Brake Upgrades
Discussion
Sorry I can't remember the standard sizes and need to check the book which is at home.
There are really two main options open to you and a couple of variants on option two. They depend on exactly what you want, how much money you have etc.
Before I get onto them have you done the simple thing and put in good fast road pads? (people like shpub and GreenV8S have lots of experience on this) These can improve braking alot over some of the standard pads used - for not much cost.
The first option (which I have BTW) is to upgrade the front disks to larger (283mm?) disks using the same calipers. This was done for me by Tower View (and has been frowned on by another specialist). Basically they use a spacer on the caliber to fit it round the disk. It then only works on the outer edge of the disk so has the same pad area as the normal disks but working at a larger radius from the centre giving sightly more braking effect. This costs about £300 in parts.
The braking has definately improved but I am yet to find out if this arrangement causes any problems of cracking disks due to heat imbalance etc (the pad only runs on the outer part of the disk so that is the only bit that heats up. It has been suggested to me that this could cause problems on the track where heat is much higher than on road).
The second options is to upgrade the whole lot calipers and all to a bigger set (AP Racing seem to be the norm but other makes are also possible) which basically fit the new size disks properly. This costs about £1000 IRRC.
The variants include having even bigger disks but this one requires also having bigger wheels fitted as the 15" front wheel limits the max size of the disk quite abit. This, obviously, increases the cost on top of the brake upgrade.
I'll update this post when I get home and can confirm all of the sizes.
There are really two main options open to you and a couple of variants on option two. They depend on exactly what you want, how much money you have etc.
Before I get onto them have you done the simple thing and put in good fast road pads? (people like shpub and GreenV8S have lots of experience on this) These can improve braking alot over some of the standard pads used - for not much cost.
The first option (which I have BTW) is to upgrade the front disks to larger (283mm?) disks using the same calipers. This was done for me by Tower View (and has been frowned on by another specialist). Basically they use a spacer on the caliber to fit it round the disk. It then only works on the outer edge of the disk so has the same pad area as the normal disks but working at a larger radius from the centre giving sightly more braking effect. This costs about £300 in parts.
The braking has definately improved but I am yet to find out if this arrangement causes any problems of cracking disks due to heat imbalance etc (the pad only runs on the outer part of the disk so that is the only bit that heats up. It has been suggested to me that this could cause problems on the track where heat is much higher than on road).
The second options is to upgrade the whole lot calipers and all to a bigger set (AP Racing seem to be the norm but other makes are also possible) which basically fit the new size disks properly. This costs about £1000 IRRC.
The variants include having even bigger disks but this one requires also having bigger wheels fitted as the 15" front wheel limits the max size of the disk quite abit. This, obviously, increases the cost on top of the brake upgrade.
I'll update this post when I get home and can confirm all of the sizes.
Okay. Standard brakes are 269mm front and 243mm rear on the 4.x Griffs (so says the bible). My upgrade was to 283mm front using standard calipers.
I nearly forgot the cost was £299 +labour but I was having alot of other work done so I don't know what the labour is likely to be.
>> Edited by icamm on Friday 13th June 19:26
I nearly forgot the cost was £299 +labour but I was having alot of other work done so I don't know what the labour is likely to be.
>> Edited by icamm on Friday 13th June 19:26
on the griff 500 what discs are fitted, i.e the `donor vehicle`. i was thinking of replacing them at some time as i have a slight brake judder which may be a slightly warped disc.if they are from a production tin box or something i guess they would work out cheaper to buy from a motor factor?
kartman24 said: on the griff 500 what discs are fitted, i.e the `donor vehicle`. i was thinking of replacing them at some time as i have a slight brake judder which may be a slightly warped disc.if they are from a production tin box or something i guess they would work out cheaper to buy from a motor factor?
Ford , but according to Steve Heath they used various fitments, so can't specify donor car or part no's. best to take yours into a Ford part supplier, or as Gerjo said look into the upgrade.
Tim
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