280mm rear disc conversion.

This conversion was done in Feb 2010.

I ran the brakes for over a year and was extremely pleased with the braking advantage that it gave.

However, due to the extra heat generated, or the crap Rover calipers, the discs started to warp.

I have now gone back to standard but I am toying with 304mm vented discs and 4 pot calipers on the back.

I will update if I ever do this.

Have you noticably missed that amazing 33% improvement at all?

Oh yes.

Which is why I want better.

The coversion was good, but the weak point was using the old standard calipers which aren't brilliant and don't age well. The brake distribution, even between the 2 pads on the same caliper is crap. This is a downside of single pot calipers.

Wow shame it didn't last

cjj wrote: Oh yes.

Which is why I want better.

The coversion was good, but the weak point was using the old standard calipers which aren't brilliant and don't age well. The brake distribution, even between the 2 pads on the same caliper is crap. This is a downside of single pot calipers.

When you think about it, those rear "crap" callipers started life in 1984 on the rear of the Rover 800 stirling :rant: Yet more of the MGR parts bin special :slapme:

Did you ever try popping on a 15" wheel to see what the clearance was like?

The only warping on discs I have ever experienced has been due to the disc design/material but I suppose if you pressurise it - in the extreme - on one side only, something's got to give. I am interested in fitting 280s to my car (old 1.8i) - is there any way to improve the 'slide-ability' of the existing caliper?
Also, I have bought a pair of 160 four-pots on fleabay - could you tell me what mods are needed (got 16s)? Does it need a m/cyl change?

Wouldnt a bigger disc, disperse the heat more, and would a vented disc be better?

Edunit wrote: Also, I have bought a pair of 160 four-pots on fleabay - could you tell me what mods are needed (got 16s)? Does it need a m/cyl change?

I don't know which 16" wheels you have, but IIRC you need to have either

Trophy 160 wheels
MG TF 11 Spokes
Swedish wheels
Abingdon Wheels (with a small spacer)
Multispokes

otherwise the calipers won't fit.

Apart from that it's a straight swap. Nothing required except callipers, pads and discs.

Edunit wrote: The only warping on discs I have ever experienced has been due to the disc design/material but I suppose if you pressurise it - in the extreme - on one side only, something's got to give. I am interested in fitting 280s to my car (old 1.8i) - is there any way to improve the 'slide-ability' of the existing caliper?
Also, I have bought a pair of 160 four-pots on fleabay - could you tell me what mods are needed (got 16s)? Does it need a m/cyl change?

The best and only real way to optimise the rear brake calipers is to keep them maintained 100% with regular stripdown and cleaning.

As far as I know the master cylinder is the same whether you have standard calipers or APs.

GOLDIE wrote: Wouldnt a bigger disc, disperse the heat more, and would a vented disc be better?

Apparently not. The vented discs disperse heat better, but also resist warping due to the nature of their construction.