40mm rear calipers - last ones

[Tom F&L GoR]

at the price of $600.

My machine shop had a small price increase on steel tubing, we've added a machining step to make assembly easier (not quicker, unfortunately), and finding some of the Brembo parts has been more expensive, too. Once in a while I get a "bad" core and have to buy an Eagle Premier caliper to scavenge parts. But enough whining....

After these two pair go, the price will be $630 (plus your old cores.) One pair is ready now, other is awaiting a small Brembo part (hopefully by next week.)

This "upgrade" is an economical solution to the braking (im)balance of the factory system. It enlarges the rear brakes from the OEM 36mm to 40mm and provides near perfect balance (no more locking up the fronts.) No modifications, cutting, adapters are needed; fits under 17" and 18" wheels, externally indistinguishable from original calipers (which is a debit, I know.)

If anyone's interested, has questions, is curious about what this is, or wants a few references from other customers, PM or email me. I have a small info sheet I can send or if you are really interested, I have a 1Mb rebuild guide that explains what the internals look like.

The normal procedure: We agree on a schedule, I send you the rebuilt calipers, you do the switch and make sure your car is up and running again (there are little springs and things to make sure you have) and then send me your old ones and $630. Sorry, I can't locate used ones fast enough to keep up, so I'm doing this on an exchange basis only and will ask for reasonably prompt core returns.

 

[ViperRay]

If you're looking to upgrade your brakes and don't want to spend thousands, check this out.
It works for me and my car sees some track time.

 

[fuelman]

Do they work with ABS cars and will a 16 X 10 inch drag rim still fit over them?

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

Nope, won't work with ABS cars. ABS cars have 43mm piston calipers, completely different way to attach to the upright, and honestly, you don't need them. Your rear brakes are large enough and the ABS automatically adjusts to give you proper front-to-rear balance.

These 40mm rear calipers are upgrades for non-ABS cars that came with the dinky single piston 36mm Brembo rear caliper that was designed for an Eagle Premier / Dodge Monaco and many other Renault vehicles. It hardly does any brake work; hence when you jab the brakes the fronts tend to lock up while the rears are still turning. Increasing the size to 40mm gives the car just about ideal balance; ViperRay and a few others out there know.

 

[Achilles99]

My cousin has these on his GTS... the 40mm calipers are noticeably easier to modulate than stock.

When I had my non-ABS Vipers, I installed EBC's to get better modulation. However, stopping power sucked. So, I went back to stock pads.

With Tom's calipers and stock pads, the brakes are as easy to modulate as switching to EBC's, only with better stopping power. I'd give it two thumbs up in the performance category, and four thumbs for the bang for your buck factor.

 

[Bill B]

Tom, Do they use the stock (same size) pad?

 

[AG98RT10]

Tom, that's only a five percent increase? Still the best deal in brakes going!
Love mine!

 

[Vic]

Great idea, Tom! If I had a non-abs car, I would definitely do the swap.

I know a guy with a 96, that put stickier pads on the rear, to try and get the rears to do some braking. Going into a turn, he locked up the rears under heavy braking, causing some rear end wobble. It was interesting to say the least, as I was behind him on the track, hoping he wasn't gonna spin in front of me.

Anyway, you got the right idea.

 

[Achilles99]

Tom, Do they use the stock (same size) pad?

Yes, they use the same stock pad size...

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

Down to one pair.

All the stuff you're used to with the OEM calipers stays the same because the 40mm product "is" the OEM caliper with an enlarged hole and larger diameter piston. So pads, bolts, brake pins, color, etc are OEM sizes.

I posted a comparison to the smaller Renault/Eagle cousin, but the last image shows the OEM 36mm caliper bored to 40mm. The boo-boo was while learning how to cut the multi-angled piston seal groove.

http://vca2.viperclub.org/forums/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB14&Number=454081&page=1&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

Both sold. Next batch will be done around end of October. Yes, I take (prefer) orders!