Big Brakes?

[finmac]

What different types are there... (my first cat had Willwood brakes, second had Caterham brand 4 pot calipers)?

 

Who sells big brake kits?

[R400 Velocity R]

https://www.caterhamparts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=111&products_id=93&osCsid=cd70f09926cd3d06c60c3ead2d2c0806

 

Try Caterham ? or maybe someone else will be along with the AP part number

[finmac]

Thanks, looked for it but couldnt find it!

[Alba 7]

Finlay,

 

There is at least one seven I seem to recall that has Hi Spec brakes but there are conflicting tales of their degree of customer care. James Whiting sells Alconbrakes (more details on the Whiting website.

 

Caterham parts have the AP brakes listed here

 

You got upgraditis already 😬

[Nick Chan]

Finlay,

 

Paul Curley has Hi Spec brakes on his car. He had them on the Zetec but put them back to original and moved them on to his new car. Give him a call if you want any feedback.

 

Does this mean you have picked up the new car? 😬

 

Cheers

Nick

 

The BEC has gone - now onto an R400!!

[Irrelevant]

There are loads of different types and most people are very happy with whatever variety they have. However, if I was in the market for (more) big brakes, there are several things I'd look for:

 

1. Unequal size pistons (to maintain even pressure over the pad).

2. Light weight

3. Simple mounting (to triumph upright)

 

Only 2 of the common Caterham big brake kit suppliers satisfy these criteria - AP and Alcon.

 

AP are expensive and use expensive bespoke disks. But they are the benchmark, with numerous happy owners. IMO they do suffer a bit with age (especially corrosion around internal piston deals (no dust seals on APs) and at either end of the pad mountings behind the stainless shim thingies.

 

Can't remember a lot about 4 pot Alcons, but I think they use the standard (cheap) disk and are very light. Not sure about seals, durability, or pad availability but don't recall any problems.

[rgrigsby]

There are also at least 2 if not 3 versions of the AP caliper just to confuse things, I have the the current design AP caliper/pad which seems to work fairly well other than it's a bit of a pain to change the pads as on of the pins holding the pad in is inline with the wing stay. Only takes 5 minutes to swing the caliper slightly though.

 

Cheers

 

Rob G

www.SpeedySeven.com

[bluenose]

I have the Hi-Spec 4 pots fitted to my car. I've not had any problems with them and they were far cheaper than the Caterham/J Whiting set ups. The Hi-Specs just bolted straight onto the uprights. I went for the economy conversion kit at £220 + vat.

 

hi Spec here

 

Luckily for me I just live round the corner from Hi-Spec in Dartford so I dealt with them face to face, but I have heard that some people have had trouble dealing with them on the phone.

 

Nick

[ben7]

Another for the Hi Spec kit. I sourced mine via the kit car workshop following advice on previous threads and never had a problem.

 

I even fitted them myself, which, and you'll have to take my word on this, means that anybody could do it .

 

Ben