[Spacenut]

Right guys, I'm canvassing opinions again, this time on handbrake calipers. I've just about lost patience with the original ATE design and was thinking about an upgrade, bearing in mind that my engine and gearbox are in the rear of the Green Machine!

So, what's out there that would fit an Alfasud inboard-brake transaxle?

Wilwood Powerlite calipers are available with a mechanical handbrake, and can be adapted to fit the Alfasud transaxle mountings. However, Wilwood say these brakes are for small sports and formula cars weighing no more than 750 kg (which Green Machine exceeds by a comfortable margin). Should I be concerned about such restrictions? HiSpec brakes do a similar 4-pot caliper, with an SVA compliant handbrake mechanism; pricier than Wilwoods, but intended for heavier vehicles and with the promise of a more efficient handbrake. Then there are Brembos, as used on Ultimas which are even more expensive and a bit over the top for the Nova, or a plethora of production car calipers that could be adapted to fit... somehow. On the latter front I have already investigated a set of X1/9 calipers (courtesy of Graham Boulter, boxer hillclimb guru) but have had to discount them on account of chassis clearance issues

So - any ideas, chaps? I want to use solid discs.

Advice/opinions greatly appreciated, as always :thumbs:

Lauren

 

[Alfasixnut]

Hi Lauren
I've used the 164 Alfa rear calipers on the 6C and they have a cable operated handbrake. It has a big single piston on one side and a floating clamp on the other. However this is adapted to operate on the Front vented disc from the front of the 164 - but at the back of the 6C. There have been no problems with MoT brake efficiency tests.

 

[RSFruitbat]

Hi.
I am successfully using the powerlite caliper without handbrake option on the front of my Alfa33 which has Sud running gear i.e. inboard brakes.

I have found the brakes a massive improvement over standard but I have the largest piston option which isnt available with handbrake. I was also told dont use them on a car weighing over 750kg. The rally car is approx 1000kg.

We did a rally at the weekend with 15mile stages with many corners being brake from 90+ mph into a sharp first gear bend. Using castrol SRF fluid we had no problems at all.

I would suggest I am going to abuse my brakes far more than you will in the Green Machine.

rsfruitbat

 

[Spacenut]

Hi Lauren
I've used the 164 Alfa rear calipers on the 6C and they have a cable operated handbrake. It has a big single piston on one side and a floating clamp on the other. However this is adapted to operate on the Front vented disc from the front of the 164 - but at the back of the 6C. There have been no problems with MoT brake efficiency tests.

Thanks Philip, I will investigate the 164 caliper (its probably shared by a number of other Fiats and Alfas too). Being a single pot floating caliper helps too.

Hi.
I am successfully using the powerlite caliper without handbrake option on the front of my Alfa33 which has Sud running gear i.e. inboard brakes.

I have found the brakes a massive improvement over standard but I have the largest piston option which isnt available with handbrake. I was also told dont use them on a car weighing over 750kg. The rally car is approx 1000kg.

We did a rally at the weekend with 15mile stages with many corners being brake from 90+ mph into a sharp first gear bend. Using castrol SRF fluid we had no problems at all.

I would suggest I am going to abuse my brakes far more than you will in the Green Machine.

rsfruitbat

Thanks Fruity - Graham B mentioned you were running Powerlites, so I was keen to know what you think of them. Agreed you are running them a lot harder than I will, and your car is 150 kg heavier as well, so it sounds like the <750 kg advice is, shall we say, "overly conservative".

But I have read elsewhere that the handbrake function on the Powerlite is rubbish, which doesn't improve my situation in this department. I was wondering about fitting a non-HB Powerlite and a separate spot caliper for the HB function. Could the two calipers share a common mounting bracket? I could get one cut from steel plate. Then I just need to work the chassis clearance...

Any more suggestions?

Lauren

 

[markp2]

Hi Lauren,
Avoid the Willwood Spot calipers. I had them on my Minari racer gripping Suzuki GSXR bike discs. It was always a struggle to get it through the MoT on handbrake function - even with a total weight of 575kg.
Alfetta and Alfa 75 rear calipers may well fit. They were inboard and had the cable handbrake.
Cheers,
Mark

 

[RSFruitbat]

Ive got the wilwood spot calipers also. I didnt find them that easy to mount. If you do go with them I would also recommend trying to rig a spring to pull the lever back as they can drag. This is still on my to do list.

rsfruitbat

 

[Spacenut]

Hmm, sounds like the spot calipers aren't up to much either. I shall re-consider my options. Thanks for the feedback anyway, that's what makes this forum so good :thumbs:

Just had a frustrating afternoon resetting my front suspension camber. I was hoping to dial in 1.5° negative before heading off to Gursten Down to see Graham do the hill again, but have had to stop at zero for the moment :rant:

Oh well, zero is better than nothing I suppose :cheese:

Lauren

 

[jahcee]

alfetta and alfa 75 rear calipers have different mounting lug spacing to sud front calipers, too close together, but is the same as the Sud rear calipers, but there isn't enough clearance to fit them on the rear axle of a Sud.

 

[Spacenut]

Thanks Jahcee - not much chance of me using those on my inboard 'Sud gearbox then!

Beginning to think about leaving the brakes as they are, just getting a pair of recon calipers that don't have internal wear - no complaints about the braking efficiency when used at the back of a mid-engined car, just need a more effective handbrake!

Lauren

 

[alfasloot]

hi lauren,

alfa 75 calipers bolt straight on to the sud gearbox, the alloy brembo ones, but don't have handbrake... and would need modified discs too. got this info of a chap called adam on here, and is listed in the fia homologation doc for the trofeo race cars. can email you a copy of the document if you like?

perhaps you could use those, and fit the rally designs handbrake thingys?

 

[Spacenut]

Hi Sloot - OK, I seem to remember I downloaded the scans that Greek did of the Trofeo homologation papers, I will have a look at them again. I have been warned off using spot calipers, which only seem to be suitable for getting Locaterfields through IVA.

The only problem I have with the Wilwood calipers is that the pad actuator levers are really short, so the Locaterfield boys have rig up force-multiplication pulleys to increase the effectiveness of the handbrake. Unfortunately I don't have the metallurgical skills to make longer replacements, and for over 150 notes a pair, I'm not sure I should be modifying them anyway!

Lauren