Calipers don't match

[Andy8421]

I have just started rebuilding the front calipers on my S3. One side has a caliper with four 5/16 UNF bolts holding the two halves together, the other side of the car has a caliper with two 3/8 UNF bolts and one 5/16 UNF bolt holding the halves together.

Can anyone shed some light on this?

[Elan45]

I'd guess that someone over the years has replaced one of your calipers w/ a caliper from a S1 Elan. I'll bet the pads are differnt too. You will need to replace that one w/ a match to your S3 one or just replace the pair. The calipers on the S3 are very common and you might just find a pair already rebuilt.

Roger

[Craven]

Correct S3 calipers not that easy to find a bit year dependent but should have back hydraulic connection, not top, and have 3 bolts. 2x 3/8 1x 5/16.

[Andy8421]

Thanks guys, that's very helpful.

I had the car built for me 20 or so years ago for racing. The car was a 'bitsa', so not too surprising that the calipers don't match. First time I have had them on the bench next to each other to compare, never noticed they were different when they were on the car. Bit disappointing though.

There are apocryphal tales of cars where discs were a 'performance option' going down a production line and coming out with discs on one side and drums on the other - so things could have been worse I suppose.

[Elan45]

strange you wouldn't have noticed before since the pads are different S1 from later cars.

I was given a pair of Ford Cortina std calipers and I used them on the front of my Elan Coupe for a few years. Now that I'm restoring the Coupe, I've rebuilt all the calipers and the original fronts are reinstalled.

Another source for later Elan calipers are from a Triumph Spitfire, but just make sure they are the same as your larger caliper. Do not use the last issue Spitfire calipers where the calipers bolt directly to the upright. You need the same as your existing where there is an adapter between the caliper and the upright.

Roger

[tonyabacus]

I also seem to recall that the caliper mounts were different on the Triumph Vitesse, but that the Spitfire and GT6 were the same. A chat with one of the Triumph breakers or restorers may verify.
Tony

[The Veg]

My Plus 2 had seemingly identical calipers on the front, but they differed in the designs of their seals and therefore in the rebuild kits, which come in pairs. I spoke with a brake reconditioner who agreed to send me two identical ones in exchange for my different ones, so problem solved.

Of course the question is whether it left the factory like that or if somebody replaced one at some point, and based on the car's history I'm more inclined to think the former!