13" Alloy wheel break upgrade kits

UKPhilTR7 · Postby **UKPhilTR7** » 09 Apr 2008 11:31

I am looking to do something with my front breaks on my TR7. I currently have the standard 13" alloy wheels on them which I would like to keep.
I have seen that in Robsport you can get vented disks and green stuff pads which are meant to improve stopping by 30%.
Has anyone else used anything to help the standard wheel and caliper setup on the Tr's stop better? I know that Princess calipers can be put on, but they are as rare as rocking horse stuff these days lol.

TR Tony · Postby **TR Tony** » 09 Apr 2008 15:48

There are other kits but not all fit with 13" wheels.

S&S sell a kit based on the Capri 2.8 brake set up with calipers, pads, hub adaptors & vented discs. I know Steve from S&S has posted on here in the past to say that this kit fits with 13" wheels. I actually have that kit fitted to my DHC but I have 15" wheels on that car so no problems with clearance. It works well - it's still a 2 pot caliper but bigger pad to disc area.

I've got the AP 4 pot calipers (like Princess) on my FHC, under 14" wheels, with Capri 2.8 vented discs, & this works really well. I have also heard of standard Princess calipers being used with TR8 discs (thicker than TR7 but non vented - saves fitting a spacer kit to the Princess caliper & of course the TR8 disc bolts straight on without a hub adaptor).

Those are the 2 main conversions, but others exist - depends how much you want to spend really. If you really want to stick with the 13" wheels then check with S&S about their kit to make sure it fits.

Tony

1981 2L FHC Cavalry Blue - very original & not rusty!
1980 3.5L V8 DHC Regency Red - on the road again.

bmcecosse · Postby **bmcecosse** » 09 Apr 2008 21:41

I find my standard brakes are fine - make sure your servo is working and everything in good condition. Green stuff pads are supposedly better - but i've had no problems with new ordinary pads. They are wearing down quickly - but they are dead cheap to replace (same pad as Mini/1100/Spridget etc) and keeping the discs nice and shiny.

Rayjones · Postby **Rayjones** » 09 Apr 2008 22:11

You may need spacers with the S & S vented kit, for use with 13" wheels, I am running their upgraded brake kit and upgraded master cylinder with original factory alloys and spacers. The brakes were much better, even before the upgraded master cylinder was fitted.
The spacers are only a few mil. thick, and I don't think they are always needed!

Ray

1980 UK BRG 2L DHC

Peter Nuss · Postby **Peter Nuss** » 10 Apr 2008 00:07

I have used Capri II calipers with TR8 rotors for a simply R&R upgrade. I used TR6 kelvar pads with these parts and it worked great with TR8 wheels

For a little more effort, I've used Volvo 242 calipers with escort vented rotors, a special adaptor plate to mount the rotors to the hub and stock Volvo pads. I did have to grind off just a tiny bit of the caliper to get them to fit the TR8 wheels

And of course you could use TR8 calipers and rotors, short of that I have no experience with other brakes fitting inside those wheels. But, I'm always open for more practical applications.

TR8

black_1980_tr7 · Postby **black_1980_tr7** » 10 Apr 2008 00:58

On my TR7 I'm using Moss 586-610 Cross Drilled and Slotted Rotors on the of the car with EBD ceramic DP3127C "red stuff" brake pads. The car still has the original OE calipers. I don't road race my car, but for general city and highway driving I'm happy with their performance.

[:p]

Mikey · Postby **Mikey** » 10 Apr 2008 02:08

I did this exact upgrade last summer and have been very pleased with the results. I too run with the stock alloy wheels. After the initial run-in period of 200-300 kms I was very impressed with the improvment. I now have confidence in my ability to stop in an emergency. I would say probably the best upgrade for the least money you can do with the stock brakes.

UKPhilTR7 · Postby **UKPhilTR7** » 10 Apr 2008 07:51

This has given me a few things to think about. The first thing may be to get new green stuff pads and see how that goes, then get the new disks.

busheytrader · Postby **busheytrader** » 10 Apr 2008 16:13

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Rayjones

You may need spacers with the S & S vented kit, for use with 13" wheels, I am running their upgraded brake kit and upgraded master cylinder with original factory alloys and spacers. The brakes were much better, even before the upgraded master cylinder was fitted.
The spacers are only a few mil. thick, and I don't think they are always needed!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I ran the S & S vented Capri brakes for several years inside my 13" steel wheels. Not only were thin spacers needed but also a little bit of fettling on the callipers to clear the wheels. Nothing major mind and it brought much needed extra confidence to the brakes.

Now I'm running the upgraded master cylinder / servo and braided hoses. What a transformation!

TR7 V8 DHC Jaguar Solent Blue. 9.35cr Range Rover V8, Holley 390cfm, JWR Dual Port, 214 Cam, Lumention, Tubular Manifolds, Single Pipe Exh, 3.08 Rear, 200lb Spax & Solid Bushes, Anti- Dive, Granada Vented Discs & Calipers, 4 Speed Rear Cylinders, Uprated Master Cylinder & Servo, AllyCat 5 Spokes. No Door Stickers.

Rayjones · Postby **Rayjones** » 10 Apr 2008 20:34

My upgraded brakes probably saved the life of a stupid kid of about 7 years old (Or should that be stupid Parents!) who shot across the road from between parked cars in front of me on a mini motorbike.
Boy was I glad I'd spent the money on those brakes!

Ray

1980 UK BRG 2L DHC

bmcecosse · Postby **bmcecosse** » 11 Apr 2008 19:18

Standard brakes should lock the front wheels in an emergency - they just won't do it over and over again without cooling down between times. If they don't lock the wheels - then something is very wrong and an overhaul is required.

Rayjones · Postby **Rayjones** » 11 Apr 2008 22:45

I could lock the wheels on the standard brakes in the dry, took a lot of pedal pressure though. Problem is that you get used to modern brakes being so good! I've had other cars in the eighties and nineties that I thought were a bit underbraked at the time, especially when the boot was loaded up to the top with work stuff, parts, tools, manuals etc. I remember a Mk II drum braked Ford Escort being especially bad!

Ray

1980 UK BRG 2L DHC

Henk · Postby **Henk** » 12 Apr 2008 00:16

I have standard brakes, only replaced the disks through drilled and grooved with green stuff pads.
I can now easily block the wheels in a emergency stop.
Why should I make further changes ? I will fit only braided hoses yet.
That's good enough for me for normal street use.

Henk

1980 TR7 US Convertible
1978 Mini Clubman Estate

UKPhilTR7 · Postby **UKPhilTR7** » 12 Apr 2008 09:42

New disks and green stuff pads is the way for me then at the moment. See how they go and take it from there. I have fitted the new braided hoses. I will only be using the car for normal road use so from what you are saying this should be good enough. If not I may look at the servo next.
Does anyone know any good places that you can go to and get the new disks and pads of the shelf? Are the specifically TR7 disks or can another make be used?

Odd · Postby **Odd** » 12 Apr 2008 10:00

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> Does anyone know any good places that you can go to and get the new disks and pads of the shelf? <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Rimmers, S&S, Robsport, TSI, Woody's... There's lots of places to choose from. Pick the one you prefer...

Anonymous

13" Alloy wheel break upgrade kits

13" Alloy wheel break upgrade kits

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