350i Front Brakes

[John042]

Hi just received what I thought would be a fitting kit, ie springs/pins for my 1988 350i. Unfortunately they don't fit (To Small) although were advertised for an Austin Princess. My front calipers fitted from manufacture are 4 x pot with ventilated discs, about 275mm? So what are they? Any help appreciated as to where I can get a fitting kit as the springs are rusted through. Thanks J C.
PS, just looked at the original sales invoice dated 02/11/88 to see any clues as to the type of brakes fitted but just states "4 Pot Brakes, Met Paint, Alarm but more interestingly 225 BHP Engine?? Was this an option? over the standard one? I thought they were all standard Rover units. J C.

[John042]

Hi Mark, pics of the calipers you mean? I'll post up tomorrow. I'm going to phone Racetech tomorrow to see if they can help. Any thoughts on the engine?

[John042]

Thanks Keith, I would have never have known except for the original bill of sale. I thought all 350i's had the standard Rover Vitess engine? Assuming of course the original engine is still fitted? Now it's running it does sound nice. What other surprises does this car have!

[John042]

Thanks Moose v8, will post up a picture tomorrow evening of the caliper, pins and springs. Cheers John C.

[John042]

Thanks Mark, must have had attention to the ports as well? Who knows with TVR. Did they have Dynos in 1988? Still puzzling over the type of front calipers. Racetech also thought that Austin Princess ones were fitted but said the'd do a bit more investigation. I'll post up some pics tonight. J C

[John042]

Nice to know either way Mark. Here's some pics of the front brake caliper and pin/spring. The securing pin is about 3.75" (9mm) long.









Hope these help. Racetech came back with a Jaguar number but was for the rear calipers. Thanks for any thoughts. J C.

[John042]

Thanks Moose V8. Those were the items I bought Mark. Looked right but way to small to fit, the springs were rubbing on the disc and no way were the pins long enough. The pins that Moose V8 found on flee bay are just about right at 90mm, could be a little longer though.

[John042]

Thanks Mark I've sent a message to the company to see what they can supply. I can probably source the securing pins but the pad locating springs could be a problem. Thaanks John C.

[John042]

Thanks Glen, Steve & Mark. Wonder how they managed to find the extra horses? Still trying to identify the calipers and therefore the fitting kit. Fitted some L/R ones, extra long split pins but the springs are still really too small and could slide, with use, on the locating pins thereby rubbing on the disc. Seems OK at the moment but would prefer the right springs.

[John042]

Hi again , festive greetings. This is the front caliper pad spring I'm trying to identify. As you can see really beyond useful life. It measures 2.5" (6mm) long, 1.25" (3mm) wide. So far various ideas Austin Princess/L/R have proved unsuccessful. Any ideas please?

[John042]

Many thanks Glen, ordered. I reckon the ones I previosly bought were for non vented discs. I've used Big Red before and found them great with odd fittments. Cheers J C.

[John042]

Thanks Steve, bu**er I'll be collecting fitting kits! Hopefully what turns up fits. Still they'd look OK on the Christmas tree? J C.

[John042]

Hi just an update to the saga of obtaining a fitting kit for my front vented discs/calipers. After two attempt Big Red came up with the correct fitting. Apparently brought in for a customer who refurbs' MGRV8's. It appears my calipers have a 7mm distance piece to fit over the vented discs. What they are?? Fitted when the car was built in 1988. So thanks for the post recommending "Big Red" who took the time to search his stock to identify the items.

[John042]

Hi Steve. Unfortunately the packet only has a Big Red part number. I asked if they could provide the fittment details but they said they'd been bought in for a customer. I'm going to contact Big Red tomorrow to see if I can get further details. J C

[John042]

Hi again Steve. Big Red bought the vented disc pad kits in from another supplier so can't verify the original fitting. However their part number is BRH2741 and they have stock. J C.

[John042]

Glad the info helped. Incidentally Tony at "Big Red" did inform me that the person who ordered them for a MGRV8 had to grind a bit off to fit into his caliper but on mine, no problem. Which raises the question of what did TVR fit whilst building my car? The calipers, 4 x pot Austin Princess, discs who knows? TVR's don't you love them? Cheers John C.

[John042]

Hi Mark, Happy New Wedge/Year. I have the original bill of sale for my 1988 350i. On it was extras, ie Alarm, Up Rated Engine and brakes. Therefore fitted on build? The calipers are definitely 4 x pot and the discs vented. That's where the fun started in myself jumping to the wrong conclusion that it was all Austin Princess parts. The caliper has a 7mm distance piece fitted obviously to fit over the discs. That's when Big Red got involved eventually sourcing a fitting kit. One post did mention Ford Granada Estate? J C.

[John042]

Thanks Mark, that makes some sense in that it was a factory fit not a previous owners upgrade. Don't know about the drive shafts but I've replaced the rear discs/calipers with XJ6/XJS items from British Car Parts. What a pain of a job. Not sure about the drive shafts Mark, at least these have grease nipples all except for one UJ. Unlike my 280i. With the correct front caliper fitting kit there's a light at the end of the tunnel.

[John042]

So to rewind my car has the standard rear solid discs (XJ6/XJS) at the back? The front, AP vented discs with Princess 4 x pot calipers with a distance piece? J C.

[John042]

Thanks Keith, nice to identify parts for the future. J C.