Just to start another thread on this, I am also thinking about some lighter brakes than my Cortina M16's (which need full recon anyway) and I am just wondering about piston areas.

I see HiSpec Motorsport do a direct M16 fitting two piston ultralight caliper. This has pistons around 4mm(I think) smaller than the std M16 caliper.

Would this have enough braking capacity or would it be marginal. The car will be vauxhall XE engined, but have no screen, heater or any other luxuries.

Have a word with Dick Axtel.......

he's a good man when it comes to brakes. If i remember correctly years ago he ran the m16s + 8" rear drums on standard chassis numbers through the girling computer and came up with almost perfect brake balance for road use.

I'm quite confused by all the m16 aloloy replacement's out there, so would be interested to see what you go for. There's the hispec, wilwood, bremsport, racedla, outlaw and I believ an AP caliper that fit, but which one is best/lightest/has dust seals etc etc.

My car is probably similar spec to your, I'm hoping for around 600 and maybe a bit kg's..

Ned.

quote:

---

Originally posted by MikeR
Have a word with Dick Axtel.......
he's a good man when it comes to brakes.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by MikeR
Have a word with Dick Axtel.......
he's a good man when it comes to brakes.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by MikeR
...he ran the m16s + 8" rear drums on standard chassis numbers through the girling computer and came up with almost perfect brake balance for road use.

---

Just had a proper look on Hispec's site, and the pistons on the "Ultralite 2, M16 mount" caliper are 48mm.

So any ideas if this will be enough or not.

Ned, yep, there are a lot available. I will be ringing AP up as a price they gave me at the autosport show was cheaper than Wilwood! I think they got it wrong as it was only verbal, but undoubtedly AP are the best solution, if not the cheapest!

Dust seals are a good idea, but if I can use 2 piston ultralites then I am less bothered. If I went 4 pot then I think I would definitely go for dust sealed ones.

I'm wanting 4 pots eventually, and i have this stupid whim about using vented capri discs which I know are much heavier. Thing is i'd quite fancy the centre of the disc machined out and replaced with a nice alloy bell to save some of the extra weight. Any ideas on getting that done?

I believe the bremsport, racedla and outlaw calipers are also one in the same?

The new wilwoods have dust seals I believe but not sure on any of the above aforementioned..

Ned.

Nat, don't forget when you've decided what you want to have a word with me and i'll maybe tag along and buy the same........

perhaps a bulk buy might make the prices more 'reasonable'.

quote:

---

Originally posted by ned
I'm wanting 4 pots eventually, and i have this stupid whim about using vented capri discs which I know are much heavier. Thing is i'd quite fancy the centre of the disc machined out and replaced with a nice alloy bell to save some of the extra weight. Any ideas on getting that done?

I believe the bremsport, racedla and outlaw calipers are also one in the same?

The new wilwoods have dust seals I believe but not sure on any of the above aforementioned..

Ned.

---

In my experience the AP products are good but expensive and comparatively heavy, wilwood (fenced by rallydesign) generally lighter and cheaper. I bought 4 of the dynalite single calipers for £50 each and they only weigh 1.4lbs - incredibly light.
Bob C
PS am gonna use a transmission handbrake

just looking at those this very moment! the bore is 44.5mm

For various (personal experience) reasons I'm not keen on Wilwood, but I know plenty use them to good effect.

The ultralite 2 pot jobbies from HiSpec are direct replacements for M16 calipers (so no brackets etc) and are £110 each.

They weigh 925g each, have 48mm dia pistons and a pad area of 76mm x 65mm.

is this a big enough piston/pad to stop a 500-600kg locost reliably and consistently? (note, this is for FRONT brakes!)

[Edited on 25/2/05 by NS Dev]

Why not the ultralite 4 calipers with M16 lugs? They are only £10 more than the 2 pots. I've got Ultralite 4's on my Phoenix with same engine as you and should be fine - The kit car workshop put them on their XE Fury and they apparantly work well. I think they'll do spacers for whaterver thickness disc you want?

I would advise buying through Martin Bell at the Kit Car Workshop if going for Hi-Specs! (no connection just happy customer and you get KCW not Hi-Spec customer service)

Chris

ultralite 's look good for me, any idea about probs with not having dust seals for road use? do you just need to clean them every single outing, will the pistons get gunked up?

for the price/weight they seem very good. with a vented disc with ally bell they'd be ideal..

Ned.

Just as reference I thought raldes.co.uk were usually cheaper for wilwood's than hi-spec?

Hav'nt looked at the prices lately though.

Edit: Just seen Bob C's comment at the top


Cheers

G

[Edited on 25/2/05 by Mr G]

I'm also interested in peoples opinions on this one as I'd like to upgrade too

Have done some more research on this, please see my findings below. NS Dev, any news on AP kit/prices/spec?

Ned.
Rescued attachment brakes.gif

Not yet Ned, been too busy at home to get time to call them outside of work!

Just remembered the other reasons that I don't like the idea of the Wilwoods, the need for separate mounting brackets and the fact that they need odd pads, wheres the HiSpec ones use common production car pads.

Hi

Darren at GTS is also doing 4 pot kits, see http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=21940

Adrian

eeek, unless i've miss understood darren is doing them for a lot more than ned is quoting.

I think Darrens are a complete kit, 2 callipers 2 disks and a set of pads

Adrian

quote:

---

Originally posted by ned
ultralite 's look good for me, any idea about probs with not having dust seals for road use? do you just need to clean them every single outing, will the pistons get gunked up?

for the price/weight they seem very good. with a vented disc with ally bell they'd be ideal..

Ned.

---

No dust seals on the calipers on my van either, done 230,000 so far without problems.




Wilwoods have stainless pistons as well, clean them when you change pads.

[Edited on 10/3/05 by gazza285]

As I mentioned earlier, though the Wilwoods look good, (and I could be wrong on this next bit but I don't think so) they are designed and made in the USA, and therefore don't use easily available UK car pads. Therefore you have to buy them at some expense well in advance.

The advantage of the Hi-Spec calipers is that they are UK designed and made to take pads that you can buy at Halfords (hope you don't have to though!) shoudl the need arise. The downside (I am led to believe) is that dealing with HiSpec can be a bit of a lottery.........any personal experiences with them?

Never had a problem getting pads for my Dynalites, Rally Design have loads, Burtons list Mintex, Ferodo and Wilwoods own. EBC also make Red Stuff and Green Stuff pads for Wilwood calipers.

the prices I quoted are all off the respective manufacturers websites. the wilwoods don't include the necessary adapter fitting brackets, so this could explain them being cheaper as price is only for calipers. Bear in mind the ones darren is working on as far as i know are only for sierra uprights, the above are for cortina uprights.

thanks all,

Ned.

I believe i've heard that allegedly (just protecting myself from slander) the kit car workshop is a hi spec reseller and provide a much more reliable customer service than hi spec direct.

www.kitcarworkshop.co.uk (doesn't have prices!)

[Edited on 11/3/05 by MikeR]

kitcarworkshop provided great customer service to me when I bought my calipers.