Did I buy the right Alfa brake calipers? Options

[Tdskip]

Found these on the Alfa forum I frequent and ready-fire-aim'd them.

One caliper is stamped "Brembo". The other is not.

They dimensions identical between them and both 3 inch bolt spacing (they look difference sizes in the picture since one strut was closer to camera). Pistons look identical too.

They are from a late Alfa GTV so should be OK, but I was expecting that both would have "Brembo" on the casting. Anyone come across these that didn't have the Brembo stamping on both left & right?

Thanks and hope everyone is having a good weekend so far.

[mepstein]

They look correct to me. Not all of them seem to have the stamping.

[Tdskip]

They look correct to me. Not all of them seem to have the stamping.

Phew! Apparently there there may be a difference on early vs late versions of these calipers too, will dig in and report back.

Thanks for the fast and helpful response.

[GregAmy]

Are these the same as the BMW calipers that many use on the 4-bolt cars?

[Tdskip]

Are these the same as the BMW calipers that many use on the 4-bolt cars?

Good morning. I believe so off a very specific 320i but that needs to be double checked.

Excellent thread here;

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=104276

[ConeDodger]

Not the same as the 320i. That caliper has to be modified to work. The Alfa GTV brakes are aluminum and bolt right up.

Mine both say Brembo and Eric shined them up and anodized them for me!

[Tdskip]

Not the same as the 320i. That caliper has to be modified to work. The Alfa GTV brakes are aluminum and bolt right up.

Mine both say Brembo and Eric shined them up and anodized them for me!

Thanks for putting me straight on that.

[GregAmy]

Thanks for the info.

What was the specific make/model/year of Alfa for these? I have a set of the BMW calipers on my street car and was planning to swap those on the race car, but if these are better I'll go on a hunt for a pair (sticking with 4-bolt struts).

That other thread had distinguishing names for them ("S", "L", "M") but no specific original applications.

[Tdskip]

Late model Milano and GTV6 came with them, occasionally come up but increasing hard to find due to people like us.

I do not know what the year cut over for these is, will ask the Alfa shop on Monday.

[GregAmy]

Thanks.

And what's the correct rotor? I bet there's enough space in there for a vented rotor.

[bdstone914]

Thanks for the info.

What was the specific make/model/year of Alfa for these? I have a set of the BMW calipers on my street car and was planning to swap those on the race car, but if these are better I'll go on a hunt for a pair (sticking with 4-bolt struts).

That other thread had distinguishing names for them ("S", "L", "M") but no specific original applications.

85-86 Alfa GTV

[bdstone914]

Thanks.

And what's the correct rotor? I bet there's enough space in there for a vented rotor.

You can run them in a solid rotor if you remove the spacer. With the spacer they need a vented rotor.

[Tdskip]

Thanks.

And what's the correct rotor? I bet there's enough space in there for a vented rotor.

You can run them in a solid rotor if you remove the spacer. With the spacer they need a vented rotor.

Hi Bruce!

What is this spacer thing you speak of?

:-)

[GregAmy]

What is this spacer thing you speak of?

Ditto. What spacer?

For the race car I'm likely to spec out a Coleman hat and vented rotor ring that fits in there nicely...unless someone knows of a thicker bolt-in vented rotor with the same stud spacing and hubcentric.

If I go that way then the BMW calipers are perfectly fine for the street car. I ran it that way at a Track Night in America and never had any brake issues (no clue what the compound is).

[jcd914]

The "brembo" marking can be on the outside or the inside.

There are 24mm between the caliper halves, so probably a 20mm rotor is about the thickness limit. The spacer between caliper halves is about 9mm.

Markings on the back:


Spacer:


Comparison:


Jim

[AZBanks]

The 320i calipers work on an early car but need a little machining to work on a late car.

[Mark Henry]

Thanks

And what's the correct rotor? I bet there's enough space in there for a vented rotor.
[/quote]

I'm using the 914/6 rotor , bolts right in.

I just picked up a set of 911T struts and hubs for a future project. I already have a set of alfa cores in my collection.

[GregAmy]

The spacer between caliper halves is about 9mm....

Ah! Thanks.

I'm using the 914/6 rotor , bolts right in.

That's fine and good if you're gettin' all fancy-schmancy with 5-bolt 911 suspension. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) But I'd like to retain my 4-bolt.

Honestly, if I went 5-bolt there are a lot better braking options...

I'll do some research to see if I can find an appropriate 4x130 rotor with the right offset and hubcentric (I make myself lol sometimes). More likely than not I'll work up a Coleman 2-pc hat and rotor design (unless someone has done it?)

Greg

[mepstein]

The big advantage for these Alfa calipers is you can unbolt your M calipers and bolt these on. No mods required.
Half the weight of M calipers
Larger pad size that almost equals S calipers
Uses a 914-6 or 911T rotor that’s available at flaps for $60 ish.

Disadvantages-
Higher cost to purchase
Higher cost to restore
Usually needs new pistons - PMB stocks them.

[Tdskip]

The big advantage for these Alfa calipers is you can unbolt your M calipers and bolt these on. No mods required.
Half the weight of M calipers
Larger pad size that almost equals S calipers
Uses a 914-6 or 911T rotor that’s available at flaps for $60 ish.

Disadvantages-
Higher cost to purchase
Higher cost to restore
Usually needs new pistons - PMB stocks them.

And those are vented rotors I believe, right?

(Good morning btw)