'75 "Big" brake package

[heimue]

I've just listed a complete '75 "Big" brake package on ebay, a complete set with rotors, calipers and brake pads, ready to drop in without any work to rebuilt it first. The auction is here:
eBay Motors: Opel '75 "Big" brake set for GT, Manta, Kadett, Ascona (item 110061137318 end time Dec-03-06 14:30:08 PST)

Dieter

[opeletti75]

Originally Posted by heimue I've just listed a complete '75 "Big" brake package on ebay, a complete set with rotors, calipers and brake pads, ready to drop in without any work to rebuilt it first. The auction is here: eBay Motors: Opel '75 "Big" brake set for GT, Manta, Kadett, Ascona (item 110061137318 end time Dec-03-06 14:30:08 PST) Dieter

iget these at big a opel partsfor 60.00 from king calipers.roters at tire rack good luck on the sale though.

[heimue]

Originally Posted by opeletti75 iget these at big a opel partsfor 60.00 from king calipers.roters at tire rack good luck on the sale though.

Please let us know where exactly you can get the set for this low price, I'm sure that lots of the other members want to jump on and get their own set! I can't find something like "Big A Opel parts" on the Internet, and Tire Rack has only brake pads for the '75 Manta, from $ 47 to $ 95 for the set (check it out here) Not much left for the other parts, to add up to a total price of $ 60...?

Dieter

[Gary]

There are two vendors in our Parts Discounts page that offer loaded '75 calipers for $50.00 to $55.00 ea. (+ core charge)

[kwilford]

In my experience, the calipers are fairly available (and you can also use the BMW version, which I believe are ATE versus the OEM Girling, if I have that right, or the other way around). But the big rotors are hard to find. I bought a set of drilled and radiused rotors from eBay, which were actually listed for a Lotus (Europa, IIRC), which are interchangeable for the 75 Opel.

If there are other sources for those, I would like to know.

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by kwilford I bought a set of drilled and radiused rotors from eBay, which were actually listed for a Lotus (Europa, IIRC), which are interchangeable for the 75 Opel. If there are other sources for those, I would like to know.

Keith, they should be for a Lotus Esprit S1 (first generation). The complete front suspension for the Esprit S1 was taken from the Manta A, brakes inclusive. I used to sell a lot of Manta front end bushings to Lotus owners back when I owned C & R.

Bob

[kwilford]

Originally Posted by RallyBob Keith, they should be for a Lotus Esprit S1 (first generation). The complete front suspension for the Esprit S1 was taken from the Manta A, brakes inclusive. I used to sell a lot of Manta front end bushings to Lotus owners back when I owned C & R. Bob

, Yep, right you are, it was an Elite. I had been surprised that a "current" car (well, sort of current!) used the Manta/Ascona rotors.

[baz]

bob when did they become hard to find ?

i just walk to the parts store 5 min away (ok ok i drive )

and order a set the come the same day or next

takes about 7 days to order and be at a door in the states from here

[opeletti75]

Originally Posted by heimue Please let us know where exactly you can get the set for this low price, I'm sure that lots of the other members want to jump on and get their own set! I can't find something like "Big A Opel parts" on the Internet, and Tire Rack has only brake pads for the '75 Manta, from $ 47 to $ 95 for the set (check it out here) Not much left for the other parts, to add up to a total price of $ 60...? Dieter

The calipers I get from big a auto are $60.00 a piece, look at tire rack again. I've seen brembos rotors for $22.00 each. They also have kyb gas shocks unless they don't stock them any more I saw them there last year.

[Phoenix]

I've been looking for the Opel rotors recently, locally. Advanced couldn't order it, Auto Zone could order it but the supplier didn't have it, and O' Reily's couldn't even look an Opel up. BMW rotors were available though.

[opeletti75]

i got rotors from big a auto for 55.00 they are Italian ,55 each.

[opeletti75]

[QUOTE=baz;110231]bob when did they become hard to find ?

i just walk to the parts store 5 min away (ok ok i drive )

and order a set the come the same day or next

takes about 7 days to order and be at a door in the states from here.
Nobody ever said that they are hard to find you must live in europe yes?

Yes, Baz is across the pond in England.

[soybean]

Check here. This is where I got my 75 rotors from. They match the rusty rotors on my 75 Manta parts car. They also sell the regular rotors as well. HTH, Jarrell
Brembo Brake Rotor - Front: coximport.com

[Lindsay]

Originally Posted by soybean Check here. This is where I got my 75 rotors from. They match the rusty rotors on my 75 Manta parts car. They also sell the regular rotors as well. HTH, Jarrell Brembo Brake Rotor - Front: coximport.com

Looking at data sheets for BREMBO 25002 (Std.) and 25052 (Big Brake), the overall heights are the same. O.D. is 238 (Std.) Vs 246 mm (BB).

A previous Post indicates that stock GT centers are size restrictive, but my GT has "Old Style" 13" x 6" aluminum dish wheels. Is the size restriction for big brakes on stock GT wheels, pertaining to rim width (will not clear caliper) or diameter? Or both? Currently have front tires off GT and tireless stock 13" rims. I could measure and compare to see if aluminum dish wheels have more clearance. Were 13" wheels standard on 1975?

I am aware of different flexible brake line requirement and possible conversion to larger rear wheel cylinders.

THANKS!

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by Lindsay Is the size restriction for big brakes on stock GT wheels, pertaining to rim width (will not clear caliper) or diameter?

It's a diameter issue, with the early multi-hole wheels being the worst in this respect.

Were 13" wheels standard on 1975?

Yup, but they were 5.5" wide instead of 5".

I am aware of different flexible brake line requirement and possible conversion to larger rear wheel cylinders.

Be aware the metal lines that thread into the calipers have a different flare type. They are double flare (inverted) for the pre-'75 brake calipers, and single flare for the 1975 calipers.

Bob

[baz]

Originally Posted by opeletti75 Nobody ever said that they are hard to find you must live in europe yes?

sorry to bob about this its keith who said it in post #5


opeletti75 if you look in the top right of each post you will see where the poster is from if they have added it

[soybean]

Here is another option by one of our members here. petrieopel
Website OpelMotorsport.net
Brake upgrade here.
Brake Upgrade

This is what I plan to do for one of the winter projects. I have all the parts and Trent is a great person to work with.
The brake lines for the Wilwood Calipers can be found here. Opel Stainless Steel Braided Brake Lines
Hth, Jarrell

[heimue]

Originally Posted by RallyBob Be aware the metal lines that thread into the calipers have a different flare type. They are double flare (inverted) for the pre-'75 brake calipers, and single flare for the 1975 calipers. Bob

Bob,

the '75 calipers are ISO-Bubble-flare. A single flare is just a modified double flare, while the bubble flare actually looks like a bubble in the line.

Dieter

[BobCGT]

At GM its also called a SAE flare,same one used on modern antiskid brake systems

[BobCGT]

My mistake, not SAE but ISO flares,Bob

[Lindsay]

Uploaded bubble flare jpg from www.partsamerica.com
Web Site indicates that local stores (San Diego) have various lengths of brake tubing with flare and nut.

Are the 1975 big brakes M10 x 1.0 bubble flare?

GT uses J-brake tube that routes from caliper to caliper bracket, flex hose, then chassis line, securing with clips.
So on the 1975, thinking of forming line from caliper (bubble flare) to bracket (inverted flare) then screw into existing flex hose, etc.

Thought Paul H. (Cornardo Speed Fest) told me the the OPGTS 1975 steel lines were bubble flare to AN-3 flex hose, then to chassis attachment.

[Lindsay]

Originally Posted by soybean Here is another option by one of our members here. petrieopel Website OpelMotorsport.net Brake upgrade here. Brake Upgrade This is what I plan to do for one of the winter projects. I have all the parts and Trent is a great person to work with. The brake lines for the Wilwood Calipers can be found here. Opel Stainless Steel Braided Brake Lines Hth, Jarrell

Sent email yesterday to www.opelmotorsports.net requesting price of Wilwood (spelling?) brake upgrade kit. Awaiting his reply ...

Soybean ... do you know the price?

[Phoenix]

I was interested too as they're beautiful.

[namba209]

Originally Posted by Lindsay Thought Paul H. (Cornardo Speed Fest) told me the the OPGTS 1975 steel lines were bubble flare to AN-3 flex hose, then to chassis attachment.

Lindsay, you gotta be careful there. The AN flares are 37 degrees, SAE are 45 degrees. The two do not interchange and will leak, big time. The brakes are definately not where you want to take a chance on swapping the fittings.

[blancojp]

I posted several brake upgrades which are easy to do and will not brake your wallet. The Wilwood kit you mentioned is in the $300-400 range and you will still be using the solid rotor which can be considered a minor upgrade. The best overall kit available is using a honda rotor with a Volvo caliper which doing it our way, even allows you to use your existing or new Opel hose.

You should visit brakequip.com and investigate all of their fittings. There are a few fittings you can use and thy are in the range of $5-7.00 for just about any applications. Otherwise, we can hook you up with rebuilt hubs, new vented rotors, calipers, pards and all hardware for about $350. You can even have your choice of caliper/rotor combination, 248mm or 260mm depending on what wheels you want to use.