Disc Brake conversion

Post by **dnac** » Fri May 05, 2006 8:53 am

Hi, seen some disc brake conversions that use Escort parts, I want to do the conversion, but being a bit strapped for cash wondered if you could buy the individual conversion parts from the companies, and then source my own discs and calipers etc.

Also does anyone know if Mk3 Cortina front hubs, discs and calipers are the same as the escort ones?

Thanks

Dave

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri May 05, 2006 10:13 am

A very much easier and much less expensive conversion is to fit 9" drum brakes from a Wolseley 1500 or a Riley 1.5. They WORK.

Post by **bigginger** » Fri May 05, 2006 10:26 am

Have a word with Jonathon from JLH - I'm sure he'll sell the parts individually, and they too are very easy to fit, and also WORK.

Post by **dnac** » Fri May 05, 2006 10:51 am

I think the wolsey idea may be cheap, but where on earth would you get them from nowadays?.

One of the reasons for going the disc brake way was to get the ford stud pattern, so I can get a better selection of wheels

Post by **rayofleamington** » Fri May 05, 2006 12:13 pm

I think the wolsey idea may be cheap, but where on earth would you get them from nowadays?.

ebay!

Post by **RogerRust** » Fri May 05, 2006 12:23 pm

http://www.users.dircon.co.uk/~sandy/wo ... /1500.html

£16 a side plus cylinders and shoes

Post by **jonathon** » Fri May 05, 2006 7:24 pm

Thanks for the plug BG, but I'm afraid we are unable to sell our hubs seperately. The Cortina units are not the same as the Escort and the Escort are not the same as Sierra or later Escort variants. Be carefull in your choice and design. If you are running a standard 1098 then I'd stay with the original set up as these are adequate for general running around, the Wolsley upgrade is worthwhile. My personal preference is for discs, but the vented kit is probably overkill, for this reason we will be soon marketing a budget solid disc version, to be followed by a more agressive large diameter disc and 4 pot caliper set up.

Post by **bigginger** » Fri May 05, 2006 7:28 pm

Sorry

Post by **jonathon** » Fri May 05, 2006 7:31 pm

S'now problem mate, but its a legal and insurance issue rather than a mean supplier one.

Post by **Cam** » Sat May 06, 2006 2:55 pm

Having read about the axle and brakes questions, I agree with BigG and think you should have a chat with Jonathon. I have used his disc brake kit (complete) as well as a MKII Escort axle supplied by him and I am delighted with the results.

Post by dp » Sat May 06, 2006 3:51 pm

Ditto

Post by **jonathon** » Sat May 06, 2006 8:48 pm

Post by **bigginger** » Sat May 06, 2006 9:10 pm

Thirded re. the brake kit

Post by **Willie** » Sat May 06, 2006 9:23 pm

Ok Jonathon I'm fed up with front brake cylinders which will not retract so
when will the 'budget disc kit be available.

Post by **d_harris** » Sat May 06, 2006 9:45 pm

I'm interested to know about the budget disc conversion too! What kind of price range are we looking at here??

Post by **jonathon** » Sat May 06, 2006 9:50 pm

We are hoping to have things sorted in the next few months, So maybe the National would be an ideal oportunity. Prices are as yet undecided, but there will be a useful saving over the vented kit.

Post by **d_harris** » Sat May 06, 2006 9:53 pm

I was only after a ball park figure so I know how much I should try to squirrel away

Post by **jonathon** » Sat May 06, 2006 11:39 pm

Dan, its difficult to say really as thee are quite a few options available. Obviously a solid disc will be less money and the calipers we will be using should not attract such a high initial purchase price ans refurb cost, we may also offer rubber hoses rather than braided. I'm discussing the legal option of offering part kits, i.e just the 'special engineering' parts to allow purchasers to supply their own calipers and discs. The down side of this is if there is a failure of a none supplied part that could impact and cause a failure to our 'SE' parts. Here lies the legal problem. If we sell a full kit then we are responsible in everyway for it, and our product liability covers this. The part kit route may just prove unworkable, but I will definately be persuing this option,to find out.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Sun May 07, 2006 12:03 am

i.e just the 'special engineering' parts to allow purchasers to supply their own calipers and discs.

I'm sure there's a way, but I can really understand why you are careful. Some of the test cases in liability law are shameful - I hate living in a world where 'coffee and WALNUT cake' has to have a 'may contain nuts' warning, but in law you are no longer allowed to rely on the end user having a brain. The work-around usually involves having strong terms and conditions which have to be accepted by the purchaser, but not always simple to get your insurance guys to swallow it.

Post by **jonathon** » Sun May 07, 2006 12:08 am

Yep, thats the problem. With this form of product liability costing an absolute fortune already, I just hope that an arrangement can be achieved, to suit all parties.