1978 Caterham brake kits needed.

[wbMoore]

After sitting unused for two+ years, it appears my braking system is stuck. Seems like the front calipers are not releasing. I want to go through the entire system I’m in California. Where can kits for front, rear and M/C be purchased ?

 

Also, I’d like to change to brake fluid that doesn’t seize… suggestions please.

 

The car is no fun to drive with brakes that only slow you down.     Thanks.

 

 

[MV8]

What you actually have on the car can vary. I would expect to see Triumph Spitfire front calipers and master cylinder (with a different plastic reservoir) and a Triumph TR7 rear axle (also used on the Dolomite and the Morris Ital) and wheel cylinders (there can be several different bore sizes). Maybe somebody sells these parts grouped to fit most live axle CATs, but you can source most if not all from Moss Motors. A European application Ford axle (Cortina, Escort, etc) is another possibility. 

 

https://mossmotors.com/triumph-spitfire/brakes/brake-master-cylinder-hydraulics

 

https://mossmotors.com/triumph-tr7-8/brakes/brake-components

 

[EdWills]

Hi WB.  According to Tony Weale in his book 'Lotus Seven, Restoration, Preparation, Maintenance, the Ital axle was not used in a Caterham 7 until 1980 (81 Spec.) with chassis number 4002 TC R M.

 

Moss Motors should have a rebuild kit for the calipers and you could also try Rimmer Bros. in the U.K. and compare prices from them.  For the rear brakes, Burton Power in the U.K. lists rebuild kits for the Escort axle.  The original Ford Escort Mk1 had 8 inch rear drum brakes, but the later RS2000 axle sourced by Caterham from Ford had 9 inch rear drums.  Check the type number of caliper on your front disc brakes to ensure you are ordering the correct kit.  On my Lotus Seven the caliper is the 14 LF model, but there is a slightly different Girling caliper that may have been used on later Caterham models (from the Triumph Spitfire range).  Brake fluid according to Weale is Dot 4 for road use, or for racing Dot 5 can be used.  W

[IamScotticus]

See my thread "The Live Axle Thread ".

 

 

Tell us your lug nut (PCD) spacing.  If it's 3.75" you have a long cockpit and a British Leyland Stanpart axle from a Morris Marina or Austin Ital.  Or is it the other way around? It's the same crap axle either way... No, it's actually a great axle good for 150 hp.  If you need more get a DeDion.  Skip Harris "The Marina Man" in Arkansas has what you need for that axle.

http://marinaman.org/blog/

 

If you have 4.25" PCD you have a English Ford Escort.  Likely a short cockpit.  

 

The TR7 axle will be the 4 speed one and I suspect there are some brake cylinder index differences possibly complicating the connection of the parking brake.  The seals and bearings should be the same as Marina/Ital.  

 

You most likely need a new MC.  Triumph Spitfire 1500.

 

If you want a system that will be able to sit for years, use a DOT 5 silicone system.   But the compatibility of DOT5 and the rubber seals used is questionable.  Boiling point is lower too.

 

Use caution pulling these hubs, soft metal will warp using the wrong pulling techniques.

Edited June 22 by IamScotticus

[7Westfield]

Don't use DOT 5 in these old systems, it does not have the proper additives. It will go right past the seals.  

Been there---done that

 

Dot 4 is plenty good   it's what I use in everything, even the formula ford

if you REALLY want a silicone base   try DOT 5.1

 

If you have Spit calipers -14LF- don't forget to order the seal that goes between the body halves, it doesn't come in the kit

Lots of folks say NEVER split a 14LF, but I usually do just for access. Just don't reuse the old seal

Girling kits from Pegasus      I don't know what Moss sells

 

If you have the Escort axle, you may be able to use Spitfire wheel cylinders, just match bore size

that's what I did on mine, but it's a Cortina axle

Edited June 20 by 7Westfield

[toldfield]

I had trouble finding a replacement master cylinder as mine has three outlets, one for each side on the front brakes.  Rather than redo the plumbing I found a shop in Chino that rebuilds and can do stainless steel lining inserts if needed.  I'm pleased with his work.

 

http://www.karpspb.com/

 

Tom 

 

[panamericano]

"The car is no fun to drive with brakes that only slow you down.  "  reminds me of another.

 

Free prize to person who knows who said, "Brakes are not important.  All they do is slow you down."

[wbMoore]

Thanks folks. If memory serves me correctly (NSM anymore), I think the fronts are the same ol’ stuff. The rear end is not like my Cortina stuff. I’ll take some wheels off this weekend and see how it measures up.

[IamScotticus]

48 minutes ago, panamericano said:

Free prize to person who knows who said, "Brakes are not important.  All they do is slow you down."

Bendix?

[panamericano]

Oops sorry, Scott.  No winner yet.

Edited June 20 by panamericano
spelling

[toldfield]

1 hour ago, panamericano said:

"The car is no fun to drive with brakes that only slow you down.  "  reminds me of another.

 

Free prize to person who knows who said, "Brakes are not important.  All they do is slow you down."

Sam Hanks

[wdb]

15 hours ago, panamericano said:

"The car is no fun to drive with brakes that only slow you down.  "  reminds me of another.

 

Free prize to person who knows who said, "Brakes are not important.  All they do is slow you down."

 

No fair googling! My guess is Carroll Shelby.

[panamericano]

Come on guys.  Think older.

[wemtd]

Stirling Moss ?

[Anthem]

24 minutes ago, panamericano said:

Come on guys.  Think older.

Thinking Older, Karl Benz!

[IamScotticus]

Rickenbacker?

[panamericano]

Looks like nobody wins the golden thumbs up.    The correct answer is Tazio Nuvolari.

 

The story is that at Monza, Nuvolari had the fastest practice time.  In the pits, the journalists asked about brakes.  He replied, "Brakes are not important.  All they do is slow you down."  To mess with them, he had his mechanics cut off half the brake linings.  Then went out and improved his time.  There is a trick to it, of course.  The linings then were bolted to the shoe, so if you leave the leading half and cut off the trailing half, you would not lose anything over one or two laps.  Or, since brakes were such a terrible weak part in those days, he could have just used them for a lap a bit harder than he would in a race.

[wdb]

Bandy Legs!

[EdWills]

On 6/20/2025 at 10:15 AM, wbMoore said:

After sitting unused for two+ years, it appears my braking system is stuck. Seems like the front calipers are not releasing. I want to go through the entire system I’m in California. Where can kits for front, rear and M/C be purchased ?

 

Hey WM.  Forgot to note that you could try Dave Bean for information (and maybe the parts?) for the front and rear brake kits and M/C.  If that company doesn't carry the parts anymore, they should be able to advise how best to service the set-up you have. As it's still an unknown what axle your car is fitted with, further advice may be unhelpful? Ford, U.K., normally included a metal tag bolted to the diff case identifying the type and ratio of the axle, and Caterham or Burton would leave this on, (but it may have been removed by a previous owner). If there is a tag, it will help with positive identification.  The long cockpit chassis wasn't introduced until 1981, and the De-Dion set-up around 1983 to 1984.  According to Caterham, converting a live axle car to De-Dion is very complicated and very expensive (and would require a jig for correct set-up).  A chat with Jez Coates at Caterham advised that it is not worth it.  They felt at the time that the live axle was more than sufficient for the average 7 owner.  The reason they went to De-Dion was due to the supply of the Ford axles becoming unavailable, and then the Marina/Ital axles following suit with no other U.K. manufactured live axle available (or suitable?) for their use. W

Edited June 21 by JohnCh
Reply was written in quote box

[EdWills]

Thanks John.  White 'reply' box did not appear when I clicked on 'quote'.  It allowed me to edit the quote and keep the photo, but I could only write my reply below the photo and edited script in the 'quote' box.  Apologies if anyone thought that wbMoore had added the information that I had written. W.