vanster

How difficult is it to upgrade the stock front brakes on my '80?

VT928

Pretty easy to do, if your 1980 is a US model, if it is a Euro S it is much harder. For US models there are adapters the bold to your current spindles, and accept S4 calipers or the Big Black calipers. Several companies that specialize in 928 parts have kits. You need to insure have steel ball joints before doing the upgrade. To be honest if your car does not have steel ball joints you need to upgrade NOW! The change over to Brembos does require different front rotors but they are easy to find 993 parts.

Paul 1980 Euro S Red/Blk Lea

karl ruiter

One thing to consider is updating to S brakes instead of S4. All the stopping you will ever need (much better than pre S IMO), and usually a very minimal cost. They don't look as nice, though. To do this you will have to change the spindles but usually you can get them in a package with the rotors and calipers.

Ducman82

i had the stock S and upgraded to the big blacks.... but not sure why.. way more that i will ever need. but they look great!

vanster

I have steel ball joints and it's not a Euro. Just your standard vanilla 80 5 speed.
But since I now have 17" wheels from a Cayman and doing a rebuilding all the brakes anyway...the idea has crossed my mind.

VT928

Karl,

Upgrading to S brakes is more complicated than going to S4 brakes because there is no adapter. The problem is that the bolt spacing on the "S" spindle is wider than the non "S" cars and the caliper mounting holes interfere with the spindle mounts. I agree the "S" brakes are very good but not as easy to. There was a thread where S calipers were both modifies and spaced outward to accomodate a 330 mm caliper

Paul

1980 Euro S Red/Blk Lea

UncleMaz

Van, I have all the S bits. You can have them when you come down next time. Just let me know, as I have to pull them and bring them to LA from the desert.

vanster

Great! PM sent

xschop

Excluding caliper mounting differences, Do the OB spindles have the same geometry as the "S" spindles? Always wondered about this.

UncleMaz

I'll compare them with pictures and rulers unless someone jumps in sooner. It'll be a week or so.

Godzilla83s

I was just looking into this. The "flipped" the lower ball joint midyear 86. So the lower ball joint in the early cars bolts UP through the spindle, while the S4 bolts DOWN though the spindle. I was told this makes the steering geometry different between the early and later cars.

michael j wright

So, have been thinking about upgrading the brakes on the old 82 myself latley. I was just wondering what the diffrence would be for my euro vs us.
Thanks Mike.

The Forgotten On

82's have the S brakes. You will need to get the spindles from an OB in order to fit the S4 brakes. Although you can still fit the rears the same as an older OB as they share the same rear spindles.

karl ruiter

I'm not sure about the non S '82. I had the S 82 and it had the S calipers, but Mikes car has no air ducts, no front spoiler, and phone dials. Might be pre S brakes. I think it was the transition year.

Paul, yes, you are correct in that you cannot do it with an adapter. You have to change to spindles. But it is not that hard to change them and you can usually get all the parts reasonably. Last time I bought I set I got all four calipers, rotors, pads, and the spindles for $150 plus shipping. So the savings in parts will make up some labor. Also, I prefer the design to the early S4 brakes. My '88 calipers don't have dust boots around the pistons and I have had problems with the pistons becoming pitted and sticking. Dust boots are a really good idea for street cars.

xschop

I posted the adapter dimensions in my LS build thread for the Lexus monoblocks on the OB. Best bang for buck swap I've done. The S spindles require a very large radial caliper to allow a proper adapter. I had to go with willwood 180mm radial calipers on an S track car, the Porsche 142mm radial calipers wouldn't work.