1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Big Brakes with a Twist

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 12, 2013 | 10:01 PM
  #1  
rwatson5651's Avatar
Thread Starter
79 w 13B4port
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,912
Likes: 62
From: Alabama
Big Brakes with a Twist

So...I have an SA with a streetported 13B that I upgraded with Respeed rack, coilovers and Illuminas a couple of years ago. I loved these upgrades eventough I had to tweak some of it for it to totally suit me. The car handles like a slot car and with springs that are soft enough for my wife to tolerate. I love it. I had avoided upgrading the brakes cause I was relunctant to loose my 4 x 110 wheels but I finally gave in and decided to upgrade.

The twist part is that I did not go with the normal turbo II setup. I really wanted to keep it as light as possible, use 4 x 114.3 pattern and get the best braking possible so I found KC Raceware that makes lightweight aluminum hubs that use rotors made by Coleman Racing. These parts are designed to be used with SE single pot calipers and I wanted 4-pot calipers and larger rotors so I got coleman racing to make larger rotors and got Mr. bwaits to help me out by designing caliper brackets (Thank you Mr Waits!!!!)

[IMG][/IMG]


This was a little pricey, but it will give me the larger brakes I wanted and at the same time, and this is hugh to me, reduce my unsprung weight 5.5 pounds per wheel!!!!

Just waiting on new springs so I can bolt it all in.
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2013 | 11:51 PM
  #2  
Rotary-MG's Avatar
the name is Stan
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 340
Likes: 6
From: Sunny So. Calif
Very nice! keep us posted on how this all goes.
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2013 | 11:59 PM
  #3  
Tom Cinnamon's Avatar
Tom Cinnamon
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: Port Perry Ontario
Looks pretty beefy! Did you end up using Turbo II calipers? Are they willing to make more? Yea, keep us posted on the progress.
Reply
Old Mar 13, 2013 | 05:43 AM
  #4  
rwatson5651's Avatar
Thread Starter
79 w 13B4port
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,912
Likes: 62
From: Alabama
I researched and found that the FC and FD calipers are pretty much identical as far as piston diameter and mounting dimensions go, I ended up with FD calipers.
Reply
Old Mar 13, 2013 | 06:37 AM
  #5  
DerrickS's Avatar
His name is spot
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
From: Western NC
Damn! 5.5 lbs! That's going to be a big deal at the end of the control arms. Let us know how the ride changes afterwards. Should be really nice. Illumina's are adjustable both ways, or just one??

I also pray at the alter of Mr. Colin Chapman. :-)
Reply
Old Mar 13, 2013 | 07:57 AM
  #6  
t_g_farrell's Avatar
Waffles - hmmm good
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Community Favorite
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,250
Likes: 464
From: Lake Wylie, N.C.
Nice Robert! Can't wait to see it at DGRR.
Reply
Old Mar 13, 2013 | 08:10 AM
  #7  
rwatson5651's Avatar
Thread Starter
79 w 13B4port
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,912
Likes: 62
From: Alabama
Originally Posted by DerrickS
Damn! 5.5 lbs! That's going to be a big deal at the end of the control arms. Let us know how the ride changes afterwards. Should be really nice. Illumina's are adjustable both ways, or just one??

I also pray at the alter of Mr. Colin Chapman. :-)
One adjustment changes both the bounce and rebound.

Yea, I hope 5.5 lbs makes a big difference. I also installed KC Raceware lightweight hats and rotors on the rear that is supposed to be over 4 lbs lighter. They also use rotors available from Coleman racing.
Reply
Old Mar 13, 2013 | 05:57 PM
  #8  
elwood's Avatar
Rotary Freak
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,589
Likes: 46
From: Michigan
Looks like a nice setup. I used Coleman rotors for my front big brake setup, too. They can basically make any size you want, and they're in my home state of MI. What diameter are the front rotors?
Reply
Old Mar 13, 2013 | 06:09 PM
  #9  
j9fd3s's Avatar
Moderator
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 31,835
Likes: 3,233
From: https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/
that's very cool!
Reply
Old Mar 13, 2013 | 06:38 PM
  #10  
diabolical1's Avatar
Moderator
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 10,998
Likes: 349
From: FL
excellent! and damn you sound excited.

I would imagine those things carry a minimum clearance in terms of wheels?
Reply
Old Mar 13, 2013 | 08:44 PM
  #11  
rwatson5651's Avatar
Thread Starter
79 w 13B4port
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,912
Likes: 62
From: Alabama
Originally Posted by elwood
Looks like a nice setup. I used Coleman rotors for my front big brake setup, too. They can basically make any size you want, and they're in my home state of MI. What diameter are the front rotors?
They are 10.8, which is the same as FC brakes and they will fit inside 15 inch wheels, but just barely, I started to try 11 inch rotors but they would have been so close that they may have interfered with stick on wheel weights. You could go really large with 16 inch wheels but I like the look of 15's, plus they are about two pounds lighter.
Reply
Old Mar 13, 2013 | 09:50 PM
  #12  
DreamInRotary's Avatar
Always Wanting to Learn
Tenured Member 05 Years
iTrader: (49)
 
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,078
Likes: 42
From: Cambridge, Minnesota
Looks like an awesome setup, and an alternative to the RE-Speed swap that will work better in the end.

Wait to be innovative, I applaud you
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2013 | 12:15 PM
  #13  
rwatson5651's Avatar
Thread Starter
79 w 13B4port
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,912
Likes: 62
From: Alabama
Here are some pics for comparisons:
Old vs new:
Name:  calipercomparison_zps73b4ae51.jpg
Views: 269
Size:  47.7 KB
Name:  rotorcomparison_zpsc89758f9.jpg
Views: 240
Size:  36.3 KB
Im hoping these will dissapate lots more heat, last year I seriously overheated the old ones @ deals gap.
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2013 | 12:19 PM
  #14  
rwatson5651's Avatar
Thread Starter
79 w 13B4port
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,912
Likes: 62
From: Alabama
Test fit of the new caliper bracket. This was the key for using the KC
Raceware hubs and big rotors. It had to be offset and it got complicated, without the help of bwaits cad skills it would not have been possible , for me anyway.
Name:  37AA78EB-293E-4280-B167-D5F918C69F38-3973-000009EBA835EF18_zps6d8b9b1b.jpg
Views: 255
Size:  282.5 KB
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2013 | 12:20 PM
  #15  
rwatson5651's Avatar
Thread Starter
79 w 13B4port
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,912
Likes: 62
From: Alabama
Test fit in the new wheel:
Name:  testfit_zps79618679.jpg
Views: 266
Size:  142.0 KB
Thats a 15x7 +40 offset with a 205/50-15. The caliper to wheel clearance is only about 1/4 inch. I tried to get a pic of the gap without success.
A wheel with about a 35 offset would have been a little better but I could not find one that I could live with appearance wise.
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2013 | 12:37 PM
  #16  
rwatson5651's Avatar
Thread Starter
79 w 13B4port
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,912
Likes: 62
From: Alabama
Another pic of the bracket testfit:
Name:  786F1640-FB1F-4805-ADD0-427359BF7950-3973-000009EB9AF9BD21_zps33bf1b04.jpg
Views: 273
Size:  96.9 KB
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2013 | 05:59 PM
  #17  
bwaits's Avatar
Needs More Noise
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,375
Likes: 1
From: Georgia
Looking good!
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2013 | 07:06 PM
  #18  
KansasCityREPU's Avatar
Out In the Barn
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 6,704
Likes: 1,250
From: KC
I purchased the RE-Speed front and back BBK. I really like your approach. Maybe if Billy is willing, he can make or share his skills and maybe you could make a parts list for us?

I've been to the KC Raceware shop serevral times. I even have a neigbor that works for them once a week.
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2013 | 07:14 PM
  #19  
elwood's Avatar
Rotary Freak
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,589
Likes: 46
From: Michigan
Just noticed while looking at the pictures -- that KC Raceware hub is a 2-piece unit, isn't it? I was wondering how they pressed in the studs, then I saw the 4 socket head cap screws in the first picture -- interesting design.
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2013 | 07:22 PM
  #20  
Rx7carl's Avatar
Airflow is my life
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,736
Likes: 2
From: Orlando, Fl
Wow, just wow.
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2013 | 07:33 PM
  #21  
rwatson5651's Avatar
Thread Starter
79 w 13B4port
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,912
Likes: 62
From: Alabama
Originally Posted by KansasCityREPU
I purchased the RE-Speed front and back BBK. I really like your approach. Maybe if Billy is willing, he can make or share his skills and maybe you could make a parts list for us?

I've been to the KC Raceware shop serevral times. I even have a neigbor that works for them once a week.
I would be glad to share my information, the only part number you would need from me is for the rotor, the KC Raceware part is not unique, all you have to do is let him know what bolt pattern you want.

As far as the caliper bracket, as far as I am concerned the design belongs to Billy, he took an interest in my project and was nice enough to help me out, I would'nt want to put him to any additional trouble or inconvenience.
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2013 | 07:36 PM
  #22  
rwatson5651's Avatar
Thread Starter
79 w 13B4port
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,912
Likes: 62
From: Alabama
Originally Posted by KansasCityREPU
I purchased the RE-Speed front and back BBK. I really like your approach. Maybe if Billy is willing, he can make or share his skills and maybe you could make a parts list for us?

I've been to the KC Raceware shop serevral times. I even have a neigbor that works for them once a week.
Yea, Charles @ KC Raceware was super nice and is very knowledgable. He was also very patient. When I described to him what I had in mind, he said " you want to do what?"!! But he kept listening and sent me just what I needed.
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2013 | 07:39 PM
  #23  
rwatson5651's Avatar
Thread Starter
79 w 13B4port
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,912
Likes: 62
From: Alabama
Originally Posted by elwood
Just noticed while looking at the pictures -- that KC Raceware hub is a 2-piece unit, isn't it? I was wondering how they pressed in the studs, then I saw the 4 socket head cap screws in the first picture -- interesting design.
Yea, its two piece, and that is the only possible down side. If you ever need to change the wheel studs you have to unbolt it and press it apart. Given that would be a very rare occurance I dont consider it a negative. If you were racing every weekend and changing wheels often it may be more of a concern. Well worth the hugh weight reduction imho.
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2013 | 07:43 PM
  #24  
rwatson5651's Avatar
Thread Starter
79 w 13B4port
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,912
Likes: 62
From: Alabama
Originally Posted by bwaits
Looking good!
Thank you Sir!!! You are a genius!

Reply
Old Mar 15, 2013 | 05:05 AM
  #25  
bwaits's Avatar
Needs More Noise
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,375
Likes: 1
From: Georgia
Sorry guys, this was a one off engineering exorcize for a friends project. I can't offer designs for others.
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:44 AM.