B10 V8S front brakes - suggestions before I sell a kidney!

v8 ego · Post by **v8 ego** » Tue Feb 16, 2016 12:44 am

I have a certain amount of sympathy having had 3 Lotus Carlton whose brake disks and pads were Â£1,200 in 1991.

If it is any comfort, disks for my 730d are over Â£500 - equally obscene in my opinion.

BarryM · Post by **BarryM** » Tue Feb 16, 2016 12:59 am

Metrics wrote:Barry, using these guys I think, seem to have the best write up:

http://www.brakecaliperspecialists.uk/

There's even a testimonial from Matt Stripling on the site!

OK thanks, that's another option, I've just completed the quote form so I'll see what they come back with.

Metrics · Post by **Metrics** » Tue Feb 16, 2016 1:04 am

Your suggestion looks good too Barry, I'll be calling them in the morning for a quote.

E24man · Post by **E24man** » Tue Feb 16, 2016 9:25 am

Metrics · Post by **Metrics** » Tue Feb 16, 2016 12:54 pm

Done some more research, thought Id share for others:

The discs and pads went up in price, on Sat 13th Feb. I think that's called Sod's law!! The discs and pads were Â£1500, now are just over Â£2000 inc.

The calipers are Brembo BBK. They were fitted to literally loads of cars, Ferrari F40, XKR, Astons etc. There are literally 10s of choices on pad options that fit the car at a fraction of the Â£500 Alpina are charging, as long as you are prepared to live without the brake pad wear sensor. (For example standard Pagid pads available for Â£50!)

There are a few options on alternative discs too:

Tarox do a bespoke disc for this application, and while they are 2 piece, they are not true floating discs (like the originals).

A brake specialist in Lancs can make a new floating disc to spec, using new bells and rotors, using AP parts - so top notch quality. Cheaper than OE.

Barry, spoke to your suggested caliper refurbishing company this morning (the guy on Facebook, based in Rochdale) - he's a top bloke, spent ages on the phone to me this morning explaining what he does and suggesting options for this brake dilemma. I will definitely be using him, very impressed by his approach and knowledge. Thanks for the heads up Barry!

I'll keep you posted with how this develops in case it helps other V8s owners, as there's so many of us, not! I've certainly not seen a definitive guide on this subject, other than to go OE, so an alternative might be useful!

JASV8S · Post by **JASV8S** » Tue Feb 16, 2016 1:35 pm

Thanks for the breakdown Metrics. Costs seemed to have gone up a lot more than an inflationary rise and although I don't mind shelling out because we have specialist cars this just makes you feel that you are being well and truly shafted when you consider it is just chunks of machined metal and some linings.

I need to measure my discs to check wear and decide. Still got an interest in non OEM set-up only if there was a significant saving and it was good.

Metrics · Post by **Metrics** » Tue Feb 16, 2016 2:30 pm

JASV8S

Agree 100%. Parts are now 33% more which as you say is a very big jump in costs.

Another update on options for discs:

There are a number of companies around the UK I've spoken to this morning that specialise in bespoke brakes and race applications. It's great to know these sort of places still exist as they're run by proper gents, the sort of folk who love cars, engineering and helping people. I guess they like the challenge and like helping folk like us who are looking after cars that are a bit special. I have a lot of time for engineers, they made this nation of ours great!!! <cue Elgar's Nimrod

> I digress...

These guys can supply rotors and bells to the exact configuration needed for the V8S, using AP components, including rotors in the correct (and obscure) size of 360 x 34. Cost is circa Â£1000.

Alternatively there's a possibility that the bells can be reused, new rotors supplied with new bobbins. This may well work for me as the discs on my car are not that old, so the bells should be in good condition.

Finally, if my rotors are in good condition, they maybe able to be reground, again reflecting the fact they aren't that old or worn. This is my least favoured option, but if there's life in them and the regrinding leaves me with perfectly usable discs (within tolerance of course) then this maybe an option.

brett · Post by **brett** » Mon Jun 05, 2017 10:21 pm

just bumping this thread back up , my new pads and sensors arrived today
from Frank Dieter Wolf Â£452 all in ,including shipping and tax, just off for a lie down

v8 ego · Post by **v8 ego** » Mon Jun 05, 2017 10:34 pm

Farki nell!!

brett · Post by **brett** » Tue Jun 06, 2017 9:25 am

That was a Â£100 cheaper then my local dealer !