R2D2 Posted December 10, 2001 Share Posted December 10, 2001 Anyone interested in finned alloy brake drums for an Ital axle? Classic cars featured an article about a Company in Leicester that is manufacturing alloy drums to any design. They fit cast iron inserts and look quite good. I thought about getting a set made to reduce unsprung weight without all of the hassle of a disc conversion and handbrake problems etc. I think the cost should be about £250 a pair but the pattern equipment needs paying for and the more sets to cost it over the easier it would be. If anyone is interested I would be happy to organise it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg Posted December 10, 2001 Share Posted December 10, 2001 Seems like a cunnung plan. I'd be interested provinding they are an easy retro fit, and will fit under 13" minlight / superlights. Greg, Q 880 RAE (Green/Ali XF) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanteam Posted December 10, 2001 Share Posted December 10, 2001 I am interested in the drums but we run Ford axles. Could you let us have the contact information of the company to find out if they already do Ford type? Are these anything to do with what was known as Alufin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg Posted December 10, 2001 Share Posted December 10, 2001 My technical consultant asks hwo thick they are compared to the original iron/steel ones. Is distortion a problem ? Greg, Q 880 RAE (Green/Ali XF) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R2D2 Posted December 10, 2001 Author Share Posted December 10, 2001 I haven't seen these drums yet, just some photographs in Classic Car but I used Minifins on a Cooper S for years without any distortion problems. I can't imagine that they will be a great deal different in terms of dimension to the standard cast iron drums apart from the extra diameter due to the fins. If they cast the drum using an LM6 or similar alloy (and this is a logical choice) , the tensile strength won't be very much different to the type of cast iron that brake drums are made of and will probably have better fatigue properties. LM6 is also used in marine applications and has relatively good corrosion resistance even in salt water environments so from a materials point of view I wouldn't have any concerns. The biggest problem will be keeping the cast iron band tight in the casting , but LM6 also has the advantage that its coeffiecient of expansion is relatively low due to the high silicon content. In any case,I would certainly check out the metallurgy before I spent any money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg Posted December 10, 2001 Share Posted December 10, 2001 Chris, Sounds like you know much more about this than me ! Were abouts (and which issue) in Classic Car did you come across this. Thanks. Greg, Q 880 RAE (Green/Ali XF) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maccers Posted December 10, 2001 Share Posted December 10, 2001 Would this improve braking at the rear? I also fitted a set to a 1380cc Mini, made some difference, but also fitted 4pots at the front.... Would be interested if the cost was a tad lower. RM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maccers Posted December 10, 2001 Share Posted December 10, 2001 Oh yeah, got a '96 Ital Live Axle X-Flow, sorry! RM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie boone Posted December 10, 2001 Share Posted December 10, 2001 Chris, If they have them for a Ford axle i am very intrested in a set. BTW do you know where i can get new back plates for the drums ( RS 2000 axle ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R2D2 Posted December 10, 2001 Author Share Posted December 10, 2001 Elie, Do you need standard RS2000 Backplates? They were standard with 8" brakes and manual adjusters, (to avoid locking up when the front dips because of the Pinto) unlike the Mexico and the RS1600 which were 9". I just took a set of 8"backplates off my Mk 1 RS2000. They are in very good condition and you are welcome to have them. I will try to see if I can get drums that are Ford compatible, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie boone Posted December 11, 2001 Share Posted December 11, 2001 Chris, The drums are 8" but if the ali drums are 9" i would not mind to replace them for 9". Locking rear wheels are not a problem because i have a Willwood pedalbox on my Seven so that i can adjust them all the time while running. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JP Posted December 13, 2001 Share Posted December 13, 2001 Maccers, Was the 4 pot conversion for the Mini worth it? I'm rebuilding my Mini at the moment with standard brakes (8.4in discs) - was there a worthwhile difference? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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