Discs

[Hammy Hamster]

Hi,

My front discs are getting a bit on the thin side and I am considering replacing them. Can anyone advise or suggest what I should go for? Originals or something new? Is it an easy job to do? rough estimates on costs?

Any advise will be gratefully received and faithfully applied.


Many thanks

Grahame

[Fly Fifer]

I'll be watching this thread carefully as I'm in the same boat.

Someone thought Ford Granada discs were what was used but no doubt you're looking for the best performing.

>> Edited by Fly Fifer on Tuesday 4th May 16:22

[Qube]

Seems like all Chimaeras are fitted with ford discs, these should be cheap to source standard or uprated, I fitted the front and rear ford originals (mkIII Escort 1.6 Front ventilated and Grananda solid Rears)to my 95' Chimaera before i sold it, cost around £32 for a pair of front ventilated discs, pads vary depends on manufacturer, these are ford again, I think theres only two different types to be had for the fronts and rears ,you've may have got vented dics to the rear instead of solids, as for fitting , piece of cake no special tools required probably take about 45 mins per side.

[shpub]

Fly Fifer said:

I'll be watching this thread carefully as I'm in the same boat. Someone thought Ford Granada discs were what was used but no doubt you're looking for the best performing. >> Edited by Fly Fifer on Tuesday 4th May 16:22

Ford Granada have 5 studs... Chimps have 4 studs....They don't fit unless you get them redrilled.

What ever you get make sure they match the originals as they have changed over the yeras. Relatively eay to change once you have removed the callipers. Worth fitting new pads and they will need bedding in. Covered in gory detail in the bible.

[Fly Fifer]

Thanks,

Guess with any part it's best to remove it first and take it to the supplier.

Took the long way to work this morning for a run and it really is beginning to shudder. Track night on 11th so look's like my weekend is taken up - it'll take me more than 45min a side.

Anyone know where I might get a "bible" at short notice?

[shpub]

Try www.tvrcc.com. Order online or give them a call.

[Jonnyb]

Now you know you want larger disks (drilled and vented of course) along with those red four pot calipers you have been promising yourself

[Nano2nd]

i think 45 minutes is conservative mate

i can change the one on my sierra in about 20 minutes!

crack all 8 wheel nuts
jack car up
remove wheels
undo the caliper bolts 2 per side
move calipers outta the way
club discs with hammer to loosen
pull them off

reverse procedure with new discs

if your fitting pads as well you may need a caliper spreader..

[crimsonchim]

Nano2nd said:

i think 45 minutes is conservative mate i can change the one on my sierra in about 20 minutes! crack all 8 wheel nuts jack car up remove wheels undo the caliper bolts 2 per side move calipers outta the way club discs with hammer to loosen

Some of 'em can take quite a bit of clubbing!

Nano2nd said:

pull them off reverse procedure with new discs if your fitting pads as well you may need a caliper spreader..

You really should put new pads on when replacing discs.
Fronts are straight forward (G clamp will do it), rears need to be screwed in IIRC due to the handbrake adjustment.

You should be able to do a whole set in an evening.

Cheers

Andy

[Fly Fifer]

Jonnyb said:

Now you know you want larger disks (drilled and vented of course) along with those red four pot calipers you have been promising yourself

Aye, I'm going for that

Thanks to everyone for the advice - by the way.

[lateconvert]

I changed mine for Tarox drilled and grooved discs (same size) together with Mintex pads and braided hoses. Big difference and cheap.

[verysideways]

lateconvert:

where from? how much?

thank you....

VS

[Hammy Hamster]

Thanks to you all for excellent advice.

Hammy Hamster

[Qube]

verysideways said:

lateconvert: where from? how much? thank you.... VS

Try this site www.motorsportworld.co.uk , Online Shop EBC.

[taylormj4]

Funnily enough, I've just bought discs and pads today.
Standard sizes but with green stuff pads, £188 pounds including VAT, from my local motor shop.
These are plenty strong enough for normal driving with a bit of enthusiastics now and again. If you plant the brake with the standard set up you can lock the tyres up easily, so why put stronger brakes on - unless you're thinking of track days or fitting a tow bar to pull a huge trailer!
Matt

[lateconvert]

Verysideways-
I had them done at Castlesport near Gatwick. From memory it was £230 both sides including fitting (as I'm getting lazy now). Components are readily available. Had Mintex 1144's which are my personal favourites, including (mildish) trackdays.

[Kenny chim 4]

taylormj4 said:

Funnily enough, I've just bought discs and pads today. Standard sizes but with green stuff pads, £188 pounds including VAT, from my local motor shop.

Just found this thread. I too bought new pads and discs today- for the rear hubs.

A week or so ago, I had a juddering when braking which became a grinding last weekend. I was told at last service that the front pads had "a couple of thousand miles left" and, as the 'shudder' seemed to eminate from the front nearside, a mechanic mate and I changed the front pads last night.

We were surprised to see that those pads still had a fair bit of life in them but we replaced them anyway with Fedoros (No. FDB206)- and the discs were in good condition.

I asked him to have a look at the rear assembly and, using a dentist's mirror and a pin torch- through a spoke- he found that the inner side of the nearside disc was quite badly grooved in the middle because the pad on that side has worn to a metal-to-metal contact!

Sooo.. (sorry for long post!), I'm going to spend Saturday fitting the bits I bought today- which are two 4 stud, solid (Sierra) discs; four rear Fedoro pads (Sierra/late Grenada); a piston wind-back tool (Franklin) and some new copper grease & brake cleaner- Oh, and a bubble syringe to remove some brake fluid from the reservoir prior to winding back the pistons.

Total cost- £94.

erm, I'll also have Mr. Heath's excellent 'walkthrough' of this proceedure to hand, a-la Bible Vol 2, just in case..