Wow, thanks for the through reply Paul. Sounds like the
larger pads and perhaps the drilled rotors might be clear
ticket.
Thanks again.
Larry
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-mgb-v8@autox.team.net
> [mailto:owner-mgb-v8@autox.team.net]On
> Behalf Of KILE, PAUL D
> Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2000 7:53 AM
> To: 'Larry Hoy'; MG V8 List
> Subject: RE: MGB v8 front brakes
>
>
> Larry,
> I've got a Factory GT V-8 here in California, so
> I can address some of your
> questions. The thicker rotor was used to
> dissipate more heat and to be more
> resistant to brake fade (although I would have
> thought a ventilated rotor
> would have done a better job, but the factory was
> working on the cheap when
> they designed the GT V-8).
>
> If you were to install the rotors on a 4-cyl car,
> you would also need the
> V-8 calipers that allow for the thicker rotor.
> These were an amalgam of MGB
> and Triumph 2000 calipers, and can be
> "fabricated" by combining one half of
> the MG with one half of the Triumph units. You
> of course need the hardened
> bolts and the square section fluid seal if you
> split calipers. I have heard
> dire warnings from some folks that you need a
> special jig to reassemble
> split calipers, but I have done it several times
> with no problem (as long as
> the bolts and seal are replaced).
>
> You will be hard pressed to find a set of Triumph
> 2000 calipers here in the
> States, they sold only a few of that weird
> looking sedan over here. Of
> course, you could buy new V-8 caliper assemblies
> in the UK, but I'm sure
> they are hellishly expensive (I was able to
> rebuild mine). You are right
> that the V-8 pads will fit the 4-cylinder
> calipers, and they give you a
> better swept area. I got mine (original Lockheed
> pads) from either Brown
> and Gammons or Moss UK (I don't remember which),
> and I paid about $35.00US
> for them. Moss USA sells Mintex competition V-8
> pads for around $80.00 a
> set, but they probably need to be warmed up
> before they work effectively - I
> don't want that on a street car.
>
> The rotor and caliper are a direct bolt on to the
> MGB front uprights/hubs,
> although the rotor splash plate needs to be cut
> away slightly to clear the
> V-8 caliper (I bought a set of replacement splash
> plates, and they were
> obviously 4-cylinder units that had been cut up).
> The brake lines are the
> same as late MGB with the spiral protector, but I
> found that non-OEM
> Lockheed brake lines will not fit, the hex end
> that screws into the caliper
> is too fat to clear the caliper casting - make
> sure you use OEM Lockheed
> lines. You also need longer cotter pins to hold
> the pads into the caliper,
> these are not automatically included with brake
> pad sets any more.
>
> As for whether the V-8 setup is worth it, IMHO I
> think that a set of cross
> drilled MGB rotors coupled with the V-8 pads in
> the 4-cyl. calipers will
> give you the same fade resistance as what the
> Factory intended with the
> thicker rotors. Of course, I am going for
> concours originality in my V-8, so
> I am stuck with the original system.
>
> Cheers,
> Paul Kile
> 1974 Factory MGB-GT V-8 (Formerly The Rustbucket,
> renamed The Phoenix)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Larry Hoy [mailto:larryhoy@prodigy.net]
> Sent: Monday, January 31, 2000 10:07 PM
> To: MG V8 List
> Subject: MGB v8 front brakes
>
>
> This is not a new subject but I wasn't listening! Don't
> tell me you didn't "drift off" in school occasionally.
>
> Can any of you set me straight here? Tell me about the
> factory MGB V8 front brakes. Here's what I think I know.
>
> The rotor is the same diameter as the 4 cyl rotor, but it
> thicker. 1/2" vs. 3/8" (approx).
>
> The brake pads have a slightly larger foot print.
>
> V8 pads will fit the 4 cyl cars without modification.
>
> V8 rotors will not fit the 4 cyl cars unless the calipers
> are modified.
>
> Here are the questions:
>
> What is the advantage of the thicker rotor?
>
> What is needed to install the thicker rotor?
>
> Would I get the same benefit by just using the V8 brake
> pads?
>
> And for our English friends are the V8 brake pads
> available
> in England for less than 50 pounds?
>
> Larry Hoy
> http://pages.prodigy.net/larryhoy/
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