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Spitfire Disk Brakes

To: "Triumph List" <triumphs@autox.team.net>, <spitfires@autox.team.net>
Subject: Spitfire Disk Brakes
From: "Scott A. Roberts" <herald1200@home.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2001 14:47:46 -0500
Hi Everybody!

Yesterday I had the opportunity to strip the front disk setup from a Mk 2
Spitfire in a local yard. I am intending to replace my standard front drums
with the factory installed type disk setup. The car they came from, S/N FC
75008 L, was equipped with the single piston brake cylinder. Also, these are
of the later style(as used on the Herald) disk setup with the three hole
mounting and the dust shields.

My questions regarding this are these:

1. Are the disks the same for a Spitfire Mk 2 and the later Mk 3 + 4? (1300 &
1500?)
2. Are the calipers the same?
3. While the master cylinder looks the same as the one in my Herald, is it
internally the same? I wish to keep the earlier style single master cylinder,
mainly for originality, and as the Spitfire donor car had it, I imagine it to
be possible, but was wondering if the inside diameter was bigger or not.
4. I understand the rear wheel cylinders are supposed to be a larger bore than
the standard ones, when using the disks on the front- Are these the same as a
later Spitfire as well?

My reasons for asking these questions are fairly simple- I work for an auto
parts house, and should like to purchase through them if possible(I have a tab
:)  ) whatever parts I need (brakewise) and I have fun trying to find the
earlier Spitfire stuff, where the later Spitfires are fairly easy to
reference. I tried to reference through Rimmer's website last night, but they
don't have a brake listing up for Mk 2's- only have 1300/1500 listed as I
recall.

In case anyone is interested, the disks and everything came out relatively
easily- I unbolted the top ball joint and the lower kingpins from their
respective arms, and also unscrewed the tie rod ends from the steering rods,
and lifted them out quite easily. The hardest part was that the car was
sitting down on the ground, and only had the L/F wheel in place. I had to dig
a little to remove the passenger side one out, but not much, and I had to cut
a tree root which had grown through the wire wheel on the driver side!(A good
1" thick!) Once I got them out, everything came apart fairly easily, but I am
still working on removing the wire wheel. The outer rim was bent up, and the
wires badly rusted, so I took the option of cutting the wires with a Dremel
tool, and removing the outer part. Not I still can't get the hub off the
adapter! This afternoon I am going to attempt to heat it, and if that doesn't
work, I'll have to cut it with a Dremel to open it up. I'm trying not to
damage the adapter- I only have the one, and want to see if it fits the wires
I have.

More later, as it progresses, and thanks for any help.

Scott
http://www.homestead.com/herald1200/
64 Herald 1200 Convertible (Sports)

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