Anyone have any luck doing this recently?

A great article:
http://www.jag-lovers.com/xj-s/book/...adeRotors.html

But, I called Essex and they no longer provide the conversion. I also called Concours West Industries (C.W.I.)
but their phone is off & emails not returned. I have a machinist friend that can fabricate the custom "hat" as described in "Experience in a Book", but the diagram shows eight bolts connecting hat to custom rotor but photos all show six. I think I could get this done if I could find the correct 10 3/8 diameter custom rotor.
Any help greatly appreciated!! Thank you

 

those are solid rotors, not recommended for performance vehicles.

id recommend vented rotors, and lite weight aluminum calipers. also SS lines.
thats what i put on my 78 XJS

 

I'm on my third Jag. I'm not a mad man but have never hesitated to run 'em hard and fast, even over the mountain passes and twisties. IMHO, you'd need to do some pretty darn agressive driving to out-drive or overwhelm Jag brakes in their original configuration.

Agreed on needing good pads, though.

Just my 2 cents

Cheers
DD

 

I greatly appreciate all the comments.

My intent was not to start a debate as to whether the vented rotor upgrade was necessary or not. I will stay away from that. However I will say that if you go back to my original upgrade link and click on the "book" link in that article (takes your to Jaguar "experience in a book") there is information about some of the unique heat problems associated with inboard brakes & being tightly packaged in a cage.

Enough of that, for my purposes I need the vented rotors. I just did not want to take the time to do all the fabrication myself. If it helps I competed in the SCCA for 18 years racing sedans, sports cars & formula cars so I am a bit extreme.

RONBROS where did you get your setup & do you have any details about it? I did contact Essex Racing & they can get the custom rotors. I am currently waiting a price quote.

Thanks again for the input
Greg

 

HI, Greg, dont want the guys who know everything, to start a p^$^in contest about brakes, simply put, you never got enough, if its to much,just handle it!

on my 78 roadster, i used Wilwood 4piston aluminum calipers, on front, xjs caliper weighed 14lb. each , alum wilwood 5lb. a big saving on unsprung weight, milled alum. custom mounts, bolted in stock position. HAWK medium pads

vented rotors about 1/2" larger dia.(if i knew i was gonna use 18" wheels, id use much bigger,) they were bought from an oval track race shop, custom alum hat, and bolted to the rotor, xjs uses corvette bolt pattern, so parts are easy to interchange.

rears are simpler, stock rotor drilled and champherd, HAWK medium race pads.

made the SS flex lines with all SS tubing. bought from local hydraulic shop.

and used an adjustable brake bias valve.

also saved more weight, aluminum master cyl.(Ford truck) bolts right on.
xjs 78 used cast iron.

stopping grip with 275s on front, and 300s rear, is amazing.

this all happened 16yrs ago, so small details are forgotten.

speaking about weight, 3360lbs. no driver,1/2 tank fuel. quite a bit lighter than factory coupe.

 

This place in England claims to sell a kit for it:

http://www.derek-watson.co.uk/brakes.htm

WATJAG Ltd.

Vented Rear Brake Conversion suitable for E-Type series 1,2 & 3 and all other IRS Inboard Disc Models.

Heat dissipation on IRS inboard discs has always been a problem ever since they were first famously fitted to the 3.8 E-TYPE.

Our new vented disc conversion tremendously reduces rear brake fade & uses XJS pads on all IRS inboard disc cars. Output shaft oil seals are subjected to less heat damage and will have a longer life. Used on 6-cylinder E-Types in conjunction with our front vented disc conversion the transformation is extraordinary.

Conversion Kit Includes: 2 VENTED BRAKE DISCS; 2 ADAPTER PLATES; 2 MODIFIED RECONDITIONED CALIPERS; 10 METALOCK DISC NUTS; 2 HANDBRAKE ADJUSTER SCREWS & BRONZE FORKS; FITTING INSTRUCTIONS

COST £395 (Excluding VAT & shipping)

Derek Watson Independent Jaguar Specialists - Great Longstone Business Park - Nr. Bakewell - Derbyshire - DE45 1TD
Tel: 01629 640776 - Car Sales: 01629 640000 - Parts Line: 01629 640081 - Fax: (01629) 640089

 

What kind of brake pads do you guys like to use?

 

all dependes on what the car is used for, or primary driving style