Changing from rear drums to discs on a mk1 is quite easy and will involve changing hubs and wheel bearing retaining plates which serves as a holder for the calliper. I did the opposite, changing to drums on a disc brake axle. In the front it is more complicated and probably easiest to source a mk2 suspension. I have one drum braked 3,4 and one disc braked 3,4 and if not pressed hard the drum brakes are working excellent and I do not feel any need at all to upgrade. However it is getting a little difficult to source parts for them. I have a couple of mk1/mk2 retainers and rear hubs for disc brakes/wheels in Sweden if you need. Then you will be able to keep your spats as they are. The mk2 axle is 4” wider than the mk1.
Br/Svante

 

The road testers of the time were probably pretty hard on the brakes. Both 2.4 & 3.4 were criticised for not inspiring confidence under braking (drum brake models)

 

In the 1950s, the best drums were as good or even better than discs until fade sets in. The mythical power of discs to stop a car in no distance compared to drums was a myth.

 

Yes ~ as you say fade was the issue. (along with some vibration in my case)

And it was quite a fine line. I had an early 60's Alfa Giulia TI with huge finned 3 leading shoe drums up front & standard but well finned drums on the rear. With it's standard 1600 engine the brakes were great.

I fitted a Stage 3 modded 1750 engine to it. Cams, Twin side draught Webers etc. etc. that increased it's top speed quite substantially. The brakes just failed to perform, dismally so, & I fitted Lockheed Bonaldi discs all round & twin boosters/servos. That fixed it. At anything over 120mph the drums did not cut it.

I just took the newer standard set up off of a later Berlina.

 

I've now managed to purchase nearly all the required parts to fit the Mk 2 subframe and front disc brakes. Also the rear discs set up with the calliper hangars, calipers etc. Also the larger brake servo from the Mk 2. The rusty items are now dismantled and awaiting shot blasting and refinishing. Would I be correct in believing the finish would have been a dulled gloss black? and would the callipers/hangars have been a chemical black or cadmium plating?

 

The calipers would be cad plating.

 

Thanks Glynn.

On a point of interest, the Etypes used quite a lot more cad plating throughout the suspension units but the colour of it was always a dullish grey colour (certainly a lot less shiny than the current Zinc plating), the colour of the piston casings you've posted seem to be a Zinc finish with yellow passivate and from the wrappers SNG Barrett would reckon these are of a later period?

 

Yes. There is Silver Cad & Yellow Cad.