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Anything and everything Herald. Talk about anything from the first 948s to the last 13/60s.
Section : Rear Axle
Rear axle, brakes, wheels and tyres.
Posted By : Stuart Newby, 24-Jul-2007, 11:05pm
Hi there,
For my Courier (based on early 1200) have heard Spit Mk3 discs are best for a swap. Can i not use later 1200 or 13/60 discs? or even Vitesse?
I'm after the easiest (and pref cheapest) solution - also would like to fit braided hoses, although i suspect as it will be a hybrid length i'll need to
get these made up specially?
Do i need to alter the copper brake pipes and will the discs just bolt on...cheers..
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Posted By : Clive Senior, 25-Jul-2007,
07:48am
Any herald/spit/vitesse/GT6 setup will fit AS LONG AS you use the complete vertical link/stub axle/hub/disc/caliper.
The cheapest will be the spit/herald/vit6 as they all use the smaller discs/bearings/calipers. I would try to find type 14 calipers if you do this,
they are held together with 4 bolts rather than the 2 of the type 12. (14 easier/cheaper for pads and overhaul)
I did this a couple of years ago on a herald, easy swap just had to relocate the brake pipes a little (I think on the early cars they are fixed to the
side engine valances, discs they are attached to the suspension tower) and used std spit/herald hoses.
A word of warning, brakes are important!! do not just buy an old set with no history and expect them to work OK. If unknown they should be stripped and
resealed at least. Same for the wheel bearings and discs. And the master cylinder will need to either have an extension fitted, or swapped for the
larger capacity version as fitted to later cars. Bore is the same, 5/8 or .625
Clive
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Posted By : Chris Taylor,
25-Jul-2007, 06:09pm
Not quite correct what you say Clive. While the Vitesse 6 discs and calipers are the same as early Herald discs, the hub is different and the same
(I think) as the later Vitesse 2 litre. Vitesse 2 litre/GT6 brakes are rather overkill on a Herald, and getting the right front/rear balance would
be more difficult.
Bog standard Herald 13/60 or Spit 3 or Mk4 would be the ideal source of parts. I'd agree the type 14 calipers are a better bet, although an early
1200 or Courier disc brake conversion would have had type 12s. Might be worth checking part numbers to see if there was any difference in rear
brake cylinder sizes between disc and drum braked Heralds (to maintain the front/rear balance). I don't think there is but I can't be sure.
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Posted By : Calvin Andrew,
25-Jul-2007, 06:29pm
Chris,
i must disagree, i think that the GT6 type 16 and discs are not overkill, in fact, switching from Modern eurobox to herald with these brakes
they are just about perfect.
Personal opinion of course but derived from experience with no front rear balance issues.
calvin
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Posted By : Clive Senior,
25-Jul-2007, 06:46pm
Didn't n=know about funny hubs for vit^, are you sure as canleys do not mention this? But they do list different hubs for heralds with type 12
and 14 calipers, which amazed me as I have swapped calipers in the past with no problems!
Anyway, I did say use the whole thing as I know there can be problems is you are missing bits!
Also the vitesse/gt6 braking is better, and not at all unbalanced. I actually run a 2.5 vitesse with std front brakes (type 16) and the little
herald drums. It was a stop gap, 12 years later no complaints at all!
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Posted By : Chris Taylor,
26-Jul-2007, 06:49pm
The Vitesse 6 hubs are not funny, they are just the same as Vitesse 2 litre hubs, but fitted with smaller Herald type discs. So they may
not fit onto Herald stub axles as they use different wheel bearings from the Herald and Spitfire. Being slightly larger than Herald hubs,
you cannot fit type 14 calipers to a Vitesse 6 upright (which I think is the same item as disc braked Herald) as they foul the hubs.