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more powerful brakes.

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S

skikir

Jedi Hopeful
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I have had 3 TR6s. My first 70 had brakes that were really strong. On the test drive I locked up the tires at the fist stop light I came to. I thought that was just because I was driving a 65 Spit at the time and was not used to it. I used to pull my old wooden 15 foot sailboat that wieghed about 1800 pounds with it and never thought twice about stopping power. My other 74 1/2 and 72 TRs have OK breaks but nothing outstanding. I know I rebuilt the 70's master cylinder once, replaced the front pads and the power brake servo and did not use anything different from normal. What could make those brakes so much better with out any obvious modifications?
 
IMO the main difference was asbestos in the shoes/pads. The modern compounds seem to have a much lower coefficient of friction.
 
Upgrade the pads. There are several options. I installed the green pads that TRF carries and am very happy with the results.
 
I did upgrade to green pads and they are better and squeel less but still a long way from what I had in my first TR and it obvioulsy did not have a big brake up grade.
 
The Toyota "big brake" 4-pot upgrade will not increase breaking power, but will help fade (an issue if you are racing or brake on hills a lot). This is because the displacement of the Toyota 4 pistons is almost the same as the Triumph's stock 2 piston caliper.

I have stock front calipers with Hawk street/race pads up front, and the larger Morgan/Sunbeam 0.75" rear slave cylinders on the TR250. Braking performance is great - close to that of most modern cars IMHO.

Rob.
 
Rob: Which Hawk pads did you get, and where did you source them? ISTR contacting them a few mos. ago and they responded that the did not have pads for the TR6. ( It's possible, however, that I'm confusing them with another manufacturer.).
Thanks,
Tom
 
tom628 said:
Rob: Which Hawk pads did you get, and where did you source them? ISTR contacting them a few mos. ago and they responded that the did not have pads for the TR6. ( It's possible, however, that I'm confusing them with another manufacturer.).
Thanks,
Tom
Click to expand...

Moss carries them:

https://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=41453&SortOrder=1

Or these folks carry Hawk pads:

https://www.essexparts.com/

(I bought pads for the Lotus from them.)

The ones Moss sells I think are HP Plus compound, which if you check the Hawk litrature, says they can result in additional noise, rotor wear, and dust. I have these on the TR, and honestly think they are fine. I went with the HPS compound on the Europa, which is somewhat milder, but to be honest think the HP Plus may have been the better choice there too (although on the mid-engine Europa, I probably don't want to get too aggressive with the front brakes).

Hope that helps.

Rob.
 
kinda related, but aren't you supposed to get pads and shoes with the same compound? and who makes performance shoes?
 
Not really. As far as I know, many run Kevlar front pads and standard rear shoes.
 
The front and rear brakes should be "balanced" - i.e. have braking proportional to the front/rear weight distribution, and lock-up at about the same time.

If the brakes are well balanced before changing the pads, then yes, if possible, you should match the brake materials front and rear when upgrading. I went with the larger displacement rear brake cylinders in lieu of upgrading the shoes. Seems to work.

Rob.
 
Flinkly said:
kinda related, but aren't you supposed to get pads and shoes with the same compound? and who makes performance shoes?
Click to expand...
One of the best is Porterfield. Their R4-S street compound is superior to most others. If you want to race only, the R4 is very good. I used the R4-S compound. Much more powerful stopping, no noise, no warm up, no fade, etc. A high coefficient of friction.
Check it out:
https://porterfield-brakes.com/categories.php?catId=492
D
 
Ted at TSI can reline your shoes with a more aggressive compound. They work well with the larger Morgan wheel cylinders.
 
I can't remember now where I got them but they are the EBC green Kelvar pads. It seems they are dustier. They do squeel less. Well they do squeel, usually in close proximity and conspicously to a cute coed. Or is it me and I just don't realize it.
 
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