Well, the BBK work was done at last, this weekend, after a few months of preparation.

We got down to the garage at about 9am, and were working hard until nearly 3pm.

The new rear setup

- 323mm diameter RX8

"sport" front discs on the rear, with spacers to space out the existing caliper, and new pads of course.

This has the downside that the caliper doesn't cover the whole disc, but given the rest of the disc will act as a heatsink, and the increased diameter should provide extra braking torque, AND it looks fantastic.

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It is acceptable to me.

On the front? Swap out the existing hubs for Toyota Supra MKIVs.

Fitted to these

- extremely fancy DBA two-piece floating discs, Supra calipers, and pads.

Swapping the hubs like this is largely unprecedented

the usual route is to use spacers and fit Nissan 200SX calipers.

The problem with this, though, is twofold: firstly, the calipers don't bite the full disc, and.

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They aren't Toyota!

So, the day began with all the parts bundled into the boot:
2x modified Supra hubs, 2x Supra discs, 2x Supra calipers with pads and such.

Also 2x RX8 discs, 2x rear caliper spacers, 2x new rear pads, and finally 4x Goodridge braided brake hoses

(these are brilliant quality products) as well as a pair of emergency 3mm spacers, just in case:



First job: panic.

Do these monster hubs and calipers even fit inside the alloys?



Thankfully, they do.

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Just.

There's only a few mm of space in there as you'll see properly later.

Gradually, we pieced together the rear brake set up first, as it was the easier job.

Strip off existing slider caliper, remove carrier, bin the pads, bin the discs.

We attempted removal of the dust shields.

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But in the end, out came the grinder.







Then, after a small amount of grinding of the hub mounting point, the caliper brackets were on, the caliper adapters bolted in

(after working out which way round they go), the disc slipped on, the new pads fitted and the caliper wound back

(do NOT do this without a caliper wind back tool.

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), re-greased, and re-assembled.

Finally, the first Goodridge brake hose.

Surprisingly, everything behaved well, and the old hoses unions came apart without issue.

The Goodridges went in without problem all round, apart from a small amount of modification to the mounting brackets for the rears.



Next up, the monumental and extremely nerve-racking task of trying to fit the fronts.

Firstly, a bit of examination.

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And the extraction of the ABS sensors.

A dog of a job, and they almost always break upon removal, but they both came out intact, with a great degree of persuasion.

After that

- simply remove the hubs.

Annoying castellated bolts held on the ball joints and track rod ends, but otherwise simple enough.

The new hub was offered up.

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Slotted into the strut mounting eyes.

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And the ball joints.

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And the track rods! The modified hubs actually fit!

Cue a very excited assembly of disc and caliper on to hub.



The brake lines went on with similar ease, though the hose unions were a little more trouble, one almost rounding.

The only concern.

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The distance that the new hubs seem to stick out towards the arches.

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At last, we stuck the wheels on, and checked for all clearances.

Remarkably, everything passes.

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Just! The only issue of contention, unbelievably.

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The tyre inflation valves that come on Enkei RP01s!! They graze the caliper by a hairline.

Removed the plastic valve caps.

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And they clear.

Phew.



We couldn't quite believe it, but it seemed to have all worked out.





Sadly, it never is the way, is it.

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Because of the new front hubs, both wheels toe-in, so far that driving would be impossible.

A solution to this is yet to be implemented.

Either we lengthen the track rod ends, or we create an adapter for the hub mounting point.

Soon, the car will be ready for road use once more.

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