So, the rear project has started... And I'm knackered already...
I've recently managed to buy some one-month-old 2-piece 330mm discs for a very very cheap price - like a third of an ECS/Compbrake kit. So chuffed as I never seem to find the bargains....
I know some may criticise me for using 330mm discs on the rears, saying that they're overkill, and you're probably right. However, the performance along with the 356mm setup should be immense - if balanced correctly -and they'll look sexual too. I know some have gone for the 4-pots on the rear but I've decided to stick with the single pot caliper to try and achieve the best brake pedal feel that I can. Truth is I'd love the 4-pot Porsche rears with Jag parking brake but it's a lot of work and I need to start putting some serious cash towards the respray
Is there a catch... With me... Of course there is. They're actually the Badger5 330mm brake upgrade kit which comes with the bells & rotors and the extended carrier plates which allows you to use the LCR 4-pot Brembos -I'm sure you're all aware of the kit. I also got a set of DS2500 pads thrown in too. I don't have any use for the pads or caliper extension kit, but I'm sure it'll be of use to someone wanting to upgrade with a set of R32 discs or 2-piece setup
Now the catch is that they're 32mm wide. Plan A will be to machine the inner part of the caliper to accommodate the 32mm thickness. Having now removed the calipers, this will be removed from the carrier part rather than the piston section. For range of movement of the piston, there should be more than enough range from the measurements I have taken. I'm also going to remove 2mm from each of the metal faces of the pads to give me some extra play. Plan B if all doesn't go to plan, which I'm 100% confident it will, will be to use some S2 calipers.
I have today removed the calipers, carriers, rear shock absorbers and a few other things like brake lines, etc. My intention is to remove the rear beam and RARB and refurb them like I did with the front - sandblast/wire brush the rust, stonechip and paint. Basically I want to get the underneath spanking and future proof.
Adam off here has kindly sent me a sketch of his ECS carrier plates that accommodates 306mm discs (cheers mate
). So, the plates will need to be 12mm wider in between the bolt pattern to accommodate 330mm discs rather 306mm. I've made a template and test fitted the caliper. All looks good but I just need to double check the offset once I have the discs back together. The Bells will be anodised once I've found someone to anodise them, as it's something I've never looked at before. My mate (CraigFRTSI off here) is a CNC guy and is kindly going to machine some brackets out of 8mm aluminium as a free favour
So, it's underway and I've given myself a month to get this done as I want a fresh MOT for June to do some summer driving
Sorry if it's a bit of a dull update...