how do I know which disk brakes I have?

Post by **ben739** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 10:23 pm

When I bought my Traveller, the former owner to dme he had disk brake changed on the front, which has made a difference. What I would like to know is how do I know what disks he had put on, and what to replace them with. (ford/vw etc.)

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 7:56 am

Have a good look at the caliper to see if it says FORD or VW !! Often the ghastly Marina discs are fitted, and the traditional upgrade in the past was to use Spridget discs and calipers - but these are often fitted with a J shaped bracket which gives the game away. Measure the diameter and the thickness of the discs - that will be a clue too.

Post by **Stig** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 8:59 am

Do you know how long ago they were fitted? Until a few years ago Marina discs were the norm but Ford seem to be more common now as the source of Marinas has dried up. If you can post a photo I'm sure you'd get an answer.

Post by **JimK** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 10:10 am

bmcecosse wrote:Have a good look at the caliper to see if it says FORD or VW !!

Mine don't say either, they have a G with a circle around it. That sort of caliper was used on both Marinas and early Escorts (according to a Ford nut I know).

Often the ghastly Marina discs are fitted

What's so ghastly about them?

Post by **Axolotl** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 10:18 am

I don't know what's supposed to be so ghastly about the Marina disks. (I'm sure we'll find out)

Charles Wares have confirmed that's what I have fitted.

They work, and maintenance seems straightfrward. They appear to be identical to the ones on a Mark I Cortina I used to work on with my dad.

At least they are contemporary with the car, and could well have been fitted to late models by the factory, if they'd ever got around to it.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 1:28 pm

It's the Marina that's ghastly - discs is discs!

Post by **Axolotl** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 3:18 pm

It's the Marina that's ghastly

I can't disagree with that.

Post by **plastic_orange** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 4:47 pm

You did get nice beige ones though!!!

Pete

Post by **paulk** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 5:36 pm

Oo and lovely (yuk) dark brown ones with black vinyl roofs.

Bye the bye what size were spridget discs? I have a long lost memory that they were tiny.