NewTech Brakes

[Symbiont]

Has anyone looked into this company?
http://www.newtechbrake.com/english/english.html#

They have a very unique design for disc brakes, very powerful braking.
At the moment they make them for commercial trucks and their ilk, but I seem to recall hearing that they made a couple of custom sets for some of the Porsche GT race cars a few years back. If so, they could probably make a set for Strats. I'm planning on making a replica soon myself. When it comes to brakes, I'm going to see if I can get a set made for the Alfa 164 hubs. Would any replica or original owners be interested in a set for their Stratos? Clearances would probably be similar between the 164 and the original, just differences in bolt patterns, mountings, and backspacings. Figure with a 15" wheel you could probably fit a +-12" brake for the front, and maybe a 10" for the rear (or 12s all around for a higher tendency to oversteer). As far as price, I'm guessing ~4-5,000 US or ~2100-2600 UK or ~3000-3800 per set of 4. Be warned, that is just my guess, it probably will be a bit more, but maybe not. Attached are a couple of pics from an old AUTOEXPO.

[SUSIT]

Hi there,
Nice brakes but there are plenty available off the shelf, 2 pots 4 pots or six pots.
Wilwood, AP racing, Hi Spec , Brembo to name but a few so I dont see the need to do anything that special.
My own prefered choice is 284mm vented discs all round (Alfa 157 4 stud 98mm pcd)
Hi Spec racing 4 pots all round and a tilton floor mounted bias pedal box. Rear callipers have built in mechanical hand brake mechanisim. Total cost including master cylinders and pads £1250 excludes hose and pipe add another £100 ( Tilton pedal box includes brake clutch and throttle pedals) You pays your money and takes your choice.

Stephen

[guy mayers]

Hi Stephen, I've had a look around the Hi Spec site but didn't see any mention of a calliper with a built in mechanical handbrake mechanism. Since I'm about to rip the brakes apart on my car in the coming months it seems to be a good opportunity to fix this shortcoming on my car. Any further clues? What I did like was that dust seals are included as standard, not something you get with Wilwood and that will save maintenance time!
Guy

[strat6v]

Guy, some of the wilwood calipers are available with dust seals. I'm not sure if the dynalites are but the midilites have them. There are always brembo calipers as fitted to fiat coupe 20 v turbo, seat cupra, peugeot 406 coupe, alfa gtv. As far as piston sizes are concerned i think the fiat ones are approx 38 mm. These are mostly lug mount and would need a mounting bracket. I emailed Ultima re the handbrake calipers but had no response, so were still no further!!

John.

[guy mayers]

I've Emailed Hi Spec so watch this space for a response!

[strat6v]

I tried that ages ago, same response as ultima.

[SUSIT]

Hi Guy
Spoke with Hispec today and they say should be there soonish, quote problems with patent as being hold up. They have a full working set up with them at the Autosport show this week. Can anyone on the forum thats going ask what is going on?

Stephen

Just found this site on the web. You pays your money as they say.
I bought my front callipers from them and cant say I had any problems as yet.
http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~richw426/brakes/brakes.htm :(

[guy mayers]

24 hours and no reply from Hi Spec to my email. Does kinda make you wonder and after reading the items on the complaints page above I feel a little put off but the problems that people seem to be experiencing are with Hi Specs discs rather than the callipers so I'll wait until I can buy somehing off the shelf at a show sometime! Unless someone else comes up with an alternative sooner!
Guy

[ANDYG]

I have been watching these since the last Autosport show.
First i was told "April", then "September", then "Soon"!!.
They are or should be called the "Billet 4 Handbrake" and the cost back in January 04! was to be £210.
I will let you all know if there is any movement on this next week.
They did have a working version on the stand last year!

[rutthenut]

I was at the Autosport show today, and checked again on progress with the HiSpec rear brake calipers - having seen their first version at the show two years ago.

They have a twin-pot caliper with mechanical handbrake operation, which is apparently to go into production when they return from the show - i.e. next week. These may be a good choice for a road use car. Don't know the piston diameter, or how that compares to the size of Alfa single-pot calipers. I think the caliper was a replacement for a Sierra caliper of some sort. No more efficient, but lighter and 'better to look at'. Price was, I think, about £120 each. I think that is really good value, if that was the correct price.

The four-pot version is still being worked on, although a version was on show there. Apparently that should go into production in about six months time. So, maybe before 2007 if you go by their previous track record ;-)

The four-pot plus handbrake would be my ideal choice of rear caliper on a Strat that has vented discs and is to be road legal. Maybe a set would be available next year...

[ANDYG]

I'll agree with what John says regarding the new Hi-Spec rear calipers although these new twin pots should be a step up to all those with single pot rears.
I believe they were called "Ultralites" and they will retail out at £170.
The "Billet 4" are still not available?? but could be ready sometime in the summer, they were £210 but would not give me a new price for this year.
I'll reply with further news on this just after next years show! :rolleyes:

[lancia chris]

I bought a pair of four pot calipers from Hi Spec last year. their engineering is first class and they made up a pair of mounting brackets to go with the calipers as well. all in good order.

However...............

Be prepared to wait an extremely long time they are notoriously unreliable but very pleasant with it! The rear calipers have been on the starting blocks for ages now, but I wouldn't hold your breath if past history is anything to go by.

Having siad all that I still think they are extremely good value for money.

[Stratos]

I use Hi-Spec Monster 4-pot Calipers and also 310mm discs, and can verify that they work well. :eek:

But, the handbrake rear caliper ..... I saw the pre-production caliper nearly 4 years ago, and every time I ask it will be in production within about 2-3 months.

Geoff is a really nice guy, and the calipers are excellent quality, but don't believe timescales for the handbrake calipers. (I've even offered them money for the some pre-production ones and got nowhere.)

[SUSIT]

I have been working on this one and hopfully should have some news on a 4 pot rear with mechanical handbrake by summer from an alternative manufacturer. They have asked that I dont devulge who they are until they are in a position to supply but I have dealt with them before and their equipment is second to none, so watch this space.
regards
Stephen