According to Patty, it actually wasn't all that scary. It happened in
turn 7. Apparently the caliper lugs broke under braking, but because of
the clamping force on the disk, didn't move until after the brakes were
released. She heard a clunk between turns 7 & 8 and then slowed down
trying to figure out what it was. She tried the brakes on the back
straight and since by this time only the rears were still working (the
adapter tube into the caliper twisted and broke, releasing fluid) she
slowly pulled into the pits. I ordered a set of rebuilt Girlings from
TSI today.
On 6/20/2011 10:19 PM, haretoday@comcast.net wrote:
>
> Hi Jim and Patty
>
> What a scary moment that has to be.
>
> I've been sending my original calipers and cylinders to Goldline
> Brakes in Seattle to get overhauled. A knowledgeable and skilled one
> man shop.. And the cost isn't that much different.
>
> Jim-see you at Baxter's
>
> Steve
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tim Pettenati" <1964spitfire@pacbell.net>
> To: "Jim Norlin" <norlinengineering@comcast.net>, "FOT"
> <fot@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Monday, June 20, 2011 7:38:36 PM
> Subject: Re: [Fot] Spitfire Brake Caliper Failure
>
> Jim,
>
> Mine are from Spitbits. They were put on by the previous owner and so
> far - so
> good. Note the Spitbits has two different calipers available. The
> 'made in
> China' for $115 and the 'OE Quality' for $220. Mine are the later.
> Just curious. If you look at the fractured area, was it half shiny and
> half
> rusty. I've seen a few axles (stubs & solids) that look like that.
> Usually
> indicated that it was previously damaged by a hard impact and partially
> fractured, and later on failed from fatigue.
>
> Tim
> ________________________________
> From: Jim Norlin
> <norlinengineering@comcast.net>
> To: FOT <fot@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Mon, June
> 20, 2011 9:40:32 AM
> Subject: [Fot] Spitfire Brake Caliper Failure
>
> Yesterday,
> in the vintage race at Portland's Rose Cup races, my wife Patty,
> suffered a
> major brake failure of a front caliper. Both lugs sheared off. The
> bolts
> are still tight and hold the broken portions of the lugs to the upright.
> I
> cannot remember where I got these calipers, (can't find the receipt),
> but they
> were new last summer. I wasn't really impressed with them because the
> casting
> looked really rough, and they were a bit oversized - I had to grind
> off the
> outer corner to get them to clear the Panasport wheels.
>
> I'm passing this on
> as a word of warning to others.
>
> Can anyone recommend a source for good
> quality calipers?
>
>
> Thanks in advance - Jim Norlin
> _______________________________________________
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>
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>
> -s
> _______________________________________________
> fot@autox.team.net
>
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>
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