Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Calling caliper cognoscenti!

Having been built in 1992, my +8 had four pot calipers fitted by BHM in 1993. When I spotted the bill after buying the car, I hoped it might have had a significant upgrade. However, when I checked out the part numbers on the calipers, one is marked "AP 3247" and the other isn't really legible (the cast numbers looks like "3231").

These are, I think, the Austin Princess four pot calipers. Does this mean that these were not standard in 1992?

I plan to get more braking power, as the current car is merely adequate(ish), and I believe that "too much is just enough" when it comes to braking. My previous +8 had ventilated discs and unidentified four pots, and stopped pretty well. The brakes on the current car are all working as they should (nothing seized etc), the fluid has been completely replaced, and it has impressive brake reaction bars....but what look like the original rubber hoses, so they will be the first items to get replaced. I'd appreciate hearing from any TMers who have tweaked their +8 braking systems successfully.

I bought a new +8 in 2002, the brake discs warped within 750 miles...quite possibly my fault as I was having a play in Scotland, then the replacements started showing a pedal modulation after another 1,000 or so miles so at that time I went along to see Peter Mulberry of MulFab....I had not met him before and listened closely to what he advised, the man has forgotten more than most know about brakes, suspension and Morgan's ;-). I ended up fitting his 300mm vented disc kit and in the further 6 years I owned that car, and after many occasions of giving it serious abuse all over the UK, France, Germany and Italy I never ever had the slightest judder or problem ever again. Today he offers many other solutions and upgraded (superb) calipers but best to talk to him direct, you will not be dissapointed, telling him Colin from Leicester recommended him will get you a laugh from him but no discount sadly ;-).....

PS MMC moved to using 4 Pot calipers but not certain of the date, others on here will know for sure, they were indeed fitted to the Austin Princess and many other cars from within and outside of the BL range of wonderment.....

(I used to be a BL Mechanic, Road Tester and then Product Training Instructor in another life ;-))

Colin - thank you for the thoughts; I'll certainly look at the Mulfab options.

I can vouch for the Mulfab vented disc and calliper upgrade from Peter, I put them on my plus 8 and were excellent, I will do the same on the Roadster when I get the pennies

Another option is the 6 pot Tarox kit that Williams have developed. It fitted to my Roadster and works well. I just wish my right foot would work as well!

6 pot overkill IMHO on a Morgan unless you are going to race it on a track and en you'd be in modified. You can over brake a light car.

Depending on the application, Tarox 6-pot calipers often have a fairly small bore compared to a typical 4-pot. It's not so much about absolute clamping force but how this is distributed over the area of the pad, so may not be as over-braked as you might fear.

Adrian, are the 3.7 brakes not up to standard?

How many TM have run out of brakes in a Morgan in normal road use, using standard brakes. Not counting Alpine passes.