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Front disc brakes

Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:15 pm
by John C
I am about to fit disc brakes to my pick-up and would welcome any comments rom anyone who has done the job already. I had a saloon with Marina discs and wheels years ago but the one thing I am certain about for the pick-up is that I want to keep the Minor wheels. I see several companies offering kits; JLH, Birmingham and ESM and there's a lot of Ford bits used these days.

All comments will be read with interest. Many thanks. JC

Re: Front disc brakes

Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:35 pm
by youngcamper
I went for the grumpy disk brake conversion from ESM minors, it uses the Marina disks with new hubs with the Minors PCD meaning you can still use the original wheels, it comes with all new parts and a really good set of instructions, they only modification you have to make is to drill the holes our in the King Pin to 5/8 s ( I think). I would recommend 100%

Will

Re: Front disc brakes

Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:36 pm
by chrisryder
the ford based kits are available with ford or minor pcd. i think you can stipulate whichever you want. certainly the more popular ones are the minor pcd ones for originality, but people go for ford pcd to fit a wider range of wheels, and probably means replacement discs are cheaper in future.

Re: Front disc brakes

Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:56 pm
by John C
Thanks guys - two things to consider for sure. Replacement discs is something that I hadn't thought about but I'm keen on keeping the Minor PCD.

Re: Front disc brakes

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 12:39 am
by bmcecosse
You have to open up the brake master cylinder and remove the 'top hat' seal........ It's quite a job. And many find the disc brakes are so heavy they need a servo (more expense) and perhaps a remote fluid reservoir - because as the pads wear the fluid level drops alarmingly in the standard under-floor cylinder/reservoir. There is a MUCH easier/cheaper/less complicated alternative to all this...........

Re: Front disc brakes

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 9:52 am
by John C
The truck already has a remote servo so that's okay. I saw JLH (I think) advertise a remote reservoir and wondered why it was necessary. The top hat seal is news to me so I'm learning. Ta.

The easier/cheaper etc alternative - keep the drums?

Re: Front disc brakes

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 11:00 am
by chrisryder
...fit wolseley 1500 drums if you can find a set!

Re: Front disc brakes

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 2:36 pm
by bmcecosse
:lol:

Re: Front disc brakes

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 5:07 pm
by John C
I had Wolseley 1500 drums on my Traveller back in the early 80s... and Marina discs (and Marina wheels) on a 1275cc saloon in the early nineties but am looking at what's advertised now. Ta

Re: Front disc brakes

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 9:23 pm
by bmcecosse
As long as you understand the hassles and costs involved...........

Re: Front disc brakes

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 10:13 pm
by AntB
bmcecosse wrote:As long as you understand the hassles and costs involved...........
seriously?!

compared to what?!