. They certainly haul my Griff down quickly enough. Not so keen on the 'Green Stuff' though.
GreenV8S said:
As an intermediate step you can space the existing callipers out using an adapter bracket, that avoids the cost of the new callipers so you just buy the bell/rotor and mounting bracket. Assuming that you stick with roughly the standard piston area (I suggest you do) I think you'll find that 285mm is a pretty good size, a very useful increase in heat dissipation and moves the bias forwards correcting what IMO is an excessive rear bias in the standard setup.
Shame the purveyors of this upgrade don't seem to take any calls lately... Alternative sources (just for the brackets if needs be, 283 mm Sierra Cosworth discs can be procured locally...)?Konrod said:
Thanks for the replies. Anyone know where we can get the brackets that allow the use of the 283mm disks with standard calipers?
Tower View Racing, but apparently they're moving and they haven't picked up the phone for well over a month now (after intial success)...Konrod said:
Also, if I go to 260mm discs, are the pads/calipers different?
Yes, different callipers and pad sizes.240 mm http://www.elcome.co.uk/fmecat/fsp/carspecs.asp?pn...
260 mm http://www.elcome.co.uk/fmecat/fsp/carspecs.asp?pn...
283 mm upgrade using Cosworth 4x4 callipers http://www.elcome.co.uk/fmecat/fsp/carspecs.asp?pn...
Cheapest 4 pots seem to be the works motorport kit 283mm conversion which includes spacers etc.
Has anyone fitted these?
http://www.spannerfodder.com/partstore.php
Has anyone fitted these?
http://www.spannerfodder.com/partstore.php
Edited by IainG on Sunday 27th January 13:23
The adapters are very simple and any decent aftermarket brake component manufacturer would have no trouble making them. I get my parts from BG development, they aren't the cheapest but they do what they say they'll do when they say they'll do it, unlike some of their competitors (good job I'm not bitter!). I provide drawings for mine to be certain I get what I want, but I expect that if you told them what uprights you're using they will be able to design them themselves. You may also find that there are standard adapter plates available from places like Rally Design since these Sierra uprights are quite common.
Hi Tim
Easy really, but you have to remove the calipers first, and then the disks just pull off the studs.
To remove the entire caliper, remove the two bolts (15mm??) at the back of the caliper that attach the caliper to the upright - the caliper will then lift away (be careful to support it, don't hang it on the brake pipe). Disk should then pull off (or there may be a small hex key headed bolt between two of the wheel studs to remove first).
Refitting is the reverse, but you will need to return the caliper piston and slider to their most open position if the disc is new.
HTH.
J
Easy really, but you have to remove the calipers first, and then the disks just pull off the studs.
To remove the entire caliper, remove the two bolts (15mm??) at the back of the caliper that attach the caliper to the upright - the caliper will then lift away (be careful to support it, don't hang it on the brake pipe). Disk should then pull off (or there may be a small hex key headed bolt between two of the wheel studs to remove first).
Refitting is the reverse, but you will need to return the caliper piston and slider to their most open position if the disc is new.
HTH.
J
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