Solid brake rotors to vented conversion

[raglan_jack]

Hey all,just gone to buy new rotors for my 97 disco series 1 and apparently the solid and vented rotors are not interchangeable if i want to upgrade to vented discs do i just need to get hold of the right callipers? will they bolt straight up without any spacers or anything?any help would be much appreciated cheers

[discowhite]

yes they will bolt straight up. or you can buy a spacer kit for you old non vented callipers, karcraft have these at around the $200 mark.

cheers phil

[justinc]

Like Phil says, but you are better off using the spacer kits with your calipers, unless you want to find some Defender front calipers to use.

The results with spacer kits to standard D1 calipers have been very good in all the ones I have done.

JC

[discowhite]

just out of interest JC, how much difference is there between the D2 and D1 vented calliper assy?

too hard to retro the D2 ones into D1??

cheers phil

[81stubee]

how much difference does having vented discs make? I used to drive mine down from falls creek with tandem trailer fairly hard too, and never really had a problem. Is it a common mod?

Stu

[Disco_owner]

I've got both , Vented in Rangie and Solid in Disco. The Rangie Brakes are quite nice with 33" on.

[350RRC]

Hi,

For my money I'd be going DBA slotted solid rotors. Made quite a difference to my RRC and I intend fitting them to the rear when the current plain ones become u/s, to get my tyre wear back to even. :D

cheers, DL

[justinc]

just out of interest JC, how much difference is there between the D2 and D1 vented calliper assy?

too hard to retro the D2 ones into D1??

cheers phil

Totally different Phil, the D2 is a twin piston only, sliding caliper like a Falcon/ Commodore type. They also have 'hat ' type rotors etc.

Unless you are talking about D1 and D1 update? They are different only in that the early D1 is like the earlier solid rotor RRC with twin circuit(2 brake hoses) to each front caliper. My 1992 RRC has vented rotors factory, but has the twin circuit brakes too.

JC

[discowhite]

i did mean D2 to D1... my ute has the twin line system, ive blocked one line off to run late mod callipers. was just thinking out loud:D like to keep my options open.

cheers phil

[raglan_jack]

does anyone know if the vented rotors the same diameter as the solid ones? if so i should only need a washer type spacer and longer bolts an extra half the thickness of the vented minus solid measurement?

[discowhite]

same, the spacer goes between the 2 calliper halves. its just a milled plate with some holes in it.
if you have access to a plasma cutter/oxy and drill and a miller it would be a really easy job.
wish i did:( i could knock these out in no time...

cheers phil

[raglan_jack]

yea just pulled the tyre off to have a look at it and realised where the spacer goes, im about to put some new solid discs on (the ones i have a pretty warped), no access to an oxy or mill but i run a laser cutting company so soon as i have time to take a calliper into work and measure it up ill be doing that!

[discowhite]

yea just pulled the tyre off to have a look at it and realised where the spacer goes, im about to put some new solid discs on (the ones i have a pretty warped), no access to an oxy or mill but i run a laser cutting company so soon as i have time to take a calliper into work and measure it up ill be doing that!

when you do ide be very interested in some cut blanks!
i can organise drilling and machining mine myself!
ide take 3 pairs:D

would have to talk price in a pm...to apease the gods:wasntme:

cheers phil

[raglan_jack]

yea im sure we can work something out, cutting them isnt the problem, its having the time to take the calliper into work and draw up the CAD file. once its drawn up and correct i can cut plenty. if anyone has access to a CAD file or has the time to draw it up i would be happy to cut it, can do any jobs and supply tax invoice - www.allplates.com.au

[discowhite]

yea im sure we can work something out, cutting them isnt the problem, its having the time to take the calliper into work and draw up the CAD file. once its drawn up and correct i can cut plenty. if anyone has access to a CAD file or has the time to draw it up i would be happy to cut it, can do any jobs and supply tax invoice - www.allplates.com.au (http://www.allplates.com.au)


i have a friend (baz get venesser ready for a job;)) who can do the cad drawing and i have a calliper in pieces in the shed.. will see what i can do.

cheers phil

[raglan_jack]

yep no worries mate, shoot me through an email to my work address jackb@allplates.com.au when youre ready with all the details, material - thickness - quantity - etc...


would be very cool to get some custom landrover work as theres so much i want to do to my disco but never have time at work - but if im working for a paying job its justifiable, then i can easily make stuff for myself too.

[350RRC]

would be very cool to get some custom landrover work

Have a think about slotting solid or vented rotors and price because there would be a market. DBA are really good but $$. It's made a really big difference to my POS........ I even get brake dust on my front rims now!
:D DL

[series 3 and a half]

Given the importance of what we are doing to the most significant vehicle system,make sure that you buy good quality known brand name longer bolts (there is lots of crap available) and be precise in the machining of the square recess for the brake fluid transfer hole in each spacer

[isuzurover]

I thought the spacer had a couple of o-rings to seal as well???

[Dougal]

If you want better brakes.
Stop shagging around and bolt on the defender calipers with 25% bigger pistons. I went to vented rotors at the same time.

Best upgrade ever. It's now the best stopper out of my three cars.

[raglan_jack]

Have a think about slotting solid or vented rotors and price because there would be a market. DBA are really good but $$. It's made a really big difference to my POS........ I even get brake dust on my front rims now!
:D DL

i dont have access to a mill - we are more laser cutting and folding of sheetmetal (up to 20mm thick)



Stop shagging around and bolt on the defender calipers with 25% bigger pistons


do they bolt straight up?

[isuzurover]

If you want better brakes.
Stop shagging around and bolt on the defender calipers with 25% bigger pistons. I went to vented rotors at the same time.

Best upgrade ever. It's now the best stopper out of my three cars.

I already have county calipers - they are the same as defender - just without the spacer ;)

[Dougal]

do they bolt straight up?

If you've got single line front brakes then yes. If you've got dual line brakes (rangie and early disco) then some replumbing is required.

The two piston sizes are 41.3mm and 46mm. The 46mm pistons have 25% more area but fit the same hubs and rotors. If you're lucky you might already have them (like Isuzurover).

Slotting rotors is more about shedding dirt than stopping power. A good thing in some situations but I'd rather have rotors without the extra stress risers.

[nzlandies]

I have 96 defender 90 which have the larger pistons. I put Range Rover vented discs and used the spacer from the Range Rover calipers as well. I milled a shim to go where the normal seal went through the spacer and use a standard non-vented caliper seal kit. After all the shagging about I would have left them alone. Cant really tell the difference at all. They fill up with mud turns out thats why they are non-vented in the first place. Apparently Toyotas are bad for this and they put solids on for the mine vehicles over here.

I have recently bought a 110 td5. It has solid discs. I will leave it the hell alone.

[Dougal]

They fill up with mud turns out thats why they are non-vented in the first place. Apparently Toyotas are bad for this and they put solids on for the mine vehicles over here.

I have recently bought a 110 td5. It has solid discs. I will leave it the hell alone.

Yeah there's no point to vented rotors unless you get them hot. Apart from local running most trips in my rangie involve 1-2 mountain passes, that's why I went vented.
I also dislike mud.

[raglan_jack]

mine get hot every day, i live up mount tamborine on the gold coast so coming down the mountain every morning they get hot (very steep for those who dont know the road), even in 2nd gear all the way down and trying not to use the brakes by the time im at the bottom theyre smoking

but for the moment ill go new solid discs and some good pads and see how that goes

[sclarke]

Proberly been mentioned, but if your Rover is a TRUE 4wd and being used off road... Vented and slotted is not the Go.... the fill with mud and rocks and become solid rotors, problem being the mud does not dissipate heat like metal and they are less efficent than std solid rotors.
If its a street LR, then go for it...