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anyone have a disc brake setup they want to part?

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Shealey

Shealey

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After some thought I decided to add disc brakes to the Shealey. After we lost the brakes on our MGA and nearly rolled out infront of a van doing at least 60 mph, Sandy has a real phobia about old drum brakes. The only saving grace that day was the car was from California and the E brake cable wasn't siezed and actually stopped the car! Eeekk! This car is for Sandy as a daily driver this summer and I want her to first of all "drive it" and second stop without incident. I'm hoping you guys can enlighten me as to what is required and maybe someone has a setup they are willing to part with. Also I hope this doesn't get moved to the classifieds....



1959 Bugeye W/Suzuki swift twin cam and 5 sp
 
No way you will ever convence here but drums are as good as disk when both are in the same condition.

The only advantage to disks is they will heat up and fade slower on the race track.
 
jlaird said:
The only advantage to disks is they will heat up and fade slower on the race track.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily, Jack.
Discs are self adjusting, and are much more effective in wet weather. Even hitting a good puddle with drums can decrease their effectiveness for a short period of time. Remember being told to lightly ride the brakes after getting them wet, to generate some heat to dry them out?
I agree that drums, when properly adjusted and equipped with <u>good</u> linings, can be nearly as effective as discs in dry stopping power.
Additionally, discs require less pedal effort.
Jeff
 
I would suggest a look on ebay. There are currently a couple of set-ups for sale. They will of course have to be gone through and restored. The other option is a donor car with the complete disc brake front end. The switch itself is simple and straightforward!

Jack, I beg to differ! If drums were as good, the switch to discs would not have been so overwhelming! Discs offer superior braking with easier pedal pressure and less brake fade (on the street as well as on the track!)and are a breeze to service compared to drums. There are also less mechanical parts which can fail! The key to Jeffs comments above are WELL ADJUSTED, GOOD linings, and NEARLY as effective. Why not settle for the maximum effectiveness of self-adjusting pads if available?
 
On a related subject. I took apart the disk breaks of my daughter's first Midget. This was before I read -- don't disassemble the disk. Is there a trick to putting them back together? I only took apart one side and would like to start assembling the front end. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif
 
I'm assuming you meant that you split the caliper halves?
Just replace the fluid channel "O" ring, and torque the bolts to 33.5 ~ 37 lbs ft. and you'll be good to go.
All standard cleanliness warnings, etc.
Jeff
 
Lots of great info here guys! This is the discussion I had hoped to rouse. Thanks,

Hey, on a continuation of the MGA story. After a complete brake rebuild including the master (which turned out to be the part that completely failed!) We were on a weekend drive into Wisconsin back country enjoying the car. We just crossed the St. Croix river traveling about 50 mph when a black bear cub bolted down a hill side and ran right across the road infront of us. He never broke his focus from his goal. I slammed the brakes down and actually achived lockup! I was pleasantly surprised as was the wife. Thanks to all the great parts available we saved a Cali MGA from a fate worse than death.

Sandy still never drove the car.....
 
Hmmmm, supose on a street car you can do better than lockup?
 
I'm watching the auction. Wish me luck guys.


Next question: The auction lister states the disc brake setup was from a car with Rostyle wheels.

I have new 13" alloy wheels from vitoria British. They were so tight inside the castle nuts scrapped off the stick on wheel weights. I have to get the wheels rebalanced now before use and have the weights located further out.

Will they fit over the disc brake setup? Is there any clearance problems anyone is aware of?
 
I shocked myself how easy it is to achieve lockup on a completely dry road with the temp about 75 degrees, in ncbugeye. I think the tyres are a tad on the tired side, and probably need replacing.
 
Shealey said:
I'm watching the auction. Wish me luck guys.


Next question: The auction lister states the disc brake setup was from a car with Rostyle wheels.

I have new 13" alloy wheels from vitoria British. They were so tight inside the castle nuts scrapped off the stick on wheel weights. I have to get the wheels rebalanced now before use and have the weights located further out.

Will they fit over the disc brake setup? Is there any clearance problems anyone is aware of?
Click to expand...


And one more question:

Anyone know what a used in need of rebuild disc brake setup is worth?

Sandy is a bidding maniac. She is poised and ready to strike. But we have no knowledge of used parts values for this item.
 
Do not worry about that, at worst you may have to change the studs (different thread?) other than that, there is nothing different with the rest of it! If you had alloy wheels, you may not need to do a thing.

I paid somewhere around 80-100 bucks for what looks like you are bidding on except that mine was not disassembled and was totally complete. The set-up you are looking at may have a couple of small parts missing!
 
Thanks for the reply. The shipping on that set on ebay is $85.00 bucks to me here in MN....ouch! If I bid anything more than the current bidder I may as well wait and see if anything turns up closer.
 
Geeze Jack, list all the cars in production today that use drum brakes...Or aircraft either.
 
Of course and even my truck has disks. But then it is rather new as these things go.

I surely can see from new or converting to race but then I have never had problems locken em up either. Shrug.
 
Locking up a tire is not the best way to stop, nor the quickest. Disc brakes have been with us a long time. Evolution for the BugEye's.
 
I have no problem with disks on a Bugeye, kinda wish I had em. Just on of those things.
 
No aspersions cast Jack, after all, original is original And it all does work VERY well!!!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
 
Still a good price on the starts of a disc brake syst. at this time! Hope you are still in it Shealey!
 
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