The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Someone told me that the pictures of my brake mod have gone so I have decided to redo it.
The first picture is a KA setup that uses smaller 48 mm pistons rather than the Sierra type which use 54 MM pistons. Either have no trouble stopping a Sprint over and over without fade.
Also note that the copper pipes are not recommended as they impair performance as the caliper has to move freely. If you are not competent do not work on your brakes and please ensure all parts work correctly. I show these mods but it is your responsibility to have a safe car.

This picture shows the standard set up that BL fitted which was the same for all Dolomites and Toledo and though the Sprint was more than twice the BHP and 35 MPH faster than a 1300 it merely had a bigger servo which even in 1972 was shamefully poor engineering IMHO.


This shows a modified disc that I have cut the threaded part off to use as a clamp ring.
I make some clamp rings from alloy that are much better and I will add a picture soon.

This is a Golf MK2 GTI 239 mm disc that has been bored to 66.7 and drilled to suit the triumph standard unmodified hub.


Here is the cut original disc being used and bolted to the standard hub using original bolts.


Worth noting here that prior to 1976 all Dolomites and Toledo used 3/8 UNF wheel studs and post 1976 the size was increased to 7/16 UNF. I would suggest using the larger type as they have been known to break.

This shows the lower ball joint which now suffers with heat as it is closer to the hot disc as the vented are wider so retain the sheet metal guard which protects it. The bolts must not protrude here so make sure they don't. I have shaved a little off the upright shown as on full suspension bounce or badly set wheel bearings the disc will scrape them. This is very important.





This shows an upright that if you notice has had one of the ears cut off to allow my brackets that I have laser burnt to a drawing kindly done by Mad Mart to my design they are made from EN8 steel and ground flat then I jig drill them to suit.

Finally these are the pads that fit the calipers and are freely available in standard to race and priced accordingly by Motor Factors.

Yes they fit stock wheels , that was the intention when Jon made the kits. On some calipers they can rub the inside of the wheel slightly (due to inconsistent wheel forgings) so a few passes with an angle grinder usually sorts this out.

Tony

tony g wrote:Yes they fit stock wheels , that was the intention when Jon made the kits. On some calipers they can rub the inside of the wheel slightly (due to inconsistent wheel forgings) so a few passes with an angle grinder usually sorts this out.

Tony

Good point Tony and if you are buying fancy recon calipers from the likes of Big Red they paint them to a fantastic finish................then you have to grind a bit off

Also note the difference between the Sierra pad top picture and the KA lower picture they are not interchangeable due to slight differences.
I would try to stay with the Sierra type as so many kit cars and Caterhams use them which ensures a life of supply, plus the bigger pistons of the Sierra mean whatever your Sprints power the brakes will match, unless your name is Darren of course in which case a parachute is desirable

I also have one of Jon's sets but have 60mm piston ford calipers. The 53mm have pads that do not use the whole disc width and i found out that the 60mm calipers have largers fingers and use a pad as wide as the disc.

But, that car is not ready yet, it was a few years ago, it is all in a box, i do not remember any part numbers and the type of Ford sierra they came off. No use to ask.

I only know that when i told about this to an Italien friend of mine he tried at that time and still uses the 60mm piston calipers within std sprint wheels so it does fit. I tought the sliding part that mounts to the hub was the same as the 53mm ones and the outside dimensions also. Just a bigger piston and slightly different shape to accept the larger pads that use the max disc width.

Jeroen

They fit inside Sprint wheels, presumably they also fit steel wheels? I can buy they discs, calipers, pads from eBay or my local motor factor, how about the other bits? What do I need and how much does it cost?
Mark

Steel wheels, loads of space. Apart from the Ford and VW parts you 'll need clamp rings making and the TJ bracket and spacers and bolts. Jon is best to add the costs here unless someone is selling a set

Tony

marko wrote:They fit inside Sprint wheels, presumably they also fit steel wheels? I can buy they discs, calipers, pads from eBay or my local motor factor, how about the other bits? What do I need and how much does it cost?
Mark

PM sent

trackerjack wrote:Worth noting here that prior to 1976 all Dolomites and Toledo used 3/8 UNF wheel studs and post 1976 the size was increased to 7/16 UNF. I would suggest using the larger type as they have been known to break.

Presumably, you meant to say "I would suggest using the larger type as [the smaller ones] have been known to break", unless you have a sinister plan to kill off Dolly drivers!

Another reason to retain the lower shield plate, is that since it fits between the balljoint and the upright, losing it will have a small but measurable effect on camber - and not the improving way either!
Since I didn't get my first kit from Jon but off someone else via ebay, I didn't get any instructions, didn't know about the heating issue and had to work it out for myself. So it was the camber factor that made me retain the shield plates!

I am a big fan of Jon's work and am very pleased with the "normal" TJ kit on the Carledo, it's worth at least 5 seconds a lap at Castle Coombe (and much more after the first 2 laps when the stock brakes cook the fluid) On the road the ability to stop as well as any modern is worth it's weight in gold.

For those interested, I have also made a modified set using Jon's brackets but bigger 256mm discs from a Passat and calipers and carriers from a later model Puma. The calipers are still 54mm diameter so there are no extra pedal length issues, but the pads have a considerably bigger area than the Sierra ones. The downside is that this kit will NOT fit under Sprint alloys, but it does go nicely under my TR7 spec 14" fake minilites! I did this, not because I am in any way dissatisfied with the original design, but to go on the Dolomega project 147BHP Sprint AUTO on which the brakes will be working even harder than on a "normal" Sprint and also which SWMBO may drive on occasion.

Steve

trackerjack wrote:

marko wrote:They fit inside Sprint wheels, presumably they also fit steel wheels? I can buy they discs, calipers, pads from eBay or my local motor factor, how about the other bits? What do I need and how much does it cost?
Mark

PM sent

PM send about brake kit

Dave

Pippin wrote:

trackerjack wrote:Worth noting here that prior to 1976 all Dolomites and Toledo used 3/8 UNF wheel studs and post 1976 the size was increased to 7/16 UNF. I would suggest using the larger type as they have been known to break.

Presumably, you meant to say "I would suggest using the larger type as [the smaller ones] have been known to break", unless you have a sinister plan to kill off Dolly drivers!

You have as warped a sense of humour as me

Thank you Steve for the endorsements of the kit and the upgraded upgrade.

Glad you were amused as no offence was intended.

There are plenty of the correct calipers floating on Ebay today. You need these for the sliders they provide and I ask them to crack open the bleed nipples because that can wreck a purchase if they are so seized that they break.




http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/XR3i-sierra-P ... SwcUBYPd~N

Perfect timing, due to fit my set in the next few months so this is great, saves me trawling around the forum for the photos!