Front Brakes

[Mick]

Good morning

A leak on a rear caliper has led me to down the path of an overhaul of the IRS. Before commencing this I decided to inspect the entire braking system to see if there was anything that needed attention and this has led to my question.

First of all a bit of history to the car, it is a 1967 roadster that has been converted to RHD. The chassis number of the car implies that it is one about 1400 cars that left the factory as series one cars with open headlights, there appears to be some debate as to whether it is classified as a series 1, series 1 1/4 or series 1 1/2. I tend to go with series 1 1/2 as that is how the previous owner described it.

Regardless of which category it falls into my understanding is that all series 1 and indeed series 2 cars were fitted with solid discs, this car has vented discs and calipers and I am trying to work out if maybe they are from a series 3 car or some other upgrade kit.

Hoping someone can help identify them.

[mgcjag]

Yes they look like S3....have a look here and you can see the number https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304852987622 ... media=COPY

[tim wood]

If they are series 3 calipers ( and vented discs) then it would be interesting to know which stub axle carriers are in place as we know the bolt hole spacing for the caliper fixings differs twixt series 1 and later cars.

Tim

[Mick]

Steve
Thanks, I have compared mine with the ones in the pictures and they are identical.

Tim
I have studied pictures of series 3 carriers and can confirm they are very different to the carriers on my car. I have found some numbers on the inside of the castings that match the numbers on a pair being advertised as series 2 carriers, so I am assuming that is what I have.

[mgcjag]

Hi Mick...I'm assuming you don't have S1 curly hub wheels...dont think they fit with the larger caliper..also what hubs and stub axel for the vented discs....Steve

[tim wood]

Series 2 calipers weren’t vented so yours may have modified. Looking at the spacers between the caliper halves this could be possible

[mgcjag]

Hi Tim...as far as im aware they are S3 calipers...the same as S2 but with the added spacer for vented discs...I think Mick is saying he has what he thinks are S2 carriers(uprights)
Steve

[tim wood]

Ahh, I understand now Steve
Tim

[Mick]

Hi Steve/Tim

Thanks for you input, I am learning a lot. I had not realised that series 3 calipers are just series 2 calipers with spacers fitted to accommodate the thicker vented discs.

I don’t know how to identify which stub axle I have is it possible to tell from the attached photo?

I have curly hub wheels, I had noticed that they are a very snug fit in relation to the calipers but until now I just assumed this was normal. I checked the clearance on the right wheel and found that there is 3mm clearance between the caliper and the rim (blue plastic spacer in attached photo) and only 1mm clearance between caliper and wheel hub (yellow spacer). I then looked at the left wheel and found that the yellow 1mm spacer would not fit, by offering it up to the bottom of the caliper and turning the wheel to force it into the gap I found that it had been squashed down to about 0.5mm by the time it came out at the top of the caliper.

I removed the wheel to inspect the caliper and it appears that it has been modified (photo attached). There is a wide scar where material has deliberately been ground away to provide clearance and a narrow groove which may have been caused by contact with the wheel hub however there are no witness marks on any of the wheels currently fitted to the car. I suppose someone may have marked where the wheel contacted the caliper and deliberately cut the groove.

Whatever the history I can’t say that I am entirely happy with this set up and will consider options, maybe series 2 solid discs and calipers would be the easiest solution.

[mgcjag]

Hi Mick....there is nothing wrong with standard S2 brakes ..as you mention the easy option is to revert to S2 brakes.....I would think you hubs and stub are S2 as you say your uprights are S2...but you need to check....as I mentioned I didnt think you would have curly hub wheels as they wouldn't fit with the S3 calipers..but your calipers have been ground so they fit....I would have a look inside the wheels for code numbers just to check what they are..MWS international is the go to place for wheels and hubs..they have a good website and there tech guys are really helpfully ....strip down to identify parts and go from there.....Steve https://www.mwsint.com/site/cms/content ... ?chapter=1

[Mick]

Thanks for the info, I will check out hubs and wheels.