Technical What cars can i get bigger brakes off to fit the B

KC3 · Aug 16, 2011

Finally got my brembo BIG BRAKES on

305mm discs too.

I,ve had to have some adaptors made for them to fit and will also need some spacers to allow for more offset, as they are just touching the rims.

I will repaint them at some point but just want to test they work correctly first. Here's some pics..

KC3 · Oct 3, 2011

HP. said:
Further to this, I've sourced some Fiat Tempra rear calipers. Again, much bigger pad than standard and a better braking performance.

Direct fit, everything just lines up and bolts on using standard Barchetta rear discs.

Any chance of pictures of these rear tempra calipers, seems they were ony fitted on the tempra and croma and some lancia's before the barchetta production.

Since then most late fiat barchettas, Alfas seem to share the same rear lucas caliper with the smaller pad. have you found the tempra upgrade to work better and was your original rear calipers the newer lucas or the early B calipers.

I have been looking into other models which have a slightly larger disc size of 251x50x10 found on the likes of late model croma, multipla, stilo and bravo.
They share the 4x98 stud and 59 cntr and was wondering if you could upgrade their discs, calipers and pad set up. as a direct bolt on hence a better rear brake upgrade.

Even looking at the late Grand punto which has a 264x10x41 disc size, simmilar to the barchetta which is 240x11x39.5 only larger. only not sure if the stud pattern has changed.
Anyone know if this is possible. or would they need an hanger adapter .

HP · Oct 3, 2011

The calipers are these:

KC3 · Oct 3, 2011

Thanks Pete,

Ive been having a thorough search and further investigation has led me to find this great site

http://seekpart24.com/trw/brake-caliper-bhq147?c=100807

They seem to list all parts for all cars and has lots of info, this link shows my existing rear calipers but if you look further into the site they show and list all the varieties of calipers used throughout.

Thanks again for the pic, and how have you found your brakes to work. Is there a noticable difference?.

What style or rear caliper did you have originally.

HP · Oct 6, 2011

Mine originally had the tiny pad calipers from the mk1, can't show you a picture as I've sold them on already for someone to use on a Cinquecento.

I continue to have rear brake efficiency issues as do a few others on here. I'm going to re-pipe the rear brakes and bypass the brake compensators, then run it down to the MOT station and ask them to do a test on them for me.

I also have the comparitively massive front calipers/pads from a Brava JTD, which make an enormous improvement to front end braking - so improving the rears shouldn't throw the balance out.

KC3 · Oct 6, 2011

Hiya Pete,

Ive been having a thorough search on rear calipers and even spent a little while with one of the guys at the Fiat dealership.

Ok.

Looks like most fiats, alfas and lancia,s of the same age eara ,Barchetta, marea,s tempra and the quick coupe turbo, Alfa 145/146/ 155, even GTV and the lancia dedra, Hf turbo and some others all share the same rear 240mm disc size and choose between the lucas or bendix/bosche calipers with the small pad.

What i have noticed is that the bigger pad and caliper you have used for the B from the tempra/ lancia dedra is listed for non ABS models.

Going by the 200bhp plus models which share the same rear calipers even to this day. Ive decided to keep my rear calipers as they are with the exception of new grooved discs and performance pads.

The front brembo upgrade should give me plenty more braking power and work efficiently as the master brake cylinders are also the same on these higher performing vehicles.

All my calipers have been taken off from the B to be repainted in yellow and im hoping i should have them back over the weekend.

Pics and more info to come.

Kiry KC3.

LittleRedB · Oct 6, 2011

Good to see you are still playing KC!! LRB is still sat outside looking as good as ever - think I have managed about 20 miles since last years MOT. . . . .

You back in the UK? If you are over drop me a line, would be great to meet up some time. . . .

Richpea · Oct 7, 2011

HI LRB, have sent you a pm.

blackydog · Oct 7, 2011

HP. Be very interested if by-passsing the compensators makes any difference, as my rear brake problems are well documented on here, and i am intending to do the same on my days off next week. Maybe wait to see how you get on first

. Brian

HP · Oct 7, 2011

Mine will be done in the next couple of weeks. I have a brake flaring tool and intend to get a length of pipe and replace the sections feeding into and out of the compensators with one piece.

Kiry, I'm hoping I don't end up with too much rear brake power with the bigger caliper/pad setup as I've already sold the old ones to a friend!

KC3 · Oct 8, 2011

Pete, is your B an ABS model or non ABS, think the only reason they used that style bigger caliper and pad was for non ABS models, and also for the 4wheel drive lancia hf turbo/ intergrali.

Speaking with some performance modification specialists yesterday and they advised me that there is no real need for a large caliper or pad to the rear wheels of a front wheel drive vehicle as braking is mainly taken care by the front brakes,

I,d imagine there would be no real downs to adding bigger discs ,calipers and pad to the rear and cosmeticly would look better but as i have been advised it is not necessary for improving braking efficiency but alternatly should improove the handbrake..

HP · Oct 9, 2011

Mine's a UK Barchetta with airbags & ABS. I got the large pad rear calipers as I thought it might help with the brake balance - it's been mentioned at the last MOT that even in current form the rears are doing about 60% as much work as they should be.

The Brava JTD front caliper/pad upgrade is a massive, massive improvement over standard mk1 brakes - was hoping to get a similar improvement from these bigger rears. I was hoping the handbrake would improve as well, but no.

It is looking like a hydraulic issue on mine - either duff rear compensators or a shot brake master cylinder.

HP · Oct 11, 2011

Ok, had nothing better to do so pulled it apart today. It was this or the ironing - flat clothes are overrated....

On the passenger side I've cut and flared the steel line, fitting a joiner piece. I had a look at the steel line to the backplate and it looked ok - apart from the last 1/2" at the bottom end. Decided to replace it and found it was a lot more rotten than it looked.

On the drivers side I haven't cut the steel line - the exhaust would have to come off and it's a lot more fiddly so I've fitted a joining piece where the compensator used to be and piped it straight to the flexi. Again I've changed the line to the backplate as it was original.

Surprising thing is, all the brake unions unscrewed with little difficulty. Whenever I've done this on other cars they have usually been a pig and either rounded off or sheared - so a nice change!

I'vve been for a short run - 15 miles or so. The rears do feel like they might be doing more work and have certainly cleaned up the disc faster than normal. I'll give them a couple of hundred miles to bed in before getting tested - don't reckon it's had enough force to do this properly before.

KC3 · Oct 11, 2011

HP. said:
Ok, had nothing better to do so pulled it apart today. It was this or the ironing - flat clothes are overrated....

On the passenger side I've cut and flared the steel line, fitting a joiner piece. I had a look at the steel line to the backplate and it looked ok - apart from the last 1/2" at the bottom end. Decided to replace it and found it was a lot more rotten than it looked.

On the drivers side I haven't cut the steel line - the exhaust would have to come off and it's a lot more fiddly so I've fitted a joining piece where the compensator used to be and piped it straight to the flexi. Again I've changed the line to the backplate as it was original.

Surprising thing is, all the brake unions unscrewed with little difficulty. Whenever I've done this on other cars they have usually been a pig and either rounded off or sheared - so a nice change!

I'vve been for a short run - 15 miles or so. The rears do feel like they might be doing more work and have certainly cleaned up the disc faster than normal. I'll give them a couple of hundred miles to bed in before getting tested - don't reckon it's had enough force to do this properly before.

Ooh! Things look like they could do with a good clean up or replacing under there.

Fancy some new springs and sports suspension..

KC3 · Oct 12, 2011

KC3 said:
Finally got my brembo BIG BRAKES on 305mm discs too.

I,ve had to have some adaptors made for them to fit and will also need some spacers to allow for more offset, as they are just touching the rims.

I will repaint them at some point but just want to test they work correctly first. Here's some pics..

New Brembo,s repainted as well as rears and discs too and pics of adaptors for brembo caliper.

F4usT · Oct 12, 2011

those brembos must cost a little fortune. will those 305 discs (original is 257 i think...) fit in orignal wheels? to 15'' alloys? because on our country now we now have: "we-are-going-to-EU-so-we-have-to-take-new-rules" and i cannot pass mot with 17'' even if speed difference is 0, because those were not original... only 15'' was fitted to barch.

KC3 · Oct 12, 2011

Hiya F4ST,

Yes they fit on my B as i,m using 17" rims offset 35, but I did have to also use wheel spacers as they were just slightly fowling the inner rim. With 5mm spacers they clear the wheels fine. No MOT issues here as i first registed the vehicles with all the extra's on. saying that she is due a new MOT and i dont know if the laws have changed. Good to know i know a circle of people in the right places, and a good drink here and there seems to sort out any issues if there is any.

HP · Oct 12, 2011

KC3 said:
Ooh! Things look like they could do with a good clean up or replacing under there.

Fancy some new springs and sports suspension..

Tempting, is the Barchetta 'stiff' enough to handle the sports suspension ok?

Must admit it does feel a little soft on mine - ok for chauffeurring the lady around, but lacking ultimat composure in the bends when she ain't there

KC3 · Oct 14, 2011

HP. said:
Tempting, is the Barchetta 'stiff' enough to handle the sports suspension ok?

Must admit it does feel a little soft on mine - ok for chauffeurring the lady around, but lacking ultimat composure in the bends when she ain't there

Id say the Bilstien pro kit is about the best setup you could buy without comprimising the ride quality and the misses shouldnt notice, The bilstien upgraded dampers are a little stiffer and a perfect upgrade for every day driving and then still have the capabilties to run her on the occasional track day. The Eibach springs are progressively wound which allows them to be soft enough when driving smoothly and at low speeds and then stiffen up when cornering at high speeds, the bilstien shocks speak for them selves, dont think there are many other manufacturers that can match their quality and build.

I,d say for those who like to drive the Barchetta more spiritly shal we say this is the perfect setup.
I am very happy with the way my barchetta feels and handles only i,d just like to see her ridding lower, more for looks i guess,

Still contemplating the idea, as coilovers are ideally setup for track racing purpous and will definately comprise the ride quality on poor surface roads.

http://www.europerformance.co.uk/pages/products/product_info.mhtml?product=555741797

HP · Dec 1, 2011

Having had the brakes nicely run in now with the rear compensators removed I took it back to the MOT test station. They put it on the brake test rollers for me - my setup is now pushing around 280 Lb on the front brakes and 220 Lb on the rears, which works out as the rears doing 78% as much as the fronts - which is well in for an MOT pass. They feel brilliant.

Handbrake is still borderline for a pass though!

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