uk89camaro Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 My apologies in advance if this has been covered before. I have (I believe) a standard Cortina Hub and brake set up, and whilst the braking performance is ok even with green stuff, I would like quite a bit more bite to the pedal. I really don't fancy paying £800 or so for a Willwood 4 pot, so what are my options for a bolt on that I can still find in the scrappy. Sierra 4x4 or Cosworth, or something less exotic that will do the job? Cheers, Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Nuts Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 I don't think Willwood's will cost that much have a look here: http://www.rallydesign.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=562_588&products_id=10683&osCsid=pd3f8f7dh9qe19879t1pp7qr51 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 It has been covered many times before... If the standard set up is not doing it for you, potentially nor will the upgrade. The standard brakes are designed to stop a 1.2 tonne car with 5 people and a boot full of luggage. If they can't stop a sub 750Kg car there is something wrong. The upgrade may well rectify the underlying problem, but you're better to find out what the problem actually is lest you repeat it, or make it worse by not understanding what is going on under the middle pedal. Try reviewing some of these threads... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammy Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 I have agree with Blatman - I have standard disc/ drum set up and found I could outbreak an Impretza and VX Minaro at a track day and that was how I passed them . When changing calipers as likely as not you'll need a M/C swap and balance bar to restore brake balance , so you need to add that in Too. Try 1144 pads much more feel (probably through compression of the anti rattle gunge on the back of the pad) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk89camaro Posted May 28, 2012 Author Share Posted May 28, 2012 The standard brakes are designed to stop a 1.2 tonne car with 5 people and a boot full of luggage. If they can't stop a sub 750Kg car there is something wrong. Have you ever tried to stop a MKIII Cortina fully loaded....I have. Anyhoo, like I said they're OK, nothing wrong at all, it's just my preference to have the car stood on it's nose should I wish to. I've faffed with the brake bias and I've dialled out the "squirelly" back end, and it's balanced just right I think. I was surpised the greenstuff didn't make any difference to the feel, as I've had them in a number of cars before with great success, will have to try the mintex. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenko Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Again, I would reflect what Blatman said....Going to wilwoods would not really give you much more in the way of stopping power, but would save a big chunk of unsprung weight. For more bite, you could consider going for the rally design Wilwood package with poly A pads (Some hate them, I like em), and also the 260mm discs rather than the 250mm. In addition, you could go for a larger master cylinder........But as mentioned, I would just make 100% sure that your current system is as good as it can be. Cost should be <300, not 800!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mid life crisis Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 I have the same setup as you Paul, used on the road, track days and competition. I can honestly say I have found them fine, a little heat in the greenstuff pads seems to help. I did compete as a double driver in another car fitted with 4pots but found I was locking up everywhere, probably because I was being a bit fierce with them, being used to the M16's. However I do find the M16's a bit more progressive. Get some more nails into sole of your boots to add some weight :) I would be tempted if someone did manufacture M16's in alloy at a sensible price, as has already been said, they are a tad heavy You forgot to mention the caravan and bike rack Blatman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex07715 Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 I have the AP Westfield calipers with vented disks on the front, what are these referred to as? Solid disks on the back. The stoppers are great, 15mins on track flat out, no problem to them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu999 Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 IIRC, about the only set of 4pots that bolt straight onto Cortina uprights were good old Austin Princess calipers. Good luck finding one of them in a scrap yard! Other stuff might fit, but by the time you have engineered caliper adapter bracketry, machined / adapted brake discs to fit, and faffed with M/C ratio's, you'd be better buying 'off the shelf'. And I concur with most of the others here. Whilst they were heavier, the best brakes I had on my car were Cortina clamps, and Ferodo DS2500's... I always knew there would be (good) brakes at the end of the straight on a track day - something my Wilwoods sadly just can't seem to do... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Have you ever tried to stop a MKIII Cortina fully loaded....I have. Yup. And a Mk1 and a Mk2, plus Mk1 and Mk2 Escorts and Escort vans, Mk2 2.0l Capri, Mk1 3.0l Capri... oh, and a 105E Anglia... all with varying degrees of success Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisw_82 Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 £117 each. I have these - as a new Westfield owner I don't know much about them & can't comment on how they compare to others - but they seem a bit cheaper than Wilwoods Ultra lightweight alloy 4 pot Calipers (direct replacement for the Ford M16) Weighing in a under 1kg and no need to change your standard master cylinder. http://www.catmotors...k/products.html 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk89camaro Posted May 30, 2012 Author Share Posted May 30, 2012 oooh, me likey! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 They're made by Hi Spec, (Just like the factory four pots but without the WF logo on). They're massively lighter than M16's, but no better at stopping the car. Although they are sized to work with the standard MC, some prefer the AP Master cylinder with these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FILFAN Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 Have you ever tried to stop a MKIII Cortina fully loaded....I have. Anyhoo, like I said they're OK, nothing wrong at all, it's just my preference to have the car stood on it's nose should I wish to. I've faffed with the brake bias and I've dialled out the "squirelly" back end, and it's balanced just right I think. I was surpised the greenstuff didn't make any difference to the feel, as I've had them in a number of cars before with great success, will have to try the mintex. Cheers. My standard setup will lock the wheels quite easy so no point in swapping them as I would get no more breaking ability by upgrading only less effort required. Have you tried braided hoses as this may firm the pedal up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 Yup, the archives are full of people really pleased with how their blingy new 4-pots look, or how much un sprung weight has been saved. The archives are equally filled with people disappointed in how their new 4-pots don't actually give them any braking improvement, or in a few case were actually worse. Likewise, it's not that unusual to get a thread sometime after the 4-pot conversion asking about different MC's, adjustable balance setups or valves, and re drilling the brake pedal to give a "better" ratio. ASFAIR, the only brake upgrade that seems to get universal praise from those that have fitted it is the AP kit with AP master cylinder. But that's big bucks. (And even then, one or two have said they're not so keen on the pads that come with it). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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