Anybody fitted the Owen Burton Ford-based vented disc kit?

[Onne]

I'd go Escort axle.

Proved way of doing it, and much more choice.

You will need a different prop too I think

[jonathon]

Paul, we keep the mounting holes to the original diameter, and have designed the caliper brackets to suit. You do not need to shim nor gring/file away the calipers to make them fit either. Basically you get what you pay for with these kits.
Jim, I would swap to full Ford running gear. The Escort axle will allow for better reart brakes which will be balanced with the front discs, will offer a greater range if diffs, and allow a wide variety of either Ford ,Peugeot,Citroen or Saab wheels,together with a vast range of aftermarket alloys.
Depending on the proposed mods you are doing under the bonnet, the Ford axle will allow for major hikes in power, a standard axle will cope with just over 180bhp/200lbs of torque. Infact Ian Harwood (Works Ford rally Driver) used a mega powered V8 with the standard axle in a MK11 Escort. The LSD's if new and fitted will cost quite a bit more than £300.
Also consider the size of bearings and most important the diameter of the wheel studs. The Minor ones are marginal and I would not suggest you use them if fitting much wider wheels and tyres.
The cost to uprate the Minor axle to take even the same as a standard Ford axle would be prohibitive, and very much on the actual axles limits.

[JimK]

Thanks Jonathan.

What do I need to do to the propshaft? I have one to suit the type 9 box and Minor axle. I guess the rear end needs to be changed?
Can I connect the Minor brake lines and cables to the Ford drums? I've been checking out RS axles with self-adjusting 9" drums and the mounts for the anti-tramp bars.

[jonathon]

Jim, you can have the prop shortened, but the charge for doing this is very much the same as having an all new purpose made unit, which will be inherently designed to take more than the power you will be putting through it. You will need to make up new rear pipework,they are metric unions ,and,a trader not a million miles away can do the correct length handbrake cables,( sorry but I have had a post already deleated tonight for advertising). I would forget the standard Ford anti tramp bars, and go for some aftermarket triangulated ones, which are designed to work in phase with the ark of the axle. Tou will also need new axle plates U bolts and axle perches, welded on at the correct angle.

[JimK]

So the axle casing needs to be modified? Silly me, I didn't realise how much was involved in the change of axle.

I wasn't going to use the Ford anti-tramp bars, it just seemed like a good idea to get an axle with the brackets already on. I realise the Ford cars are too short and would fight against the movement of the spring.

The rest of my questions had better be in a PM...

[pauln]

Jonathon, I dont think I said anything about filing/grinding calipers (i would regard that as dangerous) the filing of a small flat to position the caliper adapter bracket and enlarging holes refers to the minor upright. I regard the esm/birmingham (owen burton) kit as a well put together kit that fitted first time and apart from a safety check and routine maintenance has been superb in both performance and value for money (in no way inferior). I personally would be reluctant to buy a kit that did not allow me to adapt it to my requirements at a later date such as a pcd change.
Jim, don,t forget if you fit uprated halfshafts all you do is transfer the failure point about 20bhp on to the diff itself. It is most likely easier to get an lsd for the ford english axle (rally design does quaifes one for £354 + vat). Its easy enough to move axle location points (must be i have done 2 one ital axle for the minor and one atlas for my cortina) though you must be (or know a decent welder). Though if you are not happy get someone competent to do it. With all jobs on a minor you put in the effort you get a good reward. I could not go back to standard.

[aussiemike]

I have fitted an english axle using the JLH fitting kit and it was very straight forward which is why it was worth the money. Basically anything you buy from a vendor this is exactly what you want. No hidden surprises etc. Just pay your money and fit it when it turns up. I am hoping to put out around 200hp at the rear wheels also but if things start to snap then i will fit a toyota hilux axle to the traveller as even thought they weigh alot they are known to take up to 500hp by lot of drag racers. You can also get alot of ratios for them. The one i have put aside has a 4.44 diff ratio.
cheers, michael.

[jonathon]

Paul, sorry if it seemed as if I was quoting you, the grinding of the caliper used to be advised in the instructions for fitment I'm pleased that you are satisfied with your kit. Many folk have not been, but T and C's do not allow me to elaborate on these. Pm's are okay though!. I agree about upgrades on the standard kit, which is why we offer 9 varients on the kit.
Michael, Quaiffe do some uprated 1/2 shafts capable of well over 350bhp. What width is the Toyota axle?.

[aussiemike]

uhmm the width is roughly 1 and a hald inches wider than standard moggy from recolection. I will wack a tape measure on it if I can get to it.( currently being stored in a woodshed!) I am a lover of dragracing and also hill climbing so I need diff/axle that can take a stupid amount of abuse. The english will do for now but even I can admit that possibly it will fail sooner rather than later.
cheers, michael

[bigginger]

Thanks Jonathan.

What do I need to do to the propshaft? I have one to suit the type 9 box and Minor axle. I guess the rear end needs to be changed?

,

Well, it does, but don't use that one to do it - I for one am looking for exactly that

[dunketh]

Just a quick note, I noticed someone mentioning Ford single width discs being prone to warping.
This may be a cheap disc problem in general. I used to warp vented discs for a past time on my Mk2 XR2. I used to drive like a loon but then thats what XRs are designed for.
Best bet is to buy a respected manufacturers discs... in the case of the Fiesta/Sierra/Escort range there are plenty to choose from.

[JimK]

On my dearly departed Mk4 Fiesta I got through 4 pairs of discs in 140k miles. They would overheat in a few miles of "spirited" driving, and I just got used to the judder of disc run-out. Ford made a great car that was huge fun to drive then gave it terrible brakes. They were only 12mm thick when new.

I've never managed to do anything to the vented discs on the Focus and they haven't worn discernably in 40k miles. So far I haven't managed to do anything to the Marina discs on the Lemming, either.