Santa Claus was nice enough to leave me some spending money for my Luego Velocity upgrades. I have decided on improving the brakes (for both performance and asthetics)...

I've done a few forum searches and some internet research but I'm now more confused than ever...

- Different manufacturers of brake kits (my preferred choice looks to be Wilwood)

- 'Dynalites', 'Powerlites', 'Superlites' etc... it's all so blimin' confusing

I hear there's a handbrake caliper available for the rears now?

I run 16" OZ alloys with basic Sierra calipers front and rear. If you had this spec a Luego Velocity, what would you opt for?

Best regards


Kyle, Leeds

[Edited on 31/12/07 by The Great Fandango]

I've got a Wilwood combination on my car.

Dynalites on the front and Powerlites on the back (with handbrake) Rally Design do the bolt on kits for reasonable money. Have a word with their brakes guy and he will advise you on your requirements - he is very helpful.

Overall pretty good but the handbrake is rudimentory at best. It needs a hefty pull on the lever to be just enough to stop it rolling on the flat! Just leave it in gear and you should be ok

No change from my present hand brake then!... Needs one hell of a firm yank to operate.

Sounds like I'll be calling Rally Designs after the new year.

ive got willwood frount and back awsome but dont go with the smart pads buy the mintex pads evan better still
Rescued attachment gulf indy 014.jpg

I presume you have to take into account disc thickness, circumference and the offset of the caliper relative to the disc?

Presumably, Rally Designs can supply various mounting brackets.?

[Edited on 31/12/07 by The Great Fandango]

Keep us informed how you get on - i have standard sierra brakes - vented on the front - and they lack feel. Would like to improve...

quote:

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Originally posted by The Great Fandango
Presumably, Rally Designs can supply various mounting brackets.?

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A alternative caliper is the hi spec,these have a hand brake which is very efficent,great for handbrake turns

[Edited on 19/05/04 by PAUL FISHER]

would agree with the wilwood handbrake being a bit soso, still it got through SVA.... just, so must be legal

i run wilwoods front and rear and have no complaints even with the standard smart pads just don't park on a steep hill without it being in gear.

PS all under 13's

Leave the calipers pads and discs as is -- change the master cylinder to a smaller bore.

Cutting through the bling factor light alloy calipers offer only one adavantage a reduction in unsprung weight.

Essentiall standard Sierra or Cortina brake equipment is way over size for the job of stopping a car the size of Seven.

So why do most Locosts need very high brake pedal pressures --- very simple a combination of lack of sufficient mechanical advantage at the pedal and master cylinder bores that are way too big a bore.


The pedal leverage issue is difficult to solve without resorting to an arangement similar too the Lotus/Caterham Seven.
It was easy for Chapman when he designed the Seven he just took the alloy pedal bracket from Ford 100e Anglia and turned it upside down.


The master cylinder issue is easier getting rid of a standard Sierra/Cortina master cylinder and replacing it with a 0.7 bore (late Triumph Spitfire or late FX4d Taxi as used by Westfield) will reduce the pedal force require of 100 lbf to 62lbf.


Grooved and/or drilled disc are more prone to cracking.

[Edited on 1/1/08 by britishtrident]

[Edited on 1/1/08 by britishtrident]

Got a reply from Rally Designs today.

Seems I need the Wilwood Midilite kit costing £404 plus VAT!!!

From experience I recall a good Wilwood setup (Dynalite) for my old Westfield costing £350 all in.

Gonna have to re-evaluate the situation and explore other possibilities.

Just out of interest, has anyone experience in fitting a velocity with aluminium uprights? I need to pick brains.

Hi one of the biggest problems with the luego and obp pedalboxes is that theres so much flex in the box itself and front baulhead. Also the pedal ratio is all wrong giving lack of feel as described. Britishtrident has mentioned cylenders ect all needs to be looked at before spending on the bling parts.

Cheers Matt

quote:

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Originally posted by britishtrident
very simple a combination of lack of sufficient mechanical advantage at the pedal and master cylinder bores that are way too big a bore.

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I would like to say the biggest improvement in braking I've ever seen on a light 7 type vehicle is Capri 2.8/3.0 rear drums.

My Striker had these on the back with Mexico/M16 setup at the front and the stopping power was superb. Nice two click handbrake as well and it was going no where.

standard calipers ( that you already have ) and 300mm ST170 focus discs.

cheap as chips. £60 in total.



brakes after 300mm

overkill - maybe, but when i use the brake pedal, i dont see it as an on / off switch - so you dont have to slam your foot to the floor everytime you use the brakes.

So how did you get the calipers to fit the ST170 discs?

dust seals

I'd recommend that you get calipers with dust seals hi spec have them in all there calipers and wilwoods only have them in some models so check before you buy!

9mm thick bracket to move the caliper out enough to fit over the disc.