Alfa Pages

Guest · Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 12:13 pm Post subject: Rear Disc Conversion

Hello

I've had a couple of enquiries about this on another thread, so I thought I'd start a new topic in case anyone else was interested.

I did a rear disc conversion a few years ago and in my opinion it really improves braking performance:

First you need to obtain either the hubs or a complete rear axle from a european spec 33 with ABS - I got mine from a breaker in Holland, who imported it specially from Italy for me. It seemed to be relatively easy to get. I paid about £300 inc delivery for a complete axle with discs and calipers. I will find the name of the breaker if anyone is interested, otherwise I would recommend you try specialist breakers in Holland, Germany, Italy or France (lots are listed in the UK Alfa Club Directory of Services if anyone has a copy)

The new parts just bolt straight on (to replace the complete axle, just undo all the bolts and remove brake lines and put on the new axle). If your new axle has been lying around for a bit, you may need to refurbish the calipers.

The rear calipers are (I believe) the same as a P4 and the the discs and pads are definitely the same. Standard parts are relatively cheap if you need them - calipers about £60 each, discs about £30 for the pair. If you want some nice discs, try Tarox G88 40 groove ones for just over £100 for the pair - they look good and work very well.

The only extra thing you need is to make up a couple of new brake pipes and obtain some handbrake cables from Alfa (probably the same as a P4, but if you expain they're for an ABS car you should get the right ones).

Make sure that the front/rear brake balance adjustment is set correctly before you drive the car and go easy until the system is bedded in - I've had a couple of scary moments after fitting it originally and after fitting new pads where the rear end stepped out after braking from high speed. On one occasion, this almost resulted in my 33 becoming a 16.5, after spinning it twice on a motorway slip road!

Hope all this is of some use

Rich

Rich B · Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 12:14 pm Post subject:

oops, sorry I forgot to log in!! It was me what posted the above article!

Bellamachinna · Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 4:24 pm Post subject:

Hi...
Yes, the callipers are the same.
But the discs are sliglty different. The central part, that goes into the wheel hub has extra "holes", but the diameter, and thikness is the same..

All the best
Paulo Camilo
_________________
All'interno della mia macchina, vi sedete, tenete sopra e CHIUDETE IN SU...

baiones · Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 5:27 pm Post subject:

Nice thread!! Very Happy

I have a Boxer 16v for spares .

The previous owner hit the sidewalk with the rear wheel, so the axle is bent.

Is it possible to use the rear discs and callipers on my Imola ( drum brakes ) ?

Is the axle different on a non rear-brake-discs 33, from a 33 with rear brake discs ?
_________________
Carpe diem!!

Baiones

ALFA ROMEO 33 1.5 QV
ALFA ROMEO 33 1.7 QV
ALFA ROMEO 33 s16 QV
ALFA ROMEO Sprint 1.3
ALFA ROMEO 156 SW "Train Edition" ( it's a JTD... )

Rich B · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2005 10:21 am Post subject:

Baiones, Yes, I'm pretty sure that you can put the discs onto your Imola, as far as I know the axles are pretty well the same, you'll just need to swap the hubs so that you can mount the discs and calipers.

Bellamachinna, you're quite right the discs are slightly different. For those of us in the UK who never got the ABS cars, you can still get the rear discs quite easily from various sources - I've seen some on e-bay recently.

Cheers

Rich

Bellamachinna · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2005 2:41 pm Post subject:

Baiones, you can put the rear discs as long as you change the hubs as well. I think that you also have to change the cables for the parking brake, altough i`m not so sure...
One great improvement, on the Imola, would be to change, also the front solid discs, and callipers, to those of the 16v.
This is a straight swap...

All the best
P.Camilo
_________________
All'interno della mia macchina, vi sedete, tenete sopra e CHIUDETE IN SU...

Rich B · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2005 4:47 pm Post subject:

Just to confirm, You will need to change the handbrake cables and also make up some new brake pipes but other than that just swap the hubs over.

I agree with Bellamachinna, swap the front discs/calipers too, that will really improve the braking.

Ciao

Rich

baiones · Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 9:35 pm Post subject:

Thanks Paulo!!

My new Imola is getting new brakes!!! Very Happy

_________________
Carpe diem!!

Baiones

ALFA ROMEO 33 1.5 QV
ALFA ROMEO 33 1.7 QV
ALFA ROMEO 33 s16 QV
ALFA ROMEO Sprint 1.3
ALFA ROMEO 156 SW "Train Edition" ( it's a JTD... )

sportston · Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 7:21 pm Post subject: any other way?

Is there any other and perhaps cheaper way that would uprate them at the same time? I was wondering if front calipers from a citroen bx could be made to fit ?! After all they would be larger (and they have a handbrake incorporated into them). Why is it necessary to change the hubs? Cannot the existing ones be hacked about and made to fit? I'm sure someone will throw an objection to this plan but I'd be interested to know anyway.

thanks

thomas the tank engine

Rees Cees · Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 7:42 pm Post subject: Re: any other way?

sportston · Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 8:15 pm Post subject: rear calipers

ok so I'll use rear calipers from another alfa. Do I have to change hubs or modify mine?

Rees Cees · Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 8:47 pm Post subject: Re: rear calipers

sportston · Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 8:50 am Post subject: calipers

I've found some alfa 145 bits going cheap. So I'll probably get them and make them fit. I'll let you know how I get on when i fit them.
My wallet has never seen so much action since I bought this alfa! Great fun car though aren't they?! I've just bought a set of rear gas shocks to compliment the superflex bushes and avo springs. Piece by piece my alfa is getting better and better. I've called her Mandy because of the unusual plate.
M81CAP. It made me think of andy capp. but this is a girl so i called her Mandy. My friends say the number plate is quite applicable to the driver.....I wonder what they mean?
Tata
tom orrow

Rich B · Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 2:25 pm Post subject:

Hi all

Just found something out which may help any of you looking to do this (pinched the info off e-bay). Apparently (although unproven), you can fit 155 rear discs (part no 60576335) and stub axles (part no 60557214 and 60552215) and you also need bearings x2 (part no 60557219). You can get the 33 rear calipers relatively easily on various websites.

Hope that helps - might be easier than trying to track down bits from an ABS car for those of us in the UK

Rich

sportston · Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:47 pm Post subject: great!

Good to know! I will definitely be trying this when my bank balance gets back in the black. I'll post the results to let you know if it works or not.