[Excelsior]

Brake / Wheel upgrade

1974 Manta

What has everyone seen or used themselves?

The Brembo rotors and GreenPads sound enticing so far.

What calipers work well? Retro-fit or get used?

What about rear disc brakes?

Would I be better of replacing the whole wheel assembly with 'new' ones?

 

[chuckspeed]

The Brembo rotors are a replacement for the OEM Teves rotors - OGTS stocks them, along with the green pads.

If you are using your manta as a 'round town' car, these should be just fine. If you are to create a performance manta, then the 1975 calipers and rotors are the next step up. They're bigger than the stockers; parts sources refer to them as 'big' brake conversion kits. They look similar, but are, well...bigger.

After that, there are vented rotors available: these require a caliper with a special machined spacer to accept the wider rotor. They're fairly pricey.

For the street with moderate hiway use - stockers are fine with the pad upgrade, IMHO.

 

[RallyBob]

I'm developing a vented front disc brake setup for use with 13" wheels for a friend of mine. It'll use some Nissan front rotors that are approx. 3/4" thick vented and are 9 5/8" in diameter (same as 1975 rotor diameter). Then I'm going to use Wilwood billet Dynalite calipers, so the overall unsprung weight will be lower than stock Opel parts.

Oh, and this past weekend I built a tandem master cylinder setup to fit a Manta/Ascona. I used a commercially available brake pedal balance bar setup, and off-the-shelf master cylinders, but adapted it to the stock Opel Manta pedal 'cage', so I could retain the original clutch pedal and cable setup. Takes about 20 or so lbs off the car too, since the brake booster is eliminated. Ironically, it's also cheaper than buying a new stock Opel m/c and rebuilding the stock brake booster.

I forgot my digital camera this weekend, but I'll post pictures of the brake pedal assembly as soon as I can.

Bob

 

[Excelsior]

OK. Let me go into further detail about the plans for the car...

I am going to drive it only on days that are nice and NEVER in the winter.

It will be used for the street only, no winning races or rallyes here. Nor will it go against another car in a street race.

It will be a NICE car to cruise around in and show off. Maybe a car show now and then, but definately not to be judged.

Since I am going to replace the brakes and rotors anyway, plus better wheels and tires down the road. I might just go with a better rotor and stock caliper + upgraded brake pads.

How much would this Nissan thing run me and how easy would it be? I have not really 'worked' on a car since 1989 and that was a FORD, as you might have guessed.

 

[Travis]

I'm developing a vented front disc brake setup for use with 13" wheels for a friend of mine. It'll use some Nissan front rotors that are approx. 3/4" thick vented and are 9 5/8" in diameter (same as 1975 rotor diameter). Then I'm going to use Wilwood billet Dynalite calipers, so the overall unsprung weight will be lower than stock Opel parts.
Bob

Are you planning to have custom brackets machined? If yes, I'd be happy to go in for a set or two...should help bring the parts cost down a little.

-Travis

 

[RallyBob]

Actually Travis, I only intend to make one set, as a favor to someone I know. He's paying for parts, sure, but I'm doing the fitment. Brackets will simply be steel, plasma-cut to shape, and drilled/tapped to bolt to the hubs and calipers. I don't want to get into the brake business, the liability issues would make my head spin!

Bob

 

[Travis]

That's understandable. Maybe some hints and/or pictures after your done? Whatever your comfortable with, of course...

-Travis

 

[72opelguy]

hey bob did you ever do that brake swap
and i am curious as to what you did to the manta for the brake m/c

 

[Robbie]

you could use 2.2 Carlton calipers or volvo 4 pot ones, with a VW Polo master cylinder

 

[Stipe77]

In Europe we fit ventiled break discs and calliper assembly from Opel Record 2.2. Fits without any problems.

 

[rallye73]

What would a Polo be called on this side of the pond? Also I am interested in more information about the remote master cylinder. Do you know any other names for the SD1?

Darrin

 

[baz]

darrin the polo is the vw model smaller than the rabbit dont know if it went to the states you may be able to use rabbit m/c

 

[baz]

also dont know if the rover came to the states
only had 1 name though

 

[dallasmanta]

ROver 3500

This rover was imported for a short period of time to the US an most have ended up in the junk yards....Very hard to find anything for them

 

[Sven]

In Europe we fit ventiled break discs and calliper assembly from Opel Record 2.2. Fits without any problems.

Does "without any problems" mean you didn't have to do apsolutely any modiffications to fit them instead of the original?
if so, which year rekord? and would the rear drums also fit from that car? Thanks.

 

[Stipe77]

Absolutley. You dont need any modifications at all. Such discs were mounted to Record E only 2.2 engine version. I have seen this kind of upgrade both in Manta A and B. Record has drums in rear wcheels so replacing it is useless. Nowadays you can find lots of Records in a junkyards so upgrade is cheep.

 

[Sven]

super cool! i'll get me some of those when i sort my priorities.

ya, but i think my rear drums are totaly waisted, and so i was worried about where i'll get parts, but if the rekord has the same ones, it shouldn't be a problem as its a newer car.

 

[Anzee]

hey! if you find any 2,2 calipers let me know (especially if you find two pairs!!!)!!, because here in Slovenia there are no 2,2 rekords any more, not even in the junkyards...
thanks!

regards
Anze

 

[Stipe77]

Rear drums in Record are biger than in manta A . You would have to replace everything inside and this back plate. Its no problem to get new drums fo manta A in Poland.

 

[Sven]

theres a taxi driver i know that has a 2.2 rekord, but i suppose he needs it.
If theres no problem to get new drums for manta a in poland, i can probably get them here too, i just never tryed and asumed they wouldn't keep parts for 30y. old cars.