Front brake upgrade

REPTYL · #1 (**permalink**) 10-13-2003, 10:09 AM

Time for a brake upgrade.

Currently I'm running a LH Torana front end with a HQ slotted and cross-drilled disks.

The cheapest option I've found is a Hatfield conversion to VL Turbo disks. But these are still single piston Calipers and only 289mm.

I think the best option I've seen so far is a VT Commodore upgrade.
I'm looking at $400 to get the new hubs made up and the $125 for the caliper relocater.
If I go this option I can get the hubs made up with an HQ stud pattern, so I guess that saves a little.

I know there are a lot of DRBs in QLD. So what are the big boys doing with theirs Torana Front ends?

OZVENOM · #2 (**permalink**) 10-13-2003, 03:56 PM

Hi Jason i have fitted nissan 4spot calipers to drb's and workes great even on hq rotors but there is a lot of clearance problem s we had to notch the lower control arm and the cut the bump of the cross member at the back.
anoter option is the small 4spot willwood calipers ap calipers with radial mounts as they fit pretty easy.
also i would recomend going to s/s braided lines gives a great pedal.

regards oz

Aussie Mike · #3 (**permalink**) 10-13-2003, 04:42 PM

Hi Jason,

Go and have a talk to the guys at Hoppers Stoppers in Hoppers Crossing. They have a few HQ and Torana conversions available.

Hoppers Stoppers

Holden brake kit

Cheers

snaken · #4 (**permalink**) 10-13-2003, 05:53 PM

Hi Jas,

Have you spoken to Doug, I am considering better brakes. He and Norm have developed a bracket for VT rotars and 4 pot calipers from SS Commodore. They have monted to the Bolwell he has been working on. The calipers are mounted at the rear of the rotars and apparently clear all the suspension and 15 " rims. What are you going to do with the rears??? Don Stafford is considering the rear options, he wants to fit out rigger discs to jag rear.

Good luck

Snaken

Alvin · #5 (**permalink**) 10-14-2003, 05:53 AM

hey jason
lve just brought some rotors, calipers and adaptor hubs from a guy that doug knows, and it was very cheap!!!

REPTYL · #6 (**permalink**) 10-14-2003, 06:57 AM

You've got to love this forum.
Exactly the info I was after:

OZ: This is my favorite option (will need further investigation).
Should be cheap 'cause I can keep my HQ disks and stud pattern.
Do the Nissan calipers bolt up to the same mounting points as the HQ.

Aussie: Hopper Stoppers!!! They might know how to build brakes.
But they don't know how to price them competitively.
$1400 for an upgrade kit to AU2 specs! Stuff that.

Al & Pete: Looks like I should give Doug a call before parting with any 'hard earned'.

Thank you all.

750hp · #7 (**permalink**) 10-14-2003, 07:23 AM

Jason, I'm not sure how your 16" wheels go for clearance, but I'm using 13" (330mm) DBA rotors from a VN / VP HSV Crumbledoor with my HQ stub axles. They're a bolt-on fit.

REPTYL · #8 (**permalink**) 10-14-2003, 07:26 AM

Sounds expensive?

?

Aussie Mike · #9 (**permalink**) 10-15-2003, 05:41 AM

Jason,

Have a look on page 25 of the October parts pedler magazine. There is a guy selling GTR 4 pots calipers. He also has some BMW 4 pot calipers that suposedly fit HQ, Cheap too @ $150.

Cheers

REPTYL · #10 (**permalink**) 10-18-2003, 02:23 AM

That guy had sold his calipers already, but I pumped for info.

What I will be doing is:
Keeping my HQ sports series rotors and purchasing a set of:
Late 70's early 80's BMW 7 series 4 pot calipers.

Thank-you everyone for your input, you have saved me a packet$$$$

snaken · #11 (**permalink**) 10-19-2003, 04:38 PM

Hi Jas,

Do the 7 series bolt straight on to the HQ adapter plates or are mods required??? I assume you are using the Hadfield adapters to torana stubs.

Snaken

REPTYL · #12 (**permalink**) 10-19-2003, 10:04 PM

I know they bolt straight up to the HQ calliper when fitted to a HQ stub axle. All the Hatfield kit does is move the mounting point of the calliper on the Torana stub to match the HQ rotor. So I'm guessing they should mount straight up.

I know some people have problems mounting up the bigger brakes on Torana Stubs, when at full lock the calliper hits the X-member (I think it's tight around the lower control arm as well). Many people just grind a chunk out of the cross member, but a better way is to run a set up simular to the Bathurst A9X. That is put the left stub on the right and the right on the left, this brings the calliper to the front of the disk and away from the cross member. You will need to change your steering arms though. (Good luck finding A9x ones, I was silly enough to try back in 98). From memory the HK utes used the same steering arm.

Not all 7 series are the same. You will need E23 single hose jobbies.

Shelby400 · #13 (**permalink**) 11-05-2003, 09:42 PM

Reptyl

When you spoke to the bloke about the BMW calipers did he mention anything about having to widen the caliper or grinding anything to make the HQ disks fit? I have been doing some experimenting and found that the HQ rotors are too wide for the calipers.

PCC · #14 (**permalink**) 11-06-2003, 12:21 AM

Hey Jason,

I may not be a technical guru, but I know what works well as apposed to what's s**t rotten.

I've got 4 pot Jag vented calipers with 16" wheels (the car's so low, I think the brakes are scraping on the floor - no comments Craig (Scott to the rescue)) and the car stops like a treat, no matter what you're doing.

I would certainly recommend the setup as no failures to date even when trying.

Who needs ABS anyway.

Pic follows

Rebel1 · #15 (**permalink**) 11-06-2003, 12:32 AM

Hehe...ok..Craig's not allowed to comment...but I am

Hey Pete...I dont havta look too hard to see the skid markes from here.

Whats got me bu$$ered is...how do you keep paint on the underside of that thing?

PCC · #16 (**permalink**) 11-06-2003, 12:40 AM

If you go fast enough you enter a "black ice" zone.

For those non initiated pommes that is where your car skates just above the surface as if you're in a tornado (british fighter plane) flying at low level.

In other words.... drive fast keep the paint on.

What do you reckon about a set of underside neons.... Carroll Shelby would be proud!!