How to upgrade brakes on 33

Finally, after careful planning I have decided to upgrade brakes on my good old 33 with big help of my friends Tino (33 P4 with yellow Koni and 15”) and Nenad (1.3 upgraded to 1.7 16V with lightened flywheel and crankshaft, lowered and yellow Koni).

There is some other ways to upgrade brakes on 33:
http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=3454
http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=2052
but we have decided to do it in different way (found some info on the net, maybe even on Alfaowner, I don’t remember any more where), and to do it in simple way (no CNC complications) and even to retain 14” wheels.
As you know, the biggest brakes on 33 are 239 x 22 which is very small for a car with more than 130 hp and 1000 kg, for heavier braking:

1-st option is discs from Alfa 164 (or similar) - 257 x 22, with Ate calipers from Opel (Vauxhall in UK) fixed with a 6,5 mm washer (plate) and longer bolts. Only special part is new brake hoses, as it requires on one side fitting for Alfa and other side fitting for Opel.

Compatible discs:
ALFA ROMEO 164 2.0i Twin Spark 90-98
FIAT Croma 1.6 (+ ABS) 10.88-92
FIAT Croma 2.0 CHT/i.e. (+ ABS) 10.88-92
FIAT Croma 2.0i 93-96
FIAT Croma 2.0i 16V 93-96
FIAT Croma 2.0i Turbo 10.88-92
FIAT Croma Diesel 2.5 (+ ABS) 10.88-92
FIAT Croma Turbodiesel 1.9 i.d. (+ ABS) 6.88-92
FIAT Croma Turbodiesel 1.9 i.d.. 93-96
FIAT Croma Turbodiesel 2.5 10.88-92
FIAT Croma Turbodiesel 2.5 93-96
LANCIA Thema 2.0i.e.16V / S.W. 10.88-94
LANCIA Thema 2.8i.e.V6 10.88-94
LANCIA Thema Turbodiesel 2.5 / S.W. 10.88-94

Disc must be machined 1 mm because Opel dics are 256 x 24 mm, and from the inside must be machined 3 mm on 45 degrees (or 3 mm in total if easier) because it touches inside of the wheel hub – part where caliper is mounted. If needed, wheel hub has to be finalized a little with a file.

Also, dust disc covers must be removed

It is possible that base of the some (not all) calipers will touch a hub, but that can be easily solved.

Be careful to keep original washers from 33 and to place them in original way (conical washers) Use Loctite at will.

New hoses must be made with Opel fittings on one side and Alfa fittings on other and new copper washers used (1,5 mm thick)

Warning: be careful when to change pads because calipers are for 24 discs and you use 22 mm disc, so don’t wait to change them when they are almost completely used. Pads used in these calipers don’t have safe mechanism with electrical wires like on the 33. Strange because they are even used on Opels with 200 hp who were twice expensive as 33 was at the time (and they say that Alfa is cheap, they even don’t have washers on caliper bolts).

Compatible calipers:
DAEWOO Espero 1.5i 16V 95->
DAEWOO Espero 1.8i 95->
DAEWOO Espero 2.0i 95->
DAEWOO Lanos 1.5i 97->
DAEWOO Lanos 1.6i 16V 97->
DAEWOO Nexia (Racer) 1.5i 16V GLX/GTX 95->
OPEL Ascona C 2.0i (95 kW) 9.87-88
OPEL Astra 1.4iS 91-97
OPEL Astra 1.6i 16V 94-97
OPEL Astra 1.8 16V GSi 91-94
OPEL Astra 1.8i 16V 93-97
OPEL Astra 2.0 16V GSi 91-97
OPEL Astra 2.0 GSi 91-94
OPEL Astra 2.0i 91-94
OPEL Astra 2.0i 16V (100 kW) 94-97
OPEL Astra Diesel 1.7 91-97
OPEL Astra Turbodiesel 1.7 91-97
OPEL Calibra 2.0i 16V 2WD/4WD 9.89-97
OPEL Calibra 2.0i 2WD 9.89-96
OPEL Calibra 2.0i 4WD 8.89-95
OPEL Kadett E 1.8i S.W. GT 85-91
OPEL Kadett E 2.0i GSi 9.86-91
OPEL Kadett E 2.0i GSi 16V 9.87-91
OPEL Kadett E 2.0i GT 87-91
OPEL Vectra 1.8/i 4WD 88-92
OPEL Vectra 1.8i Automatic 88-9.95
OPEL Vectra 2.0i 16V 9.89-9.95
OPEL Vectra 2.0i 2WD 88-9.95
OPEL Vectra 2.0i 4WD 88-9.95
OPEL Vectra B 1.6i 10.95-2.99
OPEL Vectra B 1.6i 16V 10.95-2.99
OPEL Vectra B 1.8i 16V 10.95-2.99
OPEL Vectra B Turbodiesel 1.7 10.95-96
OPEL Vectra B Turbodiesel 2.0 16V (60 / 74 kW) 9.96-2.99
PONTIAC LeMans 2.0 GSE (vented disc) 87-90
VAUXHALL Astra / Belmont 1.8 84-92
VAUXHALL Astra / Belmont 2.0 GTE 9.87-92
VAUXHALL Astra F 2.0 16V GSi 92-98
VAUXHALL Astra F 2.0NE/XE 92-98
VAUXHALL Calibra 2.0i 90-96
VAUXHALL Calibra 2.0i 16V/4WD 90-97
VAUXHALL Cavalier B 2.0 SRi 87-89
VAUXHALL Cavalier C 1.8 (vented disc) 89-92
VAUXHALL Cavalier C 2.0i (2WD/4WD) 89-95
VAUXHALL Cavalier C 2.0i 16V (2WD/4WD) 89-95
VAUXHALL Vectra 1.6i 10.95-2.99
VAUXHALL Vectra 1.6i 16V 10.95-2.99
VAUXHALL Vectra 1.8i 16V 10.95-2.99
VAUXHALL Vectra Turbodiesel 1.7 10.95-96
VAUXHALL Vectra Turbodiesel 2.0 16V (14" wheel) 97->

Hope that this helps


2-nd option is 284 x 22 disc from Alfa or similar and Opel Calibra V6 calipers but this is very heavy and it fits only under 15” wheel .
When this is fitted I will let you know about details

Nice link for disc measurements and comparison on Brembo site:
http://www.brembo.com/CatalogoBrembo...=NoModifyGuest

Calipers with important measurements:

Originally Posted by Boris

1-st option is discs from Alfa 164 (or similar) - 257 x 22, with Ate calipers from Opel (Vauxhall in UK) fixed with a 6,5 mm washer (plate) and longer bolts. Only special part is new brake hoses, as it requires on one side fitting for Alfa and other side fitting for Opel.

Think this was me

I fitted 164 discs and Astra 16v GTE calipers to my 1.7 Sprint. It came about when I was servicing my wifes Cavalier SRi and noticed the calipers were the same make as the Sprint and sure enough the caliper mounting holes were the same.

I think this must have been like 10-12 years ago so getting info on calipers and discs was not as easy as it is now.

Fitted Brembo 164 discs and Mintex pads with the GTE calipers - it was great on the track and never faded. The only machining or fitting problems I remember I had was the 164 disc would touch the underside of the caliper - ground 1-2mm from the underside and fitted no problem. Also required the washer / spacer to centre the caliper over the disc.

Wow how things come back to haunt you................

Nice to see you still read 33 related posts although you now drive 2x 156.
I expect to find some time next week to mount those 284mm discs + Calibra calipers, Boris metioned in his post.

Originally Posted by Pascs

Think this was me :

Probably

Originally Posted by Pascs

I fitted 164 discs and Astra 16v GTE calipers to my 1.7 Sprint. It came about when I was servicing my wifes Cavalier SRi and noticed the calipers were the same make as the Sprint and sure enough the caliper mounting holes were the same.

I think this must have been like 10-12 years ago so getting info on calipers and discs was not as easy as it is now.

10 EU on Italian scrapeyard - Christmas discount

Originally Posted by Pascs

Fitted Brembo 164 discs and Mintex pads with the GTE calipers - it was great on the track and never faded. The only machining or fitting problems I remember I had was the 164 disc would touch the underside of the caliper - ground 1-2mm from the underside and fitted no problem. Also required the washer / spacer to centre the caliper over the disc.

Wow how things come back to haunt you................

Originally Posted by tvatavuk

Nice to see you still read 33 related posts although you now drive 2x 156.
I expect to find some time next week to mount those 284mm discs + Calibra calipers, Boris metioned in his post.

Still have a soft spot for the Sprint and tend to keep an eye on the 33, Sprint, Sud forum. I did hear that its possible to fit GTA 4 pot Brembos to the 33 type suspension

Pascs,

Yep done that on my track car. Was working very well recently on it's first road and track day outing. That was until I managed to damage the crank at Donnington. The engine is now in bits and waiting for new shells etc before the rebuild. Brakes were very, very good and not too difficult to fit! I do use 16" wheels though.

Edward.

This is how it looks on the car

Are they a straight bolt-on job...??

Might be a good upgrade to go with a "run-a-supercharger-off-the-spare-crank-pulley" project.


Ralf S.

Originally Posted by Ralf S.

Are they a straight bolt-on job...??

Might be a good upgrade to go with a "run-a-supercharger-off-the-spare-crank-pulley" project.


Ralf S.

It could be called straight bolt-on job because no special CNC machine work is needed.

You need 257 x 22 disc, Ate calipers from Opel (Vauxhall in UK), a 6,5 mm washer (plate) and longer bolts. Only special part is new brake hoses, as it requires on one side fitting for Alfa and other side fitting for Opel.
Only machining needed can be done with simple rotating machine (very easy). Disc must be machined 1 mm because Opel dics are 256 x 24 mm, and from the inside must be machined 3 mm on 45 degrees (or 3 mm in total if easier) because it touches inside of the wheel hub – part where caliper is mounted. If needed, wheel hub has to be finalized a little with a file.

which car do you get the longer bolts from.thanks lee

Originally Posted by baldy

which car do you get the longer bolts from.thanks lee

Did not came from any donor car. They had been made, but probaly can be bought. Problem is because they have "fine" and not standard bolt thread.

Longer wheel bolts? does the 33 / Sprint have the same bolt as all the modern Alfas = M12x1.25

Alfa 155 have 35mm long thread and GTV's have 38mm long thread or there are usually plenty on ebay