Real Brakes for 2.5pi’s

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  • #43647
    britishcarfreak
    Keymaster

    A friend of mine has produced a few brake upgrades but is always hiding the exact details as he’s a racer and doesn’t want anyone else to have his edge.

    I know this much. BMW vented rotors are pretty cheap and can be made to fit. He also uses new holden commodore calipers. With ebc greenstuff drum shoes and the bmw / holden fronts he says he can lock up all four wheels on tarmac.

    I’ve seen material on the web about upgrading to toyota (perhaps hilux) calipers with ease.

    I’d like to get moving on a datsun LSD / half shaft setup but don’t have much time (i.e. my spitfire project ……..)

    #43648
    sjm
    Member

    I understand your friends situation, but i was involved in ralling during the group G days, where everyone didn’t have to worry about rules and regulations. I was running a well sorted Datsun 1600, as we all were then, and as a result eveyone would talk openly about the modifications that they had done to their cars.

    I’ve been out of the sport for 15 years, and old habits die hard. I have had my 2.5pi mk1 since 1989, but unfortunately its been of the road since late 1992 (long story), but i’ve had a lot of time to think about the things i would like to do, ie brakes, diff plus a few other things. Fortunately i now have the space again to do some work on the car and get it back on the road, and expect the car to be at my new place next week.

    I will continue to look into the things i have talked about so far, and will post anything that is helpful on these matters. I can’t see any point in holding the information and hope that other Triumph drivers may benifit as a result, that way we can all be more comptitive.

    I’ll have to check out the information you have given. My knowledge from Datsuns these days, is that HiLux and Volvo 4 pot calipers are the go. On my Datsun I had Commadore (vb,vc,vh) calipers with machined to 260mm VG Valiant rotors (Centura’s were possible also as they had less offset, but were had to find then). This was as big as you could get inside a 13″ mag wheel. They were the same front and rear, with a tandem 7/8″ master cylinder and rear brake bias, and worked well using just standard Metal King pads from Kmart, and only faded 2-3 times a season usually on the same stages, especially towards the end of the extremely fast Watagan Forest Rd, near Wyong NSW. Those that may have done this stage will know the punishment your brakes take coming down of the mountian (oops, having a flash back).

    I still have some of all these rotors and calipers, plus later BIG Commadore (current model) calipers. They are so big, and foul on suspension and the mounting holes don’t match up. It was different on the Datsun as the radius rod went forward, but the calipers, which bolted straight on, still fouled the steering arms. We would just swap the struts around so the caliper was at the front, and they just cleared. However the Triumph has the steering rack in the way. Very frustrating, but I’ll keep looking and trying!!!

    I’ve just got some information rgarding caliper mount measurements for various calipers and will sort it out shortly, plus once the car is here i can start checking things out properly. I’m off to the wreckers again with my tape measure and camera, keep you posted.

    Cheers Stephen

    #43645
    sjm
    Member
    #43646
    sjm
    Member

    I tried to get some feed back on the old forum on this subject, but no one seemed to know anything. This can’t be so, all I would like to know is how do you fit serious brakes to the front of a 2.5pi. Something in the order of 260mm ventilated, with calipers to suit. I’ve got some ideas but would love some tips.

    I saw some on a 2500 at the Sydney show at Gladsville, and took some photos, but no one knew that much except that they were a kit made by someone and were not cheep. I can machine and build them myself. I did with the 4 wheel vetilated set-up I had on my group G 1600 Datsun rally car years ago. People have told me Volvo calipers are the go, but the caliper mount set up on the 2500’s is such a pain and it looks like there could be clearance issues.

    Can anyone shine some light on the subject, and once that’s sorted I can start looking at the possibility of Nissan R180-R200 LSdiffs in the 2500’s which could then connect to those Nissan half shafts everyone has been using for years, which could then connect to modified Nissan stub alxes in billet housings int the Triumph “A” arms, which would could at least have a 9″ Nissan brake backing plate and Z aluminium drum, so the bloody hand brake will work! I have half sorted a solid disc set-up for the rear, but that’s another story!

    You all should at some stage climb under a Datsun 1600 and a 240/260Z (later Z’s were different) and have a good look. I reckon Triumph are owed a royality from Nissan as its obvious were they got the starting point for their 1600 rear suspension design, and the same goes for the front of a 240/260Z. Its time we steal back some ideas!

    Just some ideas, any thoughts/feedback

    Cheers all,
    Stephen.

    #43649
    britishcarfreak
    Keymaster

    I reckon Andy Thompson from WA could answer this one.

    #43652
    britishcarfreak
    Keymaster

    I know this is for a tr6 but maybe this info will help:

    [url:1bq4hoch]http://www.turbo-tr6.info/tr6_brake_install.html[/url:1bq4hoch]

    #43650
    sjm
    Member

    I agree with you there, as looking at the photos of his car on his page here, you can clearly see that he has vented front disc brakes. He states they are Volvo calipers but i measured these yesterday at the wreckers and the mounting holes are at 3″ centre to centre. I dug out an old Mk 1 2000 caliper i have and it measures 3.25″ centre-centre. All the Commadore calipers are also 3″ mounts, and Hi Lux are 3.5″. Seems Triumph has an unusual size. I checked out AP brakes, (http://www.apracing.com/car/index.htm) and they had no listings for calipers at 3.25″ and couldn’t find any sizes at Brembo or Willwood.

    Can anyone tell me if the calipers on a Stag are the type that split down the centre or not as they could possibly have a spacer insertrd. Also, does anyone know what diameter a Stag brake disc is, as the DBA Aust catalogue i have has no listing for Stags. Would also like the same for TR4/5/6.

    Many years ago when Colin Bond built his TR7 V8 rally car, he ripped out the Triumph front suspension and replaced it with Ford Escort Work Cup struts and fast ratio steering rack, as he “just had some laying around” following the withdrawl of Ford Aust from rallying in the early 80’s. I remember checking it out in his workshop and his comment was that it was pretty straigh forward. The different stud pattern was then overcome by fitting one of his special Escort diffs, which had a Detroit locker centre and were indestructable.

    Has anyone heard of complete strut changes, i know it sound pretty major, but its something else i will be looking at, as it could be an option.

    I see there have been a few people checking out this suject. Join in, the smallest piece of a jig saw sometimes makes the ultimate picture clear.

    Cheers, Stephen

    #43651
    andythompson
    Member

    My current calipers are definitely Volvo 240. They are a Lockheed Part No. and also fitted UK Austin Princesses/Ambassadors (yuk). No redrilling was required. The discs are Toyota van… forget which, they are only 9.5 inches. They needed a custom made hub adaptor. They are significantly better than standard (whatever Chris Witor says) due to better and bigger pads + good ventilation.

    I have now purchased a Chris Witor Wilwood caliper conversion kit and am selling my old set up to a friend.

    The discs he offers are 265mm (10.6 inches) and are off a UK market Renault and fit the hub with only drilling required. The calipers are a significant weight reduction. They do however need a adaptor bracket which is the main reason I went for the kit. All the hard work has been done… ie finding the disc and CNC machining the adaptor

    Stag discs are 10.6 inch by 0.5″

    Chris Witor’s conversion is listed below

    [url:2rw27mxt]http://www.chriswitor.com/Chris_Witor_Budget_Vented_Brakes.pdf[/url:2rw27mxt]

    #43653
    andrew-avis
    Participant

    I work for Greg Tunstall Mechanical there are several upgrades available speak to him

    #43654
    britishcarfreak
    Keymaster

    hi avis, can you summarise the components that greg is using? – feel free to do an advertising pitch here for him. i know ages ago he was looking at a rear disc conversion too – did anything happen with that?

    #43655
    andythompson
    Member

    I must apologise… I took off my old Volvo calipers and they have been milled out , plugged and redrilled to Triumph spacing….

    #43656
    britishcarfreak
    Keymaster

    Can you do a special interest project on the site beside your car listing and post some pictures for us.

    Thanks so much for checking this out for us.

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