Brake up-grade for under £100
 

We all know that most Sammio builds use the original engines so a brake up-grade is really not needed but, some times (like with my BMW conversion) better brakes are needed.

Rimmer Bros and Canley Classics do a bolt-on up-grade for between £400 and £600 way out of my budget :icon_frown:
You can also fit the GT6, Vitesse type 16 calipers but this requires changing the whole front suspension.

However, I recently started to rebuild a front strut when I had problem fitting the brake calliper, for some reason it just wouldn't fit :eusa_wall:
After much swearing and throwing of tools I realized it was the wrong calliper, I'd picked up a ford type 16 calliper by mistake :doh:

This mistake stuck in my mind as it was a bigger type 16 calliper and the fit was very close.:eusa_think:

Today I again tried to fit the same type 16 calliper to a triumph hub.
After 20 min I had it bolted in place with the wheel spinning free :smile:

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/...psvddj5nfr.jpg

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/...psehrz1vms.jpg

I had to grind off the flange on the hub. I simply span the hub with the grinder resting against it.

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/...pslh88lbji.jpg

And a little off the inner edge of the calliper.

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8uf7ft5m.jpg

The fit is very tight but everything clears and the hub spins free.

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/...psiuca37xv.jpg

I also had to put a 2mm spacer between the two mounts this added the clearance and helped placed the disc in the centre of the calliper

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/...psluwhquxs.jpg

There will be some effort required to sort out the brake pipes but I am going to use original Ford flexi hoses and change the brake pipe fitting to suit.
But, all-in-all it's been a very rewarding day.

Cost , Calliper's, second hand (e-bay) £30. New £95
Drilled and grooved disc's (e-bay) £45
Disc pads £15
Disc pads fitting kit £10
Total £100

The drilled and grooved disc are not need but I going to fit them anyway :nod:

Nice upgrade, well worth having decent brakes! I have cross-drilled discs and an aftermarket servo on mine and I have a lot of confidence in their stopping power. The only limit is tyre grip, which is also really good with the Uniroyal Rain Experts I have fitted.

Whilst thinking about future projects and engine transplants into the Herald chassis I've often looked wistfully at the MGF front and rear discs and calipers and wondered...

It just so happens there is a accident damaged MGF in our yard!!
But I was thinking of going the other way and "adjusting" one of my bodies to fit :icon_cool:

I have now successfully completed this brake up-grade on my BMW powered Sammio Spyder, converting standard Triumph Herald brake callipers to Ford Cortina/Capri/Escort type 16 callipers.

There is a noticeable difference with the component in this up-grade.

The disc are much thicker.
http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/...psevb7y94n.jpg

The pads are bigger.
http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/...psuaisln6a.jpg

And of course the callipers are bigger.
http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/...pszdwufjpg.jpg
In fact the calliper pistons on the type 16 are 50mmm compared with 40mm on the standard calliper.

It took about 3 hours (two hours for the first one and an hour for the second one) to remove the old discs and calliper, fit the new discs, grind down the hubs and bottom edge of the calliper to give clearance.
The brake flexi pipe were made-up using braided stainless steel line with a suitable metric fitting one end and a suitable imperial fitting the other end.

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8rnfucjz.jpg

NOTE- because there is a spacer fitted between the calliper and the mounting plate, I would also recommend fitting longer disc mounting bolts
.
I'll road test them over the weekend but I am expecting a considerable improvement. :smokin:

All-in-all it looks good and helps keep the insurance companies happy. :icon_smile: