PerformanceFiat Uno Turbo big brake kit install

[manoa matt]

A while ago a new parts vendor came to town: PerformanceFiat.com The company offered several big brake kits for Fiats. I bought the 13" kit. The kit utilizes Fiat Uno Turbo brake calipers and rotors. The rotors are 240mm diameter and 20mm wide vented, drilled, and slotted. The brake calipers are similar to the calipers used on 1985.5 spiders. The calipers use a sliding pin like modern calipers instead of the 40 year old design that uses sliding wedges. The caliper piston is the same diameter as the stock calipers so the stock rebuild kits will work with the new calipers. Brake pedal feel, and the point of engagement is the same as stock calipers due to the like piston sizes.

The benifits of the system are the vented, slotted, drilled rotors to disipate heat quicker than a solid disc, and the larger diameter rotor and further spaced caliper. The caliper provides the same clamping force as a stock caliper, but being spaced further out, has a longer lever arm and thus more torque. The sliding pin design does not require periodic cleaning and re-lubing like the wedges. The new pads also have a larger contact area with the rotor vs. the stock pads.

Shortly after the company's founding it was taken over, and is now called ClassicRicambi.com. Sadly, the new owners do not offer the big brake kits.

I installed the kit this past weekend as I just completed refinishing of some CD-16 Cromodora rims that were needed to clear the brake kit. The kit would not fit under stock steel rims. With the rim on, the caliper is only a few mm from contact, but it fits like a glove.

"Hey Matt, those are some big rotors, aren't you worried about all the extra unsprung weight and rotational mass?"

Thanks forum member, but I've already figured it out. I saved 1.5 pounds when I switched from stock steel rims to stock alloy rims, but the new rotors weigh 2 pounds more than a stock rotor. The only way to rid myself of that extra half pound per wheel was to find some light weight wheel spacers. The stock 5mm steel spacer weighs about 17 ounces = (1 pound, 1 ounce.) I found some ultra light weight 5mm spacers at the local speed shop that weigh only 2.5 ounces. Now I'm under the stock levels.

I also had some gently used drilled and slotted stock rotors I got from a forum member a while back. I cleaned them up and put those on the rear.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigtimes_f ... 3/sizes/l/

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I'm still in the break in phase and have not pushed it hard yet, but it feels better.

The current pads are semi-metalic, but I'm on the hunt for something better with less dust. Either Ceramic or EBC green pads. I had Ferodo pads on the stock front calipers prior to the switch. Great grippy pad, but TONS of brake dust.

[tonyfromjersey]

On my bicycle I switched to kevlar beaded tires to defeat the constant stream of flat tires. One of my buddies who is a hard-core road cyclist went on a whole monologue about excess rotational weight. I told him as soon as I lose the extra 15 lbs of ass weight I'm carrying I'll get on the rotational weight issue.

Brakes look great.

[ClarkTheShark]

remember... its not really the weight of the rotational mass, its the rotational inertia. so the lightweight spacers aren't really going to help you that much because the mass is located closer to the point of rotation, giving it a smaller inertia. the focus should be on lighter wheels as the mass of a wheel is located so further away from the point of rotation.

[manoa matt]

With the current setup, I gained 1 pound at the rotor, but lost 1.5 pounds at the rim. I drove around for a week with the new rims and stock brakes and could noticeably feel the difference the -1.5 pounds at the rim made.

[ClarkTheShark]

With the current setup, I gained 1 pound at the rotor, but lost 1.5 pounds at the rim. I drove around for a week with the new rims and stock brakes and could noticeably feel the difference the -1.5 pounds at the rim made.

you probably wont notice a difference just driving around... but i bet if you lost enough wheel weight, track times would show it.