I have just had a call from the garage where the Z car is being put through the yearly scrutiny - it seems I have melted the front piston seals. Now I could get a seal kit or I could get a set of replacement calipers. I have the alimunium ones and I was looking for some help on if tthe steel ones are better or worse. I don't want to go for the big brake conversion as braided lines, castrol SRF and quality pads and rotors have always been fine - out-braked a bike with teh porterfield pads.

Do the steel calipers make any difference other than being a bit heavier?

Any help much appreciated as always.

 

Ivan

You need to get that bumper painted sometime ;)

Get less flex i think in the steal ones, as it happens i have a set thats avalible really. work perfect and from genuine very low mileage z...

steel ones are heavier, but less prone to warp discs. Alloy are lighter but more likely to warping iirc.

Yeah i think the steel ones disperse the heat better so less warpage :yes:

The garage I assume are talking about the dust rubbers as they cannot see the piston seals unless they have removed the pistons from the calipers. The dust shield are easy to replace with out removing the calipers ( just the pads) and come part of a seal kit with new ring retainers.

 

Personally I prefer the alloy calipers, the steel ones seem to suffer more from seizing, and the brake pedal always feel more wooden than the alloy ones, which is odd as you would expect it the other way around if anything.

 

Jeff TT

Edited February 9, 201015 yr by JeffTT

Yes the calipers are in bits (another £50 for SRF), three of the pistons have siezed.

The car is pretty much only used for driving to the Nurburgring these days so I was not surprised at the state of the front calipers - they've done 80 laps.

Thanks everybody for your advice and views - I think I will stick with the alluminium ones if they are repairable.

 

Ivan

You need to get that bumper painted sometime ;)

 

You haven't seen the black passenger door - that side is always facing in.

My sister passed her panel beating and painting exams late last year so I am going to get her to paint it (when she gets good) all the same colour.

 

Anyway I love sitting in million pound traffic jams at the ring in a piece of sh*t and then overtaking most of them on the track (especially porsche drivers).

 

Ivan

You haven't seen the black passenger door - that side is always facing in.

My sister passed her panel beating and painting exams late last year so I am going to get her to paint it (when she gets good) all the same colour.

 

Anyway I love sitting in million pound traffic jams at the ring in a piece of sh*t and then overtaking most of them on the track (especially porsche drivers).

 

Ivan

 

Is your zed the one parked in patchway near Cribbs? has a different colour front bumper, and quite a big dent in the door/rear wing

yep that's mine, SWB TT Tin Top manual.