Kingswood front conversion- HQ to VT

[bigmuz]

Okay so I have the 1jz kingswood ute thing happening. I need to sort the front brakes out.

I am putting a V8 early Commodore diff in with discs, for the front the engineer wants VT style twin spots. Hoppers do a kit but is there another option?

I guess al I need are the hubs, source discs and calipers locally and make adaptors. Brake lines use the VT ones. Master Cylinder 1 inch from WB.

Easy?

Ute is only a street car. No racing or heavy duty stuff.

Cheers

Muz

[browny]

Maybe CRS? eg DB54 - All model Commodore discs to HK-WB drum stubs.

AFAIK Hoppers kits use AU2 gear - blank discs redrilled to whatever stud pattern you require + PBR sports calipers. I'd pay a bit more and buy the entire bolt on kit just to save time and messing around.

[HoonBoy]

Price up all of the components, it won't be much of a price difference in the end unless you use second hand calipers etc. If I remember correctly, one of the brake conversion places will sell the hubs seperatly.

I'm guessing you want Commodore stud pattern at the front to match the rear?

[bigmuz]

Thanks guys.

Yeah Commodore pattern plus bigger / better brakes is the aim. He said it would be legal with stock v8 brakes all round as the weights are lower and the power increase modest (on paper)

I can get stock calipers for nothing, and rotors for free as well. And I can make mounting tabs easily with my milling machine.

And I am a tightarse. :D

[browny]

What I was hinting at is that the Hoppers kit may or may not contain parts that are readily available at the wreckers...AU2 calipers shouldn't be a problem but I'd say its unlikely that you will come across a set of AU rotors redrilled to commodore pattern....

I reckon it would be a worth a call to Hoppers to find out exactly what bits they use in their kits and how they are priced. It's possible that the effort of DIYing half the kit wont be worth the $ saving (although your brackets will likely be better)...

If you want cheap. Then I'd look at what CRS can offer. Their kits tend to be designed so you can bolt stock calipers/rotors straight on. So if you can get cheapy used bits then it's likely to be a better option.

[Dansedgli]

The hoppers kits are all in the hubs which they wont sell seperate. The rest is off the shelf gear.

Ie for my Torana the hub is torana on the inside and commodore on the outside. It uses a factory commodore disc and an AU2 falcon caliper. When hoppers get the disc they buy blanks and redrill them to suit the hub stud pattern that you choose..

I would go with hoppers again, they come with everything needed and are not really that expensive for the gear and ease of install IMO. The kits are also complianced and come with engineering paperwork.

[browny]

When I get home I'll have to check exactly what disc they are using for mine (HR). I swear they said it was a Falcon disc but maybe I'm wrong.

[browny]

Disc part number is DBA502USR

AU2 Falcon - Undrilled - Slotted - Right

[Dansedgli]

Does that mean that if you had commodore stud pattern you would need to order the brakes then get them redrilled afterwards?

I was told I could use stocko commodore rotors. :(

[browny]

For new rotors I guess I'd either need to buy direct from Hoppers or buy blanks and find someone to drill them.

Maybe your kit is different? AFAIK Hoppers used to sell a CRS kit based on VT brakes, or maybe they use a different rotor for the Toranas.

Measure it up and see:

From the DBA catalogue
AU2 - 287 dia, 65 total thickness, 28 rotor thickness
VT - 296 dia, 83 total thickness, 28 rotor thickness

[Dansedgli]

I have sold the car now so I cant check.

He did tell me it used an AU2 XR8 caliper so I imagine its the same kit as yours. Maybe I assumed about the rotors.

[gtrboyy]

You could fit vn-p front discs as bearings size is the same then make up custom brackets & use better calipers than the vt ones which are said to flex,then get brake hoses made up.That's if you are competent enough & your engineer agrees.

I ended up buying a 330mm,twin piston kit on hq stubs for for my torry from gavsport mainly for peace of mind & the fact that I can't weld good enough.

[bigmuz]

Cheers guys. I don't have an issue with getting au2 rotors and calipers except it seems to me that commodore gear is easier with no redrilling? VT calipers are twin spot?

The hubs from CRS are the only item not in the price list. I don;t get it. I'll email them for details this arvo.

I know it's only 1300 or so for the hoppers deal, but I am resourceful so I will get local stuff if need be.

thanks for your help.

Muz

[browny]

yep, VT is twin pot. Note sure what VR/VS used but before this they used single pot with a one piece hub type rotor basically the same as what'd be on the VK (there was a bigger version on VLT, V8's and later model V6's).

It'll pay to carefully check out exactly what CRS are offering. I kind of get the impression their brake development concentrated pretty much on the single pot stuff because like gtrboyy says the wheel bearings are all compatible and it was easy to adapt drum stubs to suit. Also Hoppers came along and offered a bit of competition and (if you believe them) a better solution for the twin pot stuff. I'd be interested to find out more about CRS's VT based setup because I've haven't heard much about it.

I'd ring CRS if you want a decent response. Historically their response to email is really small to non existent, although that might have changed since the new guys took it over.

[dattoman1000]

Muz
You need a conversion hub to go on the stub (avail seperate from places like Holmart,Racebrakes,etc) Just ask for the VT conversion hub to put VT brakes onto earlier Commodores....... same hub. You can't use actual VT hubs off a car as they are sealed bearing units and don't have a stub axle as such.
Then you need BA rotors drilled to Commodore pattern
Then you need AU2 calipers
Then you need to make your own brackets
Hoses would need to be custom length made for the application
WB master is an option if you want to remove the bias/prop valve off the inner guard...... but not essential as the orig master is already 1"
WB master would require WB booster or modifications to the original (different mounting)

AU2 is used cause they are a better caliper and they have a better mount configuration to make the brackets match the stub easier
VT can work but its not nice and needs dicking around.

[bigmuz]

Thanks man. I'm actually still waiting for a response to my email from 3 years ago, but it's only a matter of time I guess :D

I'll call them early next week and check it out. I might consider machining my own hubs and saying they came from hoppers. Engineer wouldn't know the difference anyway. Then use stock vt calipers, vt discs and easy on the pocket and maintenance down the line.

Thanks for your help. BTW CE paid the other people whose shit blew up same day as mine, I'm waiting for the cheque...

[bigmuz]

EDIT Ok thanks mate.

Are you saying just pay the man? Hoppers?

Or source it all?

[JZK25]

I'm digging this up instead of starting a new thread.

My mates HJ Tonner with 1UZ needs brakes as it currently has next to none. He tows a tool trailer with it but doesn't really drive it fast or anything.
I am going to overhaul the rear shoes and cylinders but want to replace the horrid little front callipers.
Problem as I see it is that he has 14" dragways (pros I think) and all the kits mentioned here would need at least 15".
Should I just go for WB callipers and new rotors or is there another option?
Thanks.

[bigmuz]

Harden the fuck up and put some proper wheels on it.
But seriously- I dunno. Maybe VL corvette caliper (same as VN V6 amiright?)

[stupid_cunt]

If this helps anyone my brother has pair of VT (later model but that style) basically brand new calipers that he wants to offload. I think they've done 100kms before the owner upgraded them.

Otherwise carry on.

[dattoman1000]

Wilwood 7476 calipers
Slotted HQ discs
Ferodo DS2500 pads
3mm plates behind pads to take up slack
Custom hoses

End thread

[Stevesv8]

Muz,

Check this out - maybee what you are looking for?? Or maybee you can source most parts from this kit?

http://holmart.com.au/online/category6_1.htm

Bottom of page on RHS

Steve

Edit - just realised this is a way old thread....hope your brakes are sorted by now Muz.

[JZK25]

Muz and I are racing to finish our projects, it is a very steady pace.

Dattoman - Approx. cost?

[bigmuz]

Brakes are sorted (and by that I mean it's not really my project now..) But thanks mate :D