Original front brakes

What were these alternatives originally fitted to Roger?

Paul

W111 and W113 Mercedes, 230SL pagoda etc. from 1960 onwards.  The Merc application changed very soon in production to ATE calipers.  

Obviously, these will only fit original-specification Cobra front hub carriers.  Most replicas use MGB or some other manufacturer.  The calipers are spaced ⅛" to fit over the original Cobra's thicker solid discs, whereas for the Merc they are not spaced.  ⅛" spacers are no longer available, but they were used in the equivalent E-type caliper and can be swapped over.  If push came to shove it wouldn't be hard to make some.  The small square-section O-rings for the caliper halves, and into the spacer, are quite hard to source, I've found.  A reducer sleeve is also needed to fit - the Cobra caliper bolts are 7/16" whereas the caliper mount holes are ½".

Here's a photo, now they're back from Big Redd's plating shop, and installed with the correct brass banjo union.  All the casting numbers are correct for Cobra.  This caliper was fitted to the front of 289s and 427s from the factory for street use.

Looking very good Roger. Well done. 👍🏻
Paul

Should they not be Dull Grey colour? 

Roger do you have a copy of the Girling Application list G320?

From memory the 289 Brakes were only shared with 427's and 289 sports and also 428 frua after csx2200 and used by AC until 1969.. 

Hi Mark, I'd be interested to know what finishing process would give the dull grey colour.  Here is a front caliper on CSX2310, Dan's unrestored car:

The exact Girling part number for a component will reflect any minor or detail changes as required by the manufacturer.  So whilst the castings for the SL Mercedes will be identical, with the same casting numbers, the part number under which the item was supplied will be different.  As noted in my posting, the 16/3 or 17/3 as supplied to Mercedes for a very brief period will have been machined to metric thread sizes (M10 1.0, very close to ⅜").  According to the Girling applications catalogue for 1961 on, the later Cobra part numbers are 64032770/1, whereas those for the Mercedes are 64032723/2.  My reference lists only AC Cobra from chassis no. CSX2201-on, July 1963-on.  I have no numbers specific to AC289 or 427.  The Mercedes numbers are for 1962-3.

From memory when i was looking into my brakes I did read something that dan Case posted about the process they used to use was no longer available to due the chemicals used back then, As normal he blew my brain with far to much detail!!   I did read somewhere about trivalent chromate plating a dull silver grey finish.. Much nicer (for this purpose) than bright zinc

Girling Application list shows exactly the same Part number for cars after 2200 as 64032770/1 (cobra 289) and 289 V8 67-68  428 (Assuming Frua) up to 1969. There is no other listing for this part number for any other Make, Where as the rears Have around 4-5  aston/iso/tvr/jenson & bristol.  

If the calipers are metric they might be 16/3p (W)  What casting numbers did you get from Dan C? For some reason there is no listing for Merc in my Application guide and no mention of cast numbers.. 

Cast iron calipers (and many other parts) used to be cadmium plated.  Due to hazardous materials legislation, this is no longer legal in the UK so bright zinc, either yellow or silver, are the closest options.  I have never seen sixties calipers painted, but that doesn't mean they weren't.

The earlier Girling application list I have lists Cobra from CSX2000 to CSX2124 as using GBB48440/1, type 16, CSX2125 to CSX2164 as using 64032714/5, type 16P, CSX2165 to CSX2200 as using 64032770/1, type 16/3P and CSX2201 - on also using 64032770/1 type 16/3P.  The 220SE 1962-3 used 64032723/2, type 17/3, and the 220SE and 230SL 1963 - on used 64032746/7, type 17/3P.  The Mercedes won't show in later books as they moved to ATE calipers from 63/4 onwards.

As far as I know, all these had the same casting number, 20675, as seen here on one of Dan's calipers:

So, as said earlier, the Mercedes calipers have the same casting numbers showing.  The application number is different but that is manufacturer specific, and relates to how the casting was machined after production - i.e. metric threads for the Merc, imperial for the Cobra etc. etc.  The casting's the same.  Bolt spacing is 3½", 7/16" for Cobra but ½" for Mercedes.  The Merc caliper is built imperial but machined metric.

The rear calipers are 12/3P, used in several others - Ferrari, Iso, Maserati, Bristol and Jensen - my '73 Interceptor had the same 3-pot rear calipers with built-in handbrake mechanism.  Not the same as Jaguar.

I'd be interested to know what calipers your car has - are they still the originals?  Any chance of a photo?

Morning Roger... 

As far as i can tell the rears are genuine, I bought a set of Jenson interceptor rears anyway as spares as they popped up for sale with correct hand brake mech and even have the single eared/lugged HandBrake pads..    As for the fronts i am not sure, one reason why i was at the time searching for info...  Knowledge on these Late cars isn't as well know as the earlier cars as you well know... They "look" correct but do not have the same part number that's in the 1962 onwards Girling app book i have and the part number doesn't not show up in there either for any car..

F&R calipers are a dull ish grey colour, but the brake pipe location is at the top not point forwards so could be Jag spec or other but when there is no info on exactly what was fitted by AC at that time i'm a bit lost.. I really need to go and look at another unmolested 289 sports.. 

Do you have any part numbers from your front calipers?  I've not seen a Cobra with the top mount banjo fitting - as far as I'm aware the top fitting was for the later E-type caliper.  My book does imply that they should be 64032770/1 for the later cars, but I don't know of any verifiably unrestored 289 sports which could be examined to check.

Hi Roger 

Agreed 64032770/1 is in my application book...  I have 64320525 not listed in my book but do look like late E -Type..   

I am trying look into the early frua brake system photos to see if there was a change from the stated part numbers used by AC at the factory.. The ones i have currently look the same as i have fitted but i do not have the important rear/inner view.. 

Just checked my Girling book for 1960-1985, which lists:

A.C.Cars 289 V8 1967-1968  -  front calipers are 64032770/1

A.C.Cars 428 Automatic October 1967 - December 1969  - front calipers are 64032770/1

A.C.Cars 428 Automatic January 1970 - 1972  - front calipers are 64033546/7

Are you sure that 64320525 is a correct number?  It's not coming up on any of my Girling reference books, and not even on Google as 'Girling 64320525'.  The other caliper numbers all show on google.  It's not an E-type number - my books cover all E-type models from '61 - '72.  In fact it's not showing as a Girling caliper number for anything.  As you suggest, the outer view of the calipers is not much help as the outside cast half is the same casting (2-pot) for all these applications.  The difference is in the inner single-pot cast half - every AC Cobra and 428 application I have seen has the banjo fitting halfway up the caliper, not at the top.

@roger-king

Yes looking at my Mech photos the number is correct.. But i will have to go and uncover the car and recheck.. I agree the part number isn't coming up.. Only other option is that there "aftermarket-Pattern" parts... Either way... getting Originals isn't going to be easy unless someone is breaking up a Frua or has parted the brakes out for modern Upgraded units.. Just another Part to add to the list..