vraksianrebel Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 I have a spitfire 4/1500 fitted with a 2.5ltr straight six engine, when i bought the car last year i was told that the front and rear brakes had been upgraded to GT6 spec ones, sadly the brakes have failed miserably in the MOT so i am going to rebuild them and replace all the pads, discs, shoes pistons and brake cylinders.My concern is how to tell exactly which GT6 brakes i have, i need to figure out exactly what i need for the front and rear brakes so hopefully i can get it all back on the road as soon as possible.thanks for any help guysMatt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uksnatcher Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Hi Matt.The previous owner will have fitted the uprights (vertical links), stub axles, hubs,steering arms, discs and calipers straight off a GT6 onto your spitfire as thats the straight forward bolt on upgrade.You will have imperial type 16 P or the metric 16 PB, it will say on the side of the caliper here:You will need standard solid gt6 discs unless it has vented discs fitted which are probably from a Capri 2.8. The rear brakes will probably be standard spitfire, but may have had GT6/1500 larger cylinders fitted, you wont know until you strip them down.The master cylinder may have been changed for the slightly larger bore GT6 one too. (it will have 5/8 on the side of the master cylinder if its a spitfire one)Can you post some pics?Gaz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vraksianrebel Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 Thanks very much, i will try and get some decent pictures this weekend when i get the car up on stands and wheels off. the previous owner did say that the rears where the gt6 ones but i will take photos to double check lol, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uksnatcher Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 The back axle is the factor of which rear brakes you have, if the diameter of the drum is 8" then its one of 3 IE GT6 MK1,2,3 (each different)...if the drum is 7" then its off a spitfire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vraksianrebel Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 ok well that should be pretty easy to work out then, where do you measure from to check the 7/8inch? presumeably if the rears are from a gt6 it will be easy enough to work out which mark with some pictures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uksnatcher Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Straight across the drum through the center hub nut, edge to edge ;)The 3 GT6 axle's differ with :a fixed spring MK1Rotoflex (big rubber donut on drive shaft) MK2/3Swingspring (spring eye surrounded by another leaf) late MK3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vraksianrebel Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 well its the swing spring set up which i had assumed was from the spitfire with just a change on the hubs, hmmm well i will try and get a bunch of pictures this weekend and load them up so i can get some clues as to exactkly what i have Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uksnatcher Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Best bet is measure the drums and go from there i think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vraksianrebel Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 yeah, that sounds like a plan. Thanks for all the help, once i have it up in the air and the wheels off i will try and get some pictures uploaded as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uksnatcher Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Another thing that may help,If you do have the late GT6 Mk3 swingspring hubs they wont have a manual brake adjuster on the back plate as they are self adjusting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casper Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Quote:The previous owner will have fitted the uprights (vertical links), stub axles, hubs,steering arms, discs and calipers straight off a GT6 onto your spitfire as thats the straight forward bolt on upgrade.You will have imperial type 16 P or the metric 16 PB, it will say on the side of the caliperWhat it says on the casting does NOT indicate the type.What you need to check is:The type of dust seal:16P use bellows seals that do NOT have a retaining ring/spring.16PB/M16PB have a smaller seal held by a retaining ring/spring. And, the retaining pins:16P use large (1/4”) retaining pins16PB/M16PB use smaller (3/16”) retaining pins.Bleed nipple headsIf 10mm hex = inconclusiveIf 7/16” AF hex = 99% sure not M16PBIf 16PB/M16PB, then:Pads GBP144 or substitute (may need filing to clear)Repair Kit 519731Pad fitting kit (if required) GBK1002If 16PPads GBP144 or substitute (may need drilling and/or filing)Repair Kit 601960See also http://club.triumph.org.uk/cgi-bin/forum10/Blah.pl/Blah.pl?m-1253348427/s-15/C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uksnatcher Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Thanks, wasnt aware of that.Simply put tho, Spitfire mk4/1500 has Type 14 and GT6 has larger type 16 calipers. If you have the early type 16 you will/may have to drill the new pads to fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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