Moss USA claims the V-8 pads will fit the 4-cyl. calipers, they sell a set
of Mintex V-8 pads as a comp. part. If I get time in the next week or so, I
will test fit my V-8 pads into a 4-cyl. caliper to be sure. I think the
"handed" nature of the pads refers to the mounting of the pad material on
the backing plate, and the plates are set up so they can only fit one way in
the caliper.
Cheers,
PK
-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Hunt [mailto:paul.hunt1@virgin.net]
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2000 12:13 PM
To: KILE, PAUL D; 'Larry Hoy'; MG V8 List
Subject: Re: MGB v8 front brakes
Paul - are you sure the V8 pads fit the 4-cylinder car? Do you remember me
saying the the V8 pads are handed whereas the 4-cyls are symetrical? By
handed I mean that in each pair there will be an inner pad and and outer,
the difference is in the amount of metal at each inner corner of the pad.
Why they are like this I cannot imagine, but they are.
MGOC have something they call 'Comp V8' pads for UKP45, I am pretty sure I
paid under 20 for my last lot.
PaulH.
----- Original Message -----
From: KILE, PAUL D <Paul.Kile@Aerojet.com>
To: 'Larry Hoy' <larryhoy@prodigy.net>; MG V8 List <mgb-v8@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2000 2:52 PM
Subject: RE: MGB v8 front brakes
> Larry,
> I've got a Factory GT V-8 here in California, so I can address some of
your
> questions. The thicker rotor was used to dissipate more heat and to be
more
> resistant to brake fade (although I would have thought a ventilated rotor
> would have done a better job, but the factory was working on the cheap
when
> they designed the GT V-8).
>
> If you were to install the rotors on a 4-cyl car, you would also need the
> V-8 calipers that allow for the thicker rotor. These were an amalgam of
MGB
> and Triumph 2000 calipers, and can be "fabricated" by combining one half
of
> the MG with one half of the Triumph units. You of course need the
hardened
> bolts and the square section fluid seal if you split calipers. I have
heard
> dire warnings from some folks that you need a special jig to reassemble
> split calipers, but I have done it several times with no problem (as long
as
> the bolts and seal are replaced).
>
> You will be hard pressed to find a set of Triumph 2000 calipers here in
the
> States, they sold only a few of that weird looking sedan over here. Of
> course, you could buy new V-8 caliper assemblies in the UK, but I'm sure
> they are hellishly expensive (I was able to rebuild mine). You are right
> that the V-8 pads will fit the 4-cylinder calipers, and they give you a
> better swept area. I got mine (original Lockheed pads) from either Brown
> and Gammons or Moss UK (I don't remember which), and I paid about $35.00US
> for them. Moss USA sells Mintex competition V-8 pads for around $80.00 a
> set, but they probably need to be warmed up before they work effectively -
I
> don't want that on a street car.
>
> The rotor and caliper are a direct bolt on to the MGB front uprights/hubs,
> although the rotor splash plate needs to be cut away slightly to clear the
> V-8 caliper (I bought a set of replacement splash plates, and they were
> obviously 4-cylinder units that had been cut up). The brake lines are the
> same as late MGB with the spiral protector, but I found that non-OEM
> Lockheed brake lines will not fit, the hex end that screws into the
caliper
> is too fat to clear the caliper casting - make sure you use OEM Lockheed
> lines. You also need longer cotter pins to hold the pads into the caliper,
> these are not automatically included with brake pad sets any more.
>
> As for whether the V-8 setup is worth it, IMHO I think that a set of cross
> drilled MGB rotors coupled with the V-8 pads in the 4-cyl. calipers will
> give you the same fade resistance as what the Factory intended with the
> thicker rotors. Of course, I am going for concours originality in my V-8,
so
> I am stuck with the original system.
>
> Cheers,
> Paul Kile
> 1974 Factory MGB-GT V-8 (Formerly The Rustbucket, renamed The Phoenix)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Larry Hoy [mailto:larryhoy@prodigy.net]
> Sent: Monday, January 31, 2000 10:07 PM
> To: MG V8 List
> Subject: MGB v8 front brakes
>
>
> This is not a new subject but I wasn't listening! Don't
> tell me you didn't "drift off" in school occasionally.
>
> Can any of you set me straight here? Tell me about the
> factory MGB V8 front brakes. Here's what I think I know.
>
> The rotor is the same diameter as the 4 cyl rotor, but it
> thicker. 1/2" vs. 3/8" (approx).
>
> The brake pads have a slightly larger foot print.
>
> V8 pads will fit the 4 cyl cars without modification.
>
> V8 rotors will not fit the 4 cyl cars unless the calipers
> are modified.
>
> Here are the questions:
>
> What is the advantage of the thicker rotor?
>
> What is needed to install the thicker rotor?
>
> Would I get the same benefit by just using the V8 brake
> pads?
>
> And for our English friends are the V8 brake pads available
> in England for less than 50 pounds?
>
> Larry Hoy
> http://pages.prodigy.net/larryhoy/
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