Sprint GT brake upgrade

Hi - I'm looking at a 1964 Sprint GT as a potential first Classic Alfa - so presumably it is going to have the weaker Dunlop brakes - can these be upgraded to the later ones (or even one of the Alfaholic/Classic Alfa type big brake kits)?

Would there be other things that would need upgrading to allow that to happen?

As I'm new here, I promise I tried a search!!

You can upgrade the brakes it's frequently done. You need to change the front uprights though. I'm not sure of the situation at the rear, but maybe you could source a whole axle anyway.
Either way it can be done, however some people do actually like the Dunlop Brakes, so perhaps you could give them a try first.

The easiest brake upgrade is to try a set of modern pads. If you are lucky then you may be able to get some fast road/track pads (EBC Green Stuff, Ferodo DS2500 etc) that will give you better braking. But as with all these things it will be a trade off - they may not be optimal in normal, day-to-day driving conditions and you will incur heavier wear on the discs themselves.

Given the lightweight nature of the car you may find that the standard brakes (when working 100% correctly) are up to the job.

I've got a Sprint GT with Dunlop brakes and they're fine.They easily stand up to the abuse they're given. They do need setting up properly, apparently mine were overhauled by a Dunlop specialist a couple of years ago.

They are much better than most old cars brakes, I was out in a mates E-type today and the GT's brakes are vastly better (they've just been overhauled too).

Originally Posted by Sig. Pesci

I was out in a mates E-type today and the GT's brakes are vastly better (they've just been overhauled too).

And you point out that yours were overhauled by a specialist, which might make a difference. I've driven a track prepared E-Type on a race circuit and, even though unassisted, the brakes were very, very good. Better than the DB6 I tried but not as good as the D-Type

Cheers - I'll let you all know how I get on! I'm planning to use it for track days - so we'll soon find out how they are!

Originally Posted by Cosmo

And you point out that yours were overhauled by a specialist, which might make a difference. I've driven a track prepared E-Type on a race circuit and, even though unassisted, the brakes were very, very good. Better than the DB6 I tried but not as good as the D-Type

The same lad had two DB6's and he seems to think the Aston's brakes are better than the Jags. He also has a twin circuit 105 Spider that he reckons is the best braked old car he's ever had.

I did laugh when someone asked how fast the Jag will go - "just as fast as I'd feel comfortable that it would stop again !"

Brakes are a funny one, what feels like good brakes to one person feels over-servo'd to another (driven any modern French cars?). My MOT guy commented on how the brake readings were better than some new cars.

For a regularly tracked Sprint GT, I'd consider the 75 Brembos and BMW vented discs.

Another factor to put into the picture, it's a point I have only just realised myself. It appears it's not possible to get 14" rims over the Dunlop brakes, so it limits your choice of Alloys should you want to get any.

Cheers - presumably I'd have to have 15" wheels, then.

Better go and search for previous threads on wheels and tyres too! I wonder if there will be any...

I've seen a good few Sprint GT's with 14" GTA replica wheels, can't say what brakes they have but they seemed pretty standard.

Next time we see each other I will lend you a 14" wheel and you can do some experiments

Having had a close look at some Dunlop Brakes on the Ebay GTV, I can well imagine it's a problem... complicated contraptions aren't they!!..

Originally Posted by Sig. Pesci

For a regularly tracked Sprint GT, I'd consider the 75 Brembos and BMW vented discs.

Do you know which BMW vented discs fit ???

It is unfortunately one of those things that the people who know seem to keep under their hat.

Depending on the uprights, a variety of callipers/discs fit or can be made to fit.

I've heard of Audi Quattro, BMW 3-5-7 series and early 911 brakes being fitted.

Sorry I can't be of much more help. My understanding is that the BMW discs are all off the cars from the 1980's. I've seen 7-series brakes fitted to a 75, so in theory they should fit the later uprights of a 105 with limited alterations.

You could try fitting A.T.E callipers . its what we fitted to the front of the race Giulia Super Ti

Iain

Well the news is we bought the car - and find that it has already had ATE calipers fitted!

Pick it up tomorrow - and then we can see what needs doing. It's an Australian car (1964) - don't know if there were any country differences to specifications, but assume that at some point in the past 43 years someone has switched the brakes!