Upgrading brakes for a TR7V8

badger · Post by **badger** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 7:01 pm

Hi gang.
As part of my TR7V8 "sprint car" project, I'm going to have to do something about the crap front brakes. Now, rimmer's do a 4-pot vented disc kit but it's very expensive for what it is, and all other options seem to work around almost unobtainable parts (old volvo calipers).
I know that the MGF has the same stud pattern and I'm planning on using MGF 15" wheels, but does anyone know where I could find the data on brake disc bell depth for the mgf and tr7 discs respectively? I can manufacture new caliper brackets as required (within reason) but it'd be good to know the measurements before I get too carried away with this one!
P.S. it's getting a 4.3 stuffed under the bonnet!

Nick Moore · Post by **Nick Moore** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:00 pm

Hi Badger,
You're right to look at bigger brakes. I managed to get a friend's TR7V8 brakes smoking uphill once. Strangely, he's never offered me another drive...

I don't think MGF front discs will fit your TR7 front hubs. The MGF discs bolt onto the front of the hub over the wheel studs, while TR7 discs bolt onto the rear of the hub. The MGF discs are deeper than TR7 ones from what I've seen (no measurements sorry) but as standard are only 240mm diameter. There are 280mm upgrades available from the MG Owners Club though.

Have you seen Malcolm Randle's blog - http://raidertr7.blogspot.com/index.html
He fitted BMW vented discs, as well as the dreaded Volvo calipers. I'm looking at HiSpec calipers - http://www.hispecmotorsport.co.uk/b4_princess.htm
Not cheap but light, they look well engineered and many have dust seals.

Cheers,
Nick

badger · Post by **badger** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 11:29 am

Ta for that info Nick. I was sort of working on the assumption that if there's clearance for the disc to go on over the hubs instead of behind, then there'd be clearance within the mgf wheel for the disc/caliper obviously. The car has 10mm wheel spacers fitted at the moment (on it when I got it) so they'd be removed in the process. Looks like I need to get hold of an mgf disc and see if it will physically go over the tr hub then.

IainB · Post by **IainB** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 6:30 pm

Badger,
Might be worth getting a copy of this if you havent already got one?
http://www.btinternet.com/~jon.wolfe/tr7v8book.htm

badger · Post by **badger** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 8:50 pm

Many thanks for that link Iain I didn't even know of that book's existance, I've just gone and ordered it!

Paul Dryhurst · Post by **Paul Dryhurst** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 9:22 pm

I've fitted capri 2.8i Vented discs with the spaced m16 Calipers on my TR8(the spacers being std on the 2.8i to give width for the vented discs). The M16 Calipers are easy to get they fitted them to cortinas escorts and capri's as std with solid discs. The spacer kits can be bought for a reasonable price. you will need to get the hubs modified to take the discs or you can buy them from s&s the tr7/8 parts specialists. they stop the car well, you don't need to uprate the master cylinder and they will fit inside a std 13" TR7 alloy rim.
Regards
Paul

Sondar · Post by **Sondar** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 2:27 am

Or if you want to go the whole hog you can fit 15 inch wheels, 300mm vented disks & 4 pot calipers from the likes of AP Racing or Hi-Spec. You can go bigger than that, but I reckon bigger wheels than 15's don't look so good on a TR7 & the ride will get too hard.

Don't expect much change from GBP1,250 plus the wheels & tyres though.
Looking on the bright side, you get decent sized wheels, improved handling from the lower profile tyres & damn good brakes...

kstrutt1 · Post by **kstrutt1** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 12:50 pm

I have Ford M16 calipers on mine with solid discs and decent pads, this is a massive improvement over the standard set up. As someone has said you can replace these with capri vented discs and spacers which will reduce fade (not that I have ever found this ans issue on my road car).

The calipers bolt straight on though the caliper lug that goes under the steering arm may require a space washer if it is to thin(as this distance does not matter in the Ford application it seems to be a bit variable).

To fit the discs I turned up an aluminium spacer which bolts to the hub on one side and then is taped for the bolts and has a spigot in the centre to take the disc on the other. To make sure the disc mounting face was completley concentic to the hub I finished the turning with the hub and spacer bolted togehter and spining on it's bearings about a dummy stub axle.
To be sure the caliper bolts are drilled and wired and the hub/disc bolts loctited.

This has been on my car for 10 years / 60,000 miles with no problems.

My wheels are 15" MG maestro Lattice alloys which cost GPB 30 off of ebay.

Kevin