The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

How thick (or rather thin) are your discs?

A lot of folk disparage the breaking capability of their car not realising they're running 50 years' worth of worn discs!!

I dont know yet, I do know the discs are already upgraded to vents. if push comes to shove, Im sure I can make a better more effective system, I think I can get 285mm discs with decent callipers inside sprint wheels, but I need to do my research, I think I have a pair of RS500 cosworth discs in my lockup. theres no hardship in turning down the OD of a disc thats too large to get where you need to be, the biggest things people seem to forget is the final bit and most important bit of your brakes are tires, , they dont grip, neither does the car stop

The biggest disc you can physically fit inside a stock Sprint 13" alloy wheel is the 239mm Golf vented disc used in the Trackerjack conversion. If you already have vented discs fitted to your Toledo, it's a fair possibility that you already have TJs.

I've run my Vauxhall powered 2 door Toledo on the 239mm Trackerjack discs with 54mm Ford calipers and an 1850 servo for over 10 years, road and track, thrashed without mercy and the brakes are absolutely brilliant. I just use ordinary "off the shelf" at the factors pads and standard Sprint rear shoes and drums. It's no big deal on a car as light as the Tolly.

If you have vented discs and the brakes are still awful, there is something else wrong. But equally, if you already have vents it's not standard (solid discs only on all Dolomites and Toledos) so who knows what else is non standard too? It might be something as simple as a master cylinder mismatch or it could be a complicated mixture of mistakes in the build.

We need more info (pics even better) to tell you what may have gone awry!



Steve

How thick (or rather thin) are your discs?

A lot of folk disparage the braking capability of their car not realising they're running 50 years' worth of worn discs!!

She already has the TrackerJack conversion.

Golf GTI vented discs with Mintex anti-fade pads and shoes and Goodridge braided hoses all round.

https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/11 ... op-bromley


Mine’s on 14” Stag wheels with 260mm vented Discs and Jaguar XJ 4pot calliper’s. (Chris Witor kit).

The article from Retro Rides also includes comment from the owner of another model from the same initial builder that this car apparently has NO SERVO on the brakes, something I find completely understandable as it'd be fighting for space against the Webers if one were fitted.

If there is no servo at all, that could well explain the lack of braking effort available. It will stop! But only with disproportionate effort from the driver.

If there is indeed no servo, and no room for one in the conventional position twixt master and bulkhead, i'd recommend a remote servo such as the one sold by the MGBHive. I've used these to good effect on a number of cars, both as fresh fit or replacement of the now hens teeth Girling Powerstop.

Reference in the article is also made to "anti fade pads" which may mean race pads. In any case, bin them and fit normal street pads, they are quite sufficient even for sustained track work, the vented discs themselves adequately take care of the fade problem.

Steve

Looking at the underbonnet pic in the RR pic would suggest there is indeed no conventional servo fitted.