Front Brake Rotors

[mototron]

Hello All
Does anyone know where to get front brake rotors for a seies II Alpine
or a upgrade to vented rotors?
Cooked up my rotors racing at NHMS Last week and they are allready cut
once and Iwould like to replace them with something better

NHMS Pics
http://picasaweb.google.com/67duetto/61SunbeamAlpineAtNHMSVRG

Thanks
Rocco

 

[Alpine 1789]

I think I have a set of usable SII rotors somewhere in the garage that I'd sell cheap. They'd need to be cleaned up, but I think there is enough meat on them. Send me a PM if you are interested.

 

[Rodewaryer]

There's a vented rotor conversion out there that works on an Alpine?

 

[Jim E]

Have seen a stock Alpine/Tiger caliper with a spacer between the halves that allow for a vented rotor. Thinking Dale sells a kit for this.

 

[Series3Scott]

IIRC there was an Australian supplier that offered vented rotors for the Humber Super Snipe. Wonder if they also offered it for the Alpine? Can't recall the name right now, so hopefully one of our Australian friends can chime in.

Also, I wonder if these folks could help:

http://www.powerstop.co.uk/home.aspx


Just found a listing for vented discs under the Sunbeam Racing link on this website:

http://www.sunbeamsupreme.co.uk/

 

[64beam]

Hi,

Does anyone know if the vented type disc rotors as available at sunbeam supreme, can be used used with the standard brake calipers or is that part of the kit/upgrade?

Regards, Robin.

 

[Rodewaryer]

Having done big brake kits on a couple of my other cars, I have never run across an application that will work with a stock caliper meant to work with a solid rotor. I suppose it's possible but I find it unlikely.

In the end, a caliper upgrade would make the change a win-win scenario anyway. With the overall effectiveness of the upgrade being better with both rotor and the caliper being more modern higher performance units.

 

[66Tiger]

I have put Dale's vented rotor kit for stock calipers on my car, I haven't used them so I can't say if they make a difference in braking but it is a lower cost option (than big brakes).

Basically you get 4 caliper spacers, a couple o-rings, some longer bolts for the calipers and a pair of vented rotors (modified from some unknown application) with bolts for them...and no instructions (fortunately it's pretty basic).

http://www.dalesresto.com/parts.html

Paul

 

[64beam]

I have put Dale's vented rotor kit for stock calipers on my car, I haven't used them so I can't say if they make a difference in braking but it is a lower cost option (than big brakes).

Basically you get 4 caliper spacers, a couple o-rings, some longer bolts for the calipers and a pair of vented rotors (modified from some unknown application) with bolts for them...and no instructions (fortunately it's pretty basic).

http://www.dalesresto.com/parts.html

Paul

Hi Paul,

Would you really notice the difference under normal driving condition? Would'nt they only come into play under heavier braking conditions. Another factor being how quickly it could get rid of the heat in the disc's. Let us all know how they perform once you have a chance to test them out.

Thanks, Robin.

 

[66Tiger]

Robin,
Under normal Tiger driving condtions I tend to roar up on people. And around here, people like to fill in any vehicle gap when I am trying to leave extra room between me and the car ahead of me.

When I first got my Tiger I was surprised to find the braking reminded me of my old 1966 Plymouth with manual 4-wheel drum brakes...since the Tiger has front discs with a booster and the Plymouth outweighed it by over 1,000 pounds...braking is poor at best.

All I am really hoping for is better consistency of braking and less fading in stop and go street-light racing, err, I mean traffic.

The booster is getting the old heave ho also, with the addition of a smaller bore master cylinder.

Paul

 

[Wombat]

IIRC there was an Australian supplier that offered vented rotors for the Humber Super Snipe. Wonder if they also offered it for the Alpine? Can't recall the name right now, so hopefully one of our Australian friends can chime in.

Disc Brakes Australia (www.dba.com.au) list replacement discs for the Humber Super Snipe. These are available slotted or cross-drilled, but they are still solid discs. The only other Rootes listing they have is for the Hillman Hunter. There is also a company called Rotors and Drums Australia (www.rda.com.au), but they require a user name to access the on-line catalogue.

 

[Jim E]

Other than a good repaired and operational brake system, booster or no booster and the correct size bore for the master cylinder, I like to try different brake pads on the front. 'Seems like" there is a difference with different compound pads, for just normal driving 'blasting around a bit... the real cheap over the counter pads seem to brake better

 

[Pumpkin]

brake pads

Jim, I do quite abit of hilly curvy driving, and have some front pads I installled many years ago from SS I believe.
The brake seem real spongy, having bleed twice it still seems that way. Do you have any suggestions for a better pad? OR do yu think a grinder on a flat furface to clean them would be an advantage. I was going to take the rotors down and have them surfaced also. MAY HELP?

Series ll
Thanks
Chuck

 

[V6 JOSE]

Hi Chuck,

Have you power bled the brake system? I don't understand why the Alpine system does it, but it is almost impossible to bleed all the air from the system, unless you power bleed the system. The pedal will feel spongy unless ALL the air is out. Brake pads will fade sooner than some others (depending on composition), but shouldn't make the pedal feel spongy.

Jose

 

[Pumpkin]

brake pads

Hi Chuck,

Have you power bled the brake system? I don't understand why the Alpine system does it, but it is almost impossible to bleed all the air from the system, unless you power bleed the system. The pedal will feel spongy unless ALL the air is out. Brake pads will fade sooner than some others (depending on composition), but shouldn't make the pedal feel spongy.

Jose

My wifes right foot is about the most power I can get on the pedal
What is a power bleed?
C

 

[puff4]

A power bleeder is one that forces fluid through the system without you having to push the pedal (and in the process potentially making bubbles even worse).

My favorite bleeder is Gunson's Eezibleed... works great and fits almost every Brit car known to man... there's loads of adapters available for all the different Lockheed and Girling masters. I bought mine when I was living in the UK, but I think they're available here in the US, too. (Click the pic.)

 

[Pumpkin]

Front brakes

Whoeaa man that looks like something I'd see in a doctors office. Wheeoo!!

But now that you say that, I have seen them. The idea of more bubbles makes sence too.
Thanks for that one.
Before the investment perhaps a friend here in the great NW has one. It's not often one needs to bleed the brakes.

Chuck

 

[Jim E]

I seem to always have trouble getting the air out of the system when someone of the female gender is pumping the brakes....

Have also noticed a big difference in how the pedal feels depending on which hole the brake arm is in, if I recall the hole that sets the pedal higher or closer to the drive makes for a stiffer pedal. Then I could be fooling myself but it is a pretty easy thing to try

I also sugest you bleed the brake system once a year or so, pretty much flush it completely. The only part of the brake system that is hard to bleed well is the rear and then only when you have the goofy cross over brake line where you bleed everything from the one side. I usually toss this cross over pipe and convert it to a line to each side so it is easier to bleed. You also want to have the rear brakes adjusted well to get a good pedal.

The el'cheapO pads I run really only fit S3 to SV but guess you can cut them to fit the early cars. The over the counter pads I have used are the Datsun Z pads and the Saab pads. The cheap units seem pretty soft and do not seem to eat rotors. Would rather spend 20 bucks on pads than have to find rotors. If your rotors are not warped or have grooves or ridges You might try just hitting them with some course sand paper same with the pads just scuff them up a bit and see how it does.

 

[MikeH]

The over the counter pads I have used are the Datsun Z pads and the Saab pads.

Do they fit stock calipers without mods? What year/models, or part numbers?

 

[Jim E]

1984 Saab 900s turbo pads the cheap ones from say NAPA are the ones I like the best. On a S3 to SV they fit but sometimes you have to dress the metal sides where they slide into the caliper with a file to get the fit right, some are a little wide

Do not recall the Datsun Z car year