Converting ford axle to discs

[John Gaines]

I have a ford rear axle and would like to convert to a disc setup. I have seen the new calipers from Rally Design but they inform me that they will not fit inside 13" wheels.

Is there anyone that has converted to discs, can you give any info on what calipers you used etc.

Thanks, John.

[WILL FLY]

you need to speak to James Whiting here

 

Roy.

[I.Mupferit]

I converted to discs on my old 7 using a Ford axle. The discs were front discs from a Mk 5 Escort and the calipers were Sierra rears as per De dion 7's.

 

The caliper mounting brackets were really nice aluminium components machined from billet supplied by Steve Perks of SP Components in Redditch.

 

Brent

 

2.3 DURATEC SV Reassuringly Expensive

R 417.39 😬

[John Gaines]

Thanks Brent, I will look into that. Can Steve machine brackets from peoples own design? Do you have a rough idea of cost?

Regards John.

[deanteam]

We used Alfa/Fiat calipers, cast ali, a bit lighter. Still made by 'Lucas" Tried VW Golf but were too big to fit inside 'our' 13" wheels

[John Gaines]

Which model of Alpha/Fiat did they come from?

Regards ,John.

[I.Mupferit]

I believe Steve Perks has them made by a sub contractor but I'm sure they can do specials. Give Steve a call, he's very approachable.

 

Brent

 

2.3 DURATEC SV Reassuringly Expensive

R 417.39 😬

[4ster]

Just completed this job on my car as part of the Ital to English project.

I (or to be more precise, the garage doing the work for me) had quite a bit of trouble with this part of the job. The advice above, regarding SPC, seems very sound and I should probably have taken this route myself. Instead, I ended up sourcing the brackets & discs (as part of an English axle conversion kit) from Burton and the calipers wouldn't fit within the 7 x 13" Minators. This was mainly because the inside of the wheel is "stepped" with the internal diameter being smaller by 5mm (ish) on the outer part of the wheel - if you can make sense of that. This can be cured by altering the caliper brackets and reducing the disc diameter but it is all a bit of a faff and may be avoidable if SPC can supply the correct sizes to start with. I don't have the dimensions to hand but could get them for you if it would help.

Interestingly, the CXR wheel doesn't have this ridge and would fit with no problem at all.

Other issues to sort are the handbrake cable and bleeding the Sierra calipers - lots of good advice on BC.

After a first test drive with a very squidgy pedal, I also ended up replacing the master cylinder, with one from Performance Braking. This was to cope with the larger volume of fluid needed for the calipers (or so I was advised) and it cured the problem but, judging by Brent's and others experience, this may be peculiar to my rather ancient car.

Best of luck.

Paul

[I.Mupferit]

I stuck with the standard master cylinder (97 chassis) and it was fine with that. The SPC kit was a perfect fit and I had no clearance issues with the wheels at all.

 

For the handbrake, I used the standard Sierra rear cable together with the front cable to the under dash handbrake but I had to fabricate some brackets in the tunnel to accept the cable ferrules. Not a difficult task but then I do have access to a metalworking workshop.

 

Brent

 

2.3 DURATEC SV Reassuringly Expensive

R 417.39 😬

[deanteam]

Did it a couple of years ago, I think the calipers came from a 155 turbo, pad size is a little smaller than the sierra, but weight is lower. I looked at the rear of the Murano? Weekend and I think they would fit as well. The design is very similar as I think they are made by the same company 'Lucas" (Valeo?).

[John Gaines]

Just a thought, what would be the limiting factor that would stop you using a caliper from a large capacity mtoorcycle? Would it be down to the strength of the mounting bracket?

Thanks John.