406 brake upgrade

[ivespeed]

does anyone know of another caliper that fits the uprights to give improved braking?.....later style pads etc.......

I have used Volvo Amazone 4 pot calipers on my 403, discs from 406
Jaap in the Netherlands

[Nick Challacombe]

There is no need to improve the braking on a 406. The Dunlop set up is
superb and out brakes many a modern car.
My 407 somewhat surprises the MOT tester every year.
The brakes are the same as an E type and many of its contemporys.
They were only stopped from making them, as the designers had left their
previous employment and set up
with Dunlop to make an improved version. Dunlop were taken to court and
ended production after losing the case.

Past Parts of Bury St Edmunds are experts on the brakes and have everything
in stock for you, they re-sleeve the brake cylinders
with stainless steel.
I have tried different pads and put in "Green Stuff Pads" but a couple of
laps of Le Man glazed them up and produced an
awful squeal. I have gone back to the old style (with out asbestos) and we
are now back to normal.

Past Parts are to be found on 01284 750729
www.pastparts.com
restore@pastparts.com
Fax 01284 756240

Unit 4 Chase Road,
Northern way Industrial Estate
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk
IP32 6NT

If it aint broke dont fix it, restore it!

Nick.

[Kevin H]

Originally Posted by Nick Challacombe

There is no need to improve the braking on a 406. The Dunlop set up is superb and out brakes many a modern car.

Nick, you may believe that, but I doubt very much that anyone else does.

[john stanley]

Well, my Arnolt Bristol stops like a freight train!

[Nick Challacombe]

Kevin,
It was rated the best of brakes in its day and without reverting to modern
brakes and ABS there is no better brake.
Maintenance is the answer, good discs and good pads.
I doubt in their time Bristol would not have fitted them if they were not
the best available.

Nick.

[Kevin H]

Nick, "in it's day" are the important words here, and it's day was around the late 1950's and early 1960's, before Girling made it's calipers that were twice the size, which Bristol and many other performance car manufacturers adopted.

I agree that they will work better when everything is set up as per manufacturers spec, as most mechanical things will, but in reality brakes also have to work well in sub-optimal condition.

My experience with the Dunlop brakes were on an Aston DB4. I had the brakes rebuilt after I bought the car so they were in perfect condition. They were adequate around town, but when I used the car in a rally (Classic Adelaide) they suffered badly from brake fade.

This is a widely reported problem with the Dunlop brakes which is no doubt why so many companies have developed replacement upgrades for them.

Incidentally, Bristol now offer brake "upgrades", so obviously they too believe there is room for improvement

[GREG]

Most classic car owners don't race their cars and in normal road conditions Dunlop brakes are adequate, however people expect and are used to more.

Everyone I know that have uprated the standard Bristol brakes to Coopercraft seem delighted. I was happy with the Dunlop's on the 408 and they seemed on a par with the 411 brakes until a bit of brake fade kicked in.

[browning l]

Originally Posted by Kevin H

Nick, "in it's day" "made it's calipers"

"it's" ? Not even in Australia for the possessive. "its" in English, around the world.

Don't be oversensitive to this...it's a very common error.

[GREG]

"it's" ? Not even in Australia for the possessive. "its" in English, around the world.

Don't be oversensitive to this...it's a very common error.

And this has what to do with cars ? or am I being over sensitive ? ( note two separate words )

[browning l]

Originally Posted by GREG

And this has what to do with cars ? or am I being over sensitive ? ( note two separate words )

Nuttintadewwi'cahr'zbud everything to do with clear writing.

Where do you want to draw the line with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence construction if you don't want to follow the rules?

[caspian pugh]

Originally Posted by browning l

"it's" ? Not even in Australia for the possessive. "its" in English, around the world.

Don't be oversensitive to this...it's a very common error.

Oooh, I say how titillating, an English lesson from Lou-Lou and he's a yankee doodle boy. I hope he will forgive my faux-pas in using a comma before my preposition. You know, my Willie is very careless about spelling, punctuation & his grandma as well - thchah, wot a nob!

Cass xxxx

[caspian pugh]

Originally Posted by GREG

And this has what to do with cars ? or am I being over sensitive ? ( note two separate words )

Greggy dahlink,

Don't be over sensitive and if you feel overcome may I suggest putting your head between your knees and taking a deep breath. It may be beneficial to do this in one of your five Bristols - may I suggest you position both kneees and face immediately adjacent to the front footwell air vent after first adjusting the temperature and fan controls to a suitable temperature and air velocity. If you are as sensitive as me you might like to apply some Clarins facial moisturiser to avoid windburn which gan give your lips a dreadful chapping.

Changing the subject somewhat, are you going to Rufforth tomorrow? I may go but my Willie wants to stay at home in bed. Prolly with an english language excercise book doing double declentions of his third ablative.

I may see you walking around, clutching my beaver brown Osprey manbag and casting an appraising eye over the stalls with the greasy bike bits and attending rough leather clad biker types.

Take care,

Cass xx

[PaulS]

Cass,

Thought you might be jumping into the fray when Colonel Sanders began his grammer (sic) lesson... been a while, great stuff as always. Gotta git on my horsey and run, the revenooers are a-comin'!

Cheers,

HouTex