Series 1 brake upgrade

[kie series 1 dh]

Hi what is the best brake upgrade for a series 1 without losing taste?

[JagWaugh]

Hi what is the best brake upgrade for a series 1 without losing taste?

Putting the existing system back to rights.

[cactusman]

Which is fine.....but don't forget the brakes were not universally welcomed when new. Modern cars have far better brakes than period Ford's. I fitted coopercraft four pot caliper to the front. Makes a significant improvement to stopping...and my old scalpers were rebuilt and fine.

[kie series 1 dh]

Is a 62 ots we are rebuilding it for my late father I think it came with bellows is the 4.2 system frowned upon?

[JagWaugh]

Is a 62 ots we are rebuilding it for my late father I think it came with bellows is the 4.2 system frowned upon?

It's possible to make the bellows system work (I'm not sure if all the parts are still available in good quality for the bellows).

Rebuilding may end up being more expensive than the later system.

Basically, as long as a brake system allows you to lock the wheels and dose braking effort up to that point then the next question is heat soak - and with solid discs you're pretty much up against a wall.

I've driven stock SI and full race prepped vented. The race cars had better brakes... but it's not like I've ever felt that (aside from heat soak) a stock system couldn't stop the car.

[cactusman]

Whether the Kelsey Hayes system or the later Lockheed system it makes no theoretical difference to the retarding power of the brakes. That is determined by the size of the discs and pads and their condition. All the brake booster does is provide part of the pedal pressure meaning the driver does not have too. So, in theory at least, even if the booster fails, full brake pressure can still be applied....so long as the drivers leg is strong enough.

In the real world most will say the later Lockheed system is better as it provides more assist. Mine has the Kelsey Hayes system and works just fine though. If thats what you have then use it. I believe most service parts are available in the U.S. as, while it was a rare system here in the UK it was widely used on American cars.

[abowie]

The Kelsey Hayes system works perfectly well. I have it on one of my cars and will be reinstalling it on my current restoration.
Resist the temptation to "improve" the series one E Types. They are well engineered and originality preserves value.

[cactusman]

The Kelsey Hayes system works perfectly well. I have it on one of my cars and will be reinstalling it on my current restoration.
Resist the temptation to "improve" the series one E Types. They are well engineered and originality preserves value.

Agree Andrew. Works fine. I do have my original caliper rebuilt with new seals and pads ready to go back at a moment's notice

[Simonpfhc]

Hi Kie (is that your name??)

I have upgraded the brakes on my FHC. I have fitted aluminium Zeus four-pot calipers on the front and their slightly larger aluminium rears. The fronts discs are also vented, a bit OTT maybe, but I figured that as I was modifying it, well............I might as well modify it . I have kept the original Kelsey-Hayes bellows but have completely refurbished them.

The braking experience is amazing, quite effortless in application and immediate, rapid response. There are many different calliper options around, the choice is usually down to cost and how they look. The Zeus items seem good value and they now come without the original black logo so are quite stealthy.

When I do another E, I will definitely use the same braking components without hesitation.

Cheers.

[chrisfell]

A number of options, depending on whether you mind altering the car and what use it is going to get. Records kept by the first owner of 860002 indicate the original brakes were NBG for racing. (No bloody good). Correctly maintained they are good brakes for driving on today's roads. This would be the option preferred by purists. If the car is going to be driven hard there are various options.

Optional improvements:
Change to 4.2 servo.
4.2 servo plus four pot calipers. There are a number of alternatives, Zeus. Coopercraft. Willwood. Modified Volvo. ETF. Search this forum and Jag-Lovers for more information.
Some of the above include vented discs.

Another upgrade is to fit S2 brakes, required uprights as well as calipers.

[Heuer]

This is another E-Type 'game of consequences'! Racers needed more grip so fitted wider wheels (against Jaguar advice) and more grippy tyres meant the stock brakes were overwhelmed - hence the NBG comment. If you are running 185 tyres a well maintained standard set of brakes are perfectly adequate for normal driving. Changing the servo won't improve the brakes, just reduce the effort required in pressing the pedal.

[chrisfell]

This is another E-Type 'game of consequences'! Racers needed more grip so fitted wider wheels (against Jaguar advice) and more grippy tyres meant the stock brakes were overwhelmed - hence the NBG comment. If you are running 185 tyres a well maintained standard set of brakes are perfectly adequate for normal driving. Changing the servo won't improve the brakes, just reduce the effort required in pressing the pedal.

Not in the case of 860002. It raced on standard size front wheels, slightly wider rears which would have had no effect on the front brakes. The standard brakes were simply not adequate for racing, and barely adequate for spirited road driving, especially after a little wear and tear. That's why Jaguar upgraded them.

I recall a conversation with Quentin Wilson about his early FHC. He'd spent money on Coopercraft brakes, and was roundly criticised by the concours tarts of the JDC. His view was, stuff them, its not their car, it's my car and if I'm driving with my daughter in the passenger seat I want better brakes.

[Heuer]

The Dunlop disc brakes were developed on the C and D Type Jaguars which allowed them to win at Le Mans so they must have been fairly good. Jaguar did offer a competition disc brake upgrade in period at a cost of £163/2/6 including tax:



I think they used the calipers from the Mk IX.

[kie series 1 dh]

To be honest it's not going to be driven much we want to finish it and show it. We want to improve drivability without comprising authenticity just getting it back from the paint shop ready to build many thanks for your input :-)

[cactusman]

If you are showing in concourse "competition" shows then fit the original caliper or you will be down pointed. They work fine in most road conditions but leave a good gap between you and the bmw in front...which of course we all should anyway.