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Disc brakes on a BN4

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longbridgehealey

longbridgehealey

Obi Wan
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Can I convert my 100-6 to disc brakes in the front, and can I keep the wire wheels?
 
It's a bolt-on swap using the early 3000 parts (up to when BJ8 brakes were upgraded). I prefer the master cylinder sized for the non-servo system__and no servo.
 
longbridgehealey said:
Can I convert my 100-6 to disc brakes in the front, and can I keep the wire wheels?
Click to expand...

Welch makes the adapter plates in both sizes - 3.25" for the older smaller brakes and 3.5" for the newer larger brakes. If you buy the larger adapters you also have the option of using Toyota 4-piston calipers like I did. See:
https://www.pbase.com/stevegerow/healey_discs

The Toyota calipers with ceramic pads are considerably cheaper than the Girlings.

My understanding is the earlier hub through early BJ8 will bolt up to the later, thicker discs (verify this with Moss tech support). This allows you to re-use your hub bearings, shims, distance pieces, dust caps and knockoffs.

If you PM me, I'll send you a couple of pdf parts lists with parts cost estimates I prepared for a friend who's contemplating the same project.
 
PM sent :smile:
 
I have a pair of 3000 caliper mounting brackets for sale. Send me a PM if interested.
 
I am not sure we answered his question. You have pointed out that the brakes can be converted to disk, but what are the reasons to do this? When I converted my BN4 and drove it for the first time, the braking power improvement was amazing. You will love the change. I used the Dennis Welch conversion, which is an English Ford Escort unit. Jerry
 
The caliper brackets I have for sale are original front 3000 brackets for the early type 14 calipers. Which means the bolt spacing is 3.25".
 
I also have the Girling Disk, the only warning was: that can be incompatible with 60 spoke wire wheels (I have 4x72spoke)
 
Yes, you can convert your BN4 front brakes (and rear, too) to disk. I used the Denis Welch kits. The front calipers in my kit are the same as a TR-6, and the rears are Jaguar.

The whole setup changed the braking power immensely and got rid of out-of-round and unbalanced drums.
 
John Turney said:
Yes, you can convert your BN4 front brakes (and rear, too) to disk. I used the Denis Welch kits. The front calipers in my kit are the same as a TR-6, and the rears are Jaguar.

The whole setup changed the braking power immensely and got rid of out-of-round and unbalanced drums.
Click to expand...

If anyone is installing the Welch (or Cape) rear setup - you will be fabricating your own e-brake rods and cutting and welding the balance lever for increased pull - for which they supply drawings.

PM me if you would like info on building a better linkage using all bolt-on parts.
Picture shows steel extension plates to increase pull on brake rods without modifying balance lever.
BrakeLeverWithExtensions.JPG
 
PM me if you would like info on building a better linkage using all bolt-on parts.
Picture shows steel extension plates to increase pull on brake rods without modifying balance lever.

Hi Steve
All of us are interested in your(Cape) MOD -easy increase of efficiency to the hand brake was one of my problems - I have just one piece of stainless plate, waiting to copy your (Cape)brackets
View attachment 35704
 
Thanks to BoyRacer, Richard Mayor for providing the rotors and mounting brackets.

Later this year, I'll work on developing a rear bracket to use the same BMW discs but without the necessity of modifying the Jag parking brake levers for clearance. When that happens, will announce here and collect orders so we can get a number of sets made.

My friends and I like the BMW discs because they're larger diameter than the slightly wimpy-looking Welch or Cape items*. Size matters!

*Addendum: they're also a lot cheaper.
 
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Which model BMW are you sourcing the discs from? I generally have some decent rotors from '98-'02 ///M Rdstrs & Coupes laying around.
 
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