Sprint brake upgrades

[oldengineer]

Hi, I am looking to upgrade the front brakes on my sprint as I progress with a major refurb of the car. I have read many of the posts on here re tracker jack kits etc and about problems with fitting the original alloys but as I was trawling around I came across the following calipers as mentioned in the latest practical classics :- http://www.britishclassiccarparts.com/t ... 6812-p.asp
A short pause for breath as you read the price!

They list calipers for all but the sprint and having contacted them they are unaware of any having been fitted to a sprint but have been fitted to an 1850 with no problems.
So has anyone fitted them?
Is anyone aware of potential problems - like the alloys no longer fitting
I seek your combined wisdom
regards Chris

[SprintMWU773V]

I can't see the advantage of these brakes as when I spoke to them they use the same sized pads as original and nor do they use a vented disc. They look lovely and are light but beyond that I don't see the point.

[Jon Tilson]

These are 4 pot calipers which are all very well but you still have a single non vented disk.

Does it include a vented disk as well? Its a bit ambiguous.

What do you need in the master cylider to move 4 pistons as opposed to 2? They say nothing about that.

EBC pads too... I wont use them after some fell to bits on my mrs.....could have killed her!

If they fit an 1850 they fit a Sprint or any other dolomite. The front suspension is all the same...


Jonners

[mahony]

At that price I would not bother.

[80Sprint]

Trackerjack is the way to go and still use the original alloys. I can now plug a Sierra caliper in the for sale section which will be your first part of the kit.

They work a treat on mine and never heard a negative comment about the TJ set up.

[AlanH]

EBC pads too... I wont use them after some fell to bits on my mrs.....could have killed her!

I have never seen any improvement using EBC pads anyway

[trackerjack]

Hi thanks for the recommendation for my brake conversion.
One of the main points about me doing the conversion all those years ago in the late 90's was to continue with the stock alloys which are still after all these years the best looking wheels to have on a Dolomite.

There has only been one person who has criticised my setup and he wanted to buy the complete idea of me and charge double. However I cannot give his name because his name is not mentioned due to his less than truthfull character. Good old BK

The one huge disadvantage with any brake mod on a sprint that uses the original disc is heat, in short the car is too fast for its front brakes and the big servo was used to disguise this shortcoming.

I too have had EBC green pads break up and use just plain normal pads which work well as the car is lighter than the Sierra that the discs come from and Ford make very few mistakes.

[Mad Mart]

...If they fit an 1850 they fit a Sprint or any other dolomite. The front suspension is all the same...

Jonners

True Jonners but I think they mean will the Sprint alloy fit over them as there is less room than the 1850 steelie.

I've been using Jon's conversion for many years on my Track Sprint and have only ever used standard brake pads. Plenty of stopping power and no fade.

[xvivalve]

The other option now is Ken Clarke's replica ST set up with vented discs, spaced calipers and longer stub axles, but I have no idea of comparative costs...

[oldengineer]

Many thanks for all the comments - most helpful - I shall ask them a few pertinent questions but have the feeling I shall just refurb what I have as I am too long in the tooth to go racing - I just want to stop in a reasonable distance.
If however I learn anything of benefit I will post it up for info.
regards
Chris

[Carledo]

Many thanks for all the comments - most helpful - I shall ask them a few pertinent questions but have the feeling I shall just refurb what I have as I am too long in the tooth to go racing - I just want to stop in a reasonable distance.
If however I learn anything of benefit I will post it up for info.
regards
Chris

I'm 61 and don't think i'm too long in the tooth to go racing!

But even for road work the standard brakes are only marginal at best on a Sprint. I've performed countless mods on my Toledo but one of the best has been the Trackerjack conversion. The difference in stopping power is little short of mindblowing and the brakes go from being OK (ish)
to brilliant and confidence inspiring.

Steve

[80Sprint]

You could get the whole TJ set up for less than you were originally looking to pay for two calipers. It's not just about racing. It's about confidence in having decent brakes. Most of us do a couple of track days a year so we are not historic touring car racers. Most of the time is spent on the road and we want to have the best chance of stopping before we hit something harder than our heads.

[trackerjack]

Cor thanks lads (shall pay you all later )

Some of you will have been there but in about 2000 I lived in Devon and we went on a club run with several Dolomites all round Dartmoor and dropped down into Bovey Tracy, we were driving normal road speed and I went round the cars as mine was the only converted one there and all the cars brakes were red hot except mine.

Funny really, a lot of people think that a tuned engine is the first mod on a car but in reality it should be the last after handling braking and cornering.

I am 64 and have just fitted some bike carbs to an XR2 engined kit car I own and tomorrow will drive the kit car that I built with no screen or weather gear to work at 6 in the morn.......................perhaps I just refuse to grow up

[James467]

This is THE first upgrade that I'll be doing when I have finished the show scene with mine, it's a no brainer as far as I'm concerned.

Funny really, a lot of people think that a tuned engine is the first mod on a car but in reality it should be the last after handling braking and cornering

I've been screaming this at people for years but they dont listen!!

I am 64 and have just fitted some bike carbs to an XR2 engined kit car I own and tomorrow will drive the kit car that I built with no screen or weather gear to work at 6 in the morn.......................perhaps I just refuse to grow up

Look at Sir Stirling, I'm pretty sure he's never properly grown up!!

[Mahesh]

Couldn't agree more, stopping is more important than going.

I know I'm the typical BMW driver, (730ld) on the bumper of another car, but only because mine
will stop on a 1/2 penny if I press the pedal down, and more often than not, end up full throtle because
the guy (girl) behind is about to rear end me, and that's a one way area.

A trackerjack conversion kit is on my list too, as soon as some of the general bugs of being off the road
are sorted, however, is there something that can be done for the rear brakes whilst keeping the Sprint alloys ?

I hate my tea spilling in a front wheel lockup nose dive, makes the steering wheel and dash sticky.