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VAG rear disc conversion, English axle
Phil5062 - 15/6/18 at 11:00 PM

’m in a can’t decide mode. I’ve got a Fisher Fury with a hydraulic rear handbrake (xr3 disc and front calliper conversion)

But I want to make it road legal and sort a decent handbrake out. I thought I’d go for original with drums and got myself some 9” backplstes etc.

How antiquated is the handbrake assembly though? Connecting rod, flexy link, bushing...

Chatting to Lee at rally design he told me not to go for Wilson’s rear callipers as handbrake is poor, but mentioned their VAG conversion.

I can’t see it on their website... google comes up with a lead on Turbosport but it’s 10 years old...

Has anyone got a contact for the adapter plate/kit please?

I like the thought that if I’m going to change I may as well go for a lighter weight option.

P.S I’ll be listing my 9” drum se

ian locostzx9rc2 - 16/6/18 at 12:02 PM

If you can get all the parts drum brakes are lighter and the handbrake is really good

Phil5062 - 16/6/18 at 08:09 PM

Really? Wow ! I was of the opinion that an alloy caliper and disc would be lighter.

I do have a set of Escort Mk1 9” drum and backplates that need cleaning up. But I’d need the handbrake rod, flexible link and bush to go in axle.
I weighed them and they came in at 7kgs per side (backplate, drum, shoes and cylinder)

As my axle is from a Mk2 Escort and backplates are from a mk1 im not sure about the handbrake rod/linkages.

obfripper - 16/6/18 at 09:53 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Phil5062
Really? Wow ! I was of the opinion that an alloy caliper and disc would be lighter.

I do have a set of Escort Mk1 9” drum and backplates that need cleaning up. But I’d need the handbrake rod, flexible link and bush to go in axle.
I weighed them and they came in at 7kgs per side (backplate, drum, shoes and cylinder)

As my axle is from a Mk2 Escort and backplates are from a mk1 im not sure about the handbrake rod/linkages.


Regarding weight, there's nothing in it, a sierra caliper is 2kg, a solid disc is 3.5kg, the caliper carrier & mounting bracket is no more than a kilo and pads are 500g. The vag (hydra) conversion will be around a kilo lighter but needs at least 14" wheels to clear the fins of the caliper body which will give you heavier wheels/tyres instead.
The wilwoods will fit under 13" wheels and are 1.5 - 2kg lighter overall, but as mentioned have a poor handbrake setup using the standard lever ratio.
I think Adi Thorp has them working acceptably with a modified handbrake setup, i'm sure he will be able to elaborate on what is required for this to work.

If you're going to use the drums, ensure you have the correct size wheel cylinders - my car originally had rear drums that were terrible to use due to the front locking up before the rears had started to operate, needing handbrake assistance to stop at a reasonable rate - when stripped apart the wheel cylinders were for a servo car, which didn't give the correct effort with a non servo master cylinder.

This is the escort axle hydra kit from rd, the description is not clear what parts are included.
https://www.rallydesign.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=12231

Dave

Phil5062 - 16/6/18 at 10:21 PM

Many thanks Dave.
You’re right, there’s not much of a description on RS webpage.
I have 14” miniites on my Fury. What sort of weight difference is there between a 13 and 14” wheel and tyre setup?

obfripper - 16/6/18 at 11:25 PM

There's approx 1.5kg between 13" and 14" 7j td pro race wheels, and 500g between 13&14 185/60 r888r tyres, i would also say there is a large difference between tyre brands.
I have escort 13" rs1800 wheels that are just over 4kg, similar capri laser wheels are 5.5kg, a genuine minilite 14 is approx 6kg and the jbw copies are around 7.5kg, so there is a fair difference in weight between the wheel brands as well as sizes. Citroen c5 pressed alloys (look like steels) are 6j 15 and 4.7kg, lighter than anything else at that size.


Dave

Phil5062 - 17/6/18 at 09:29 PM

Brilliant!
I love the numbers. I’ve made my mind up. I’m going to look out for some RS1800 wheels... (C5’s I can’t find)

My mechanics son works at a cortina prep place and has some 9” mk2 drums and back plates.
I’ll move on the mk1 plates and drums and get the mk2’s and standard handbrake rod and cables.
He’s also got a set of willwood 4 pots taken from a Escort mk2

My sport is cycling time trialling. I covet riding rotational mass more than other components . The benefit of car wheels is both rotational and unsprung... my TT bike has Xentis 4 spike carbon wheels weighting an impressive 1198 grammes

Rich J - 18/6/18 at 05:05 AM

If weight is all important why not fit the 8" set up?
Set on a well known auction site at the moment.
NTDWM by the way