• The Roadster Factory Recovery Fund - Friends, as you may have heard, The Roadster Factory, a respected British Car Parts business in PA, suffered a total loss in a fire on Christmas Day. Read about it, discuss or ask questions >> HERE. The Triumph Register of America is sponsoring a fund raiser to help TRF get back on their feet. If you can help, vist >> their GoFundMe page.
  • Hey there Guest!
    If you enjoy BCF and find our forum a useful resource, if you appreciate not having ads pop up all over the place and you want to ensure we can stay online - Please consider supporting with an "optional" low-cost annual subscription.
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this UGLY banner)
Tips
Tips

AH 3000 rear disc brake conversion

Asuny64BJ8

Freshman Member
Country flag
Offline
Researching converting my rear drum brakes for AH 3000 BJ8 to disc brakes. If anyone has any information or suggestions please let me know.
Thanks

Daniel 1964
 

JPSmit

Moderator
Staff member
Silver
Country flag
Online
welcome! can I suggest you repost your question in the Austin Healey section - not everyone looks here as it is the introduction page.
 

Basil

Administrator
Staff member
Boss
Offline
Hi Daniel, I'm moving this thread to our Austin Healey forum (I'll leave a "re-direct" marker in the New Members Intro forum) If you're reading this then you have been magically transferred to the AH forum.

Please do go back to the "New Members" forum and post an introduction of yourself.

Basil
 

John Turney

Yoda
Silver
Country flag
Offline
OP
A

Asuny64BJ8

Freshman Member
Country flag
Offline
Conversion kits are available from:

Denis Welch, https://www.bighealey.co.uk/austin-healey/healey-brakes/brakes-general?page=2. These are the ones I have.
AH Spares, https://www.ahperformanceparts.co.uk/performance-parts/Brakes-Rear/default.aspx
Steve Gerow, a member of this forum (steveg), https://pbase.com/stevegerow/healey_rear_disc_setup. According to his signature, he sells a complete kit, including a part that makes the emergency/parking brake work properly.
Thank you guys, this new info is very helpful
Thanks
Daniel
 

dougie

Luke Skywalker
Country flag
Offline
Hi Daniel -

I have rear discs on my '57 vintage racer, but find the drums provide plenty of braking power with the right pads on my '65 Bj8 for street perfromance driving. I did upgrade to balanced and vented drums which also eliminated the scuttle shake that occured at 60 mph.

Wheel 1.jpg


 

steveg

Yoda
Gold
Country flag
Offline
John, Thanks for the mention. Since it's relevant, guess I'm allowed a mild self-plug.

The kit's the most complete; the installer needs to supply their own calipers, e-brake rods, hard lines and proportioning valve.

RearDiscThruWheel.JPG

DiscRotorKitComplete0616.jpg
 
Last edited:

gonzo

Jedi Warrior
Country flag
Offline
Ventilated and balanced rear drums are an excellent alternative to modifying originals. I also have them installed on my BJ7. Considering a 4 pot caliper upgrade for the fronts now. GONZO
10a937bf-2288-4027-a5ec-2e753aadac6f-1.jpg
 

steveg

Yoda
Gold
Country flag
Offline
Gonzo - you won't be sorry you converted to 4-pots. Make sure the calipers fit your smaller (Type 14 IIRC) adapter plates. I believe they're available in both Type 14 and 16 bolt centers.

Edit: what selection of pads is available for the AHspares calipers? Do they use a pad design from a common car?
 
Last edited:

Joe Schlosser

Jedi Warrior
Silver
Country flag
Offline
Cpnsidering the nose heavy condition upgrading the front is the place to spend your money. The rear brakes probably do not do a lot of the braking. Adding a lot of braking to the rear and not upgrading the front will cause a big balance problem.
 

steveg

Yoda
Gold
Country flag
Offline
Cpnsidering the nose heavy condition upgrading the front is the place to spend your money. The rear brakes probably do not do a lot of the braking. Adding a lot of braking to the rear and not upgrading the front will cause a big balance problem.

Agree. That's why the proportioning valve is necessary with the addition of rear discs.
 

Bob_Spidell

Yoda
Gold
Country flag
Online
Nobody asked me, but that's never stopped me before ... I have/had several cars with 4-wheel disks. None of them have, IMO, anything more than barely adequate parking/emergency brakes; both my Healeys, with the big drums in back--front, too for the BN2--have excellent parking/emergency brakes. Just sayin' ...
 

steveg

Yoda
Gold
Country flag
Offline
Nobody asked me, but that's never stopped me before ... I have/had several cars with 4-wheel disks. None of them have, IMO, anything more than barely adequate parking/emergency brakes; both my Healeys, with the big drums in back--front, too for the BN2--have excellent parking/emergency brakes. Just sayin' ...

With the stock setup, the rear drums are true emergency brakes, in that they will actually stop the car.

John Turney and I (and some others) have added dual master cylinders to divide the fronts from the backs, giving an emergency braking setup.

My adapter plates augment the e-brake force and give a better e-brake handle angle.

EbrakeLever.JPG
BrakePlatesFinal.jpg
 

John Turney

Yoda
Silver
Country flag
Offline
When I installed my front and rear discs, I had a conversation with Denis Welch about the front/rear balance. He said with the 1.5" piston diameter rear calipers and the 2.125" piston front calipers, proper brake balance can be obtained with proper pad selection.
 

steveg

Yoda
Gold
Country flag
Offline
When I installed my front and rear discs, I had a conversation with Denis Welch about the front/rear balance. He said with the 1.5" piston diameter rear calipers and the 2.125" piston front calipers, proper brake balance can be obtained with proper pad selection.

John,
Did you pursue that avenue and if so, did you verify it with a panic stop?

FWIW before installing the proportion valve, I did a panic stop with my then-new 4-wheel discs and the car about swapped ends.

Richard Mayor (Boy Racer) gave me an easy method of setting the proportioning valve with the car on jackstands, which I'd be happy to pass along to anyone who wants it. The valves are around $40 and installing and adjusting them is a one-time-only task.

The DW system would call for different pads front and rear. If one changed front pads then maybe the rears would need to be experimented with for each change. The proportioning valve would call for the same pad composition front and rear.

I've been using the Centric Ceramic pads for several years with good unboosted pedal pressure and absolutely no squeaking.
 

Joe Schlosser

Jedi Warrior
Silver
Country flag
Offline
My pointr egarding the rear brake conversion is that the drum brakes are probably sufficient and the dollars should be spent on improving the front brakes.
I am guessing that the fronts do 85-90% of the stopping.
 

John Turney

Yoda
Silver
Country flag
Offline
John,
Did you pursue that avenue and if so, did you verify it with panic stops?
Yes, they worked fine until I felt I needed to rebuild the brake system after 12 years and I put in the wrong master cylinder. My new rebuild includes the correct MC. I have to look through my records and find the correct pads (good ones in front, not so good in back).
 

John Turney

Yoda
Silver
Country flag
Offline
My pointr egarding the rear brake conversion is that the drum brakes are probably sufficient and the dollars should be spent on improving the front brakes.
I am guessing that the fronts do 85-90% of the stopping.
You are correct, but rear discs look cool and don't cause scuttle shake.
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
J 3000 Rear Seats Austin Healey 6
D Healey 3000 BT7 rear panels Austin Healey 0
B Wanted I'm looking for a boot [trunk] lid and drivers rear fender for a 100/6 or 3000 Austin Healey Classifieds 0
M 3000 MKII racer Exhaust exit in rear fender Austin Healey 1
coj 1960 Healey 3000 front and rear brakes Austin Healey 2
B Help to replace 3000 leaking rear axle oil seal ? Austin Healey 25
B 3000 [not BJ8] Rear Springs - too stiff - why? Austin Healey 6
Johnny AH 3000 BN7 rear leaf springs modifications. Austin Healey 4
S Wanted WTB: 3.5 ratio diff/pumkin for '67 BJ8 Healey 3000 Austin Healey Classifieds 0
E For Sale Austin Healey 100 and 3000 parts Austin Healey Classifieds 1
R 3000 Heater Valve Austin Healey 4
E For Sale Driver quality 1963 Healey 3000 mark 2 Austin Healey Classifieds 1
kodpkd For Sale Alloy valve cover for AH 100-6 3000 PRICE DROP! Austin Healey Classifieds 1
S SOLD!! For Sale 1964 AH 3000 MkIII BJ8 Phase 1 Austin Healey Classifieds 2
Bruce 3000 Rally Grille Installation Austin Healey 5
dougie 1960 Austin Healey 3000 Works Lightweight vs. 1962 Ferrari GTO Austin Healey 6
S Wanted Used Austin-Healy 100/100-6/3000 Restoration Guide By Gary Anderson And Roger Moment Austin Healey Classifieds 14
Cutrog1 For Sale Healey 3000 BJ8.... a restoration saga Austin Healey Classifieds 0
H Lucas Starter Model for 3000 Mark II, BT7 Austin Healey 3
M Engine Stand for 3000 Motor Austin Healey 7
BoyRacer Mystery 3000 Engine Block Austin Healey 2
Scotsman Rack and Pinion Conversion for 3000 Austin Healey 7
A For Sale 1966 3000 Healey Blue BJ8 Austin Healey Classifieds 3
Zitch SOLD!! SOLD - Tri-Carb Exhaust manifold for a 3000 Austin Healey Classifieds 0
AUSMHLY For Sale - 1990 Big Healey, 3000 MK3, HMC Mk4 Austin Healey 2
Zitch For Sale AH 3000 Engine For Sale: $2500 Denver, CO area Austin Healey Classifieds 0
C Rough-Running 3000 Austin Healey 29
E 3000 Healey Door Checks Austin Healey 1
R Wanted Looking for an original AH 3000 Mk1 Drivers Manual 1102B. Austin Healey Classifieds 1
B Austin-Healey late 3000 BJ8 Electrical Diagram Austin Healey 1
B Austin-Healey early 3000 BJ8 Electrical Diagram Austin Healey 0
B Austin-Healey 100-6/3000 Electrical Drawing Austin Healey 2
E Wanted wanted Austin healey 3000 adjustable steering wheel & dash pad Austin Healey Classifieds 2
Editor_Reid In Search Of: AH 3000 BT7L 8921 Austin Healey 0
Z 3000 Front Wheel Bearings Austin Healey 3
Guido36 Custom-Bodied Austin-Healey 3000 Coupe Austin Healey 17
D Wanted: Healey 3000 MkIII body and chassis Austin Healey Classifieds 0
BoyRacer Engine Swap: 3000 Engine Into a BN1 Austin Healey 25
S Grill cowl top piece for AH 3000, BT7, $65 Austin Healey Classifieds 0
Guido36 Healey 3000 cutaway display engine Austin Healey 12
pbraun For Sale Healey 3000 transmission Austin Healey Classifieds 8
O HD8 carb on Healey 3000 Austin Healey 62
S For Sale 3000 BJ8 Laycock 4 speed with 22% OD trans & 2 6 cyln engines / long blocks / BUNDLE Austin Healey Classifieds 1
S For Sale Austin Healey 100-6 and 3000 Factory Service Manual on CD/ROM. Austin Healey Classifieds 0
S For Sale Austin Healey 3000 and 3000 MK II Factory Parts Manual - BN7 & BT7 on CD/ROM Austin Healey Classifieds 0
G 1960 3000 BN7 Top Help Austin Healey 0
C Austin Healey 3000 in Modsports Austin Healey 4
C 1962 Healey 3000 Mark II Steering Box Austin Healey 9
D 1962 3000 Hood/Bonnet Grille Austin Healey 5
maxwedge5281 Front Shroud Differences: 3000 vs. BJ8 Austin Healey 5

Similar threads

Top