Fiat Arbarth Discs for an Alfetta

[Sam]

I want vented front rotors but i don't want to go to alfa 75 - 5 stud - because I don't want to change my Simonds wheels.

Not sure if its widely known, but it seems the fiat 500 Arbarth & Mito vented discs have the same PCD as the Alfetta.

I  can get a set from the UK landed at my door fro $185.00 .

Pretty good considering local dealers have quoted me between $500 and $1800 and i have to pick them up !

Before I buy them, I thought about trialing with an old worn out set to see if the concept has any hiccups (ie like the rotors fouling against the Simonds wheels etc...)

so does anyone know where I can get a set of old second hand Fiat 500 or Mito discs?

I tried calling one Fiat service center but they didnt seem too keen to help.
I'm calling another one tomorrow,  but thought i should put the question out there in case someone has any ideas?

all I want is a worn old set that are to be thrown out


Check out this site if your not sure what I'm talking about
http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/suspension-brakes-wheels-tires/209552-fiat-500-abarth-rotors-volvo-240-calipers-alfetta.html

Sam

[GR-124]

Hi Sam,
I have an Alfetta and and a Fiat 124 and I'm jumping from forum to forum. May be a long shot but why don't you ask the guys on the T124 site. I'd be interested to hear the out come of the mod. Good luck with it.
http://www.turbo124.com/forum/

[Darryl]

You don't say what you are planning on for calipers, but assuming you are keeping it simple and using something that bolts up to standard uprights its down to Volvo 4 pots (iron so heavy, otherwise good), 75 2 pots (Brembo so "cool" alloy so light, not a lot of pad/area) or (shoot me) sliding caliper "1 pot" earlyish V8 commodore (VL turbo, VL and earlier V8 from memory) which are actually very effective (probably not for track work).

If using any of these drilling the 5 stud rotors for a 75 to fit an alfetta is easy. It may not be legal but it isn't dangerous (the rotors locate just fine on the hub etc, the clamping force not the studs is what stops the disk rotating - studs are not rated for shear so can't possibly be relying on them to do anything other than clamp).

I suspect the chances of hub location and disc offset/height matching on the Abarth rotors is low... Even if you can make them fit (if the height is wrong you will be in a world of pain with adapter brackets for calipers etc) any deviation from a correct fit is presumably just as illegal as drilling (and most likely presents more real safety issues).

The Brembo catalogue is good for checking this stuff... You can even search by dimension - but in any case, http://www.bremboaftermarket.com/En/Car_Disc_Catalogue/Catalogue_Detail_Image.aspx?Code=cedc0693-5b84-4d0a-acd6-4825ba5faa41 is the Abarth rotor (see drawing for dimensions)

and here is the non vented Alfetta (Brembo seems to have dropped the vented 75/GTV6 rotors - damn... I probably have a PDF download somewhere....) http://www.bremboaftermarket.com/En/Car_Disc_Catalogue/Catalogue_Detail_Image.aspx?Code=e0f5283b-930f-49c5-b29e-9409c71958b0

Hmm - not a chance....

Ah - read the alfabb thread - all the info you need is there - he's using a spacer to "fix" the hat height issue. That has issues of its own - if it works for you great, I'll be using a drill and common rotors myself, with the fallback being custom hats and willwood rotors (not actually all that expensive, you only have to buy the hats once).

[ANG156]

I wouldn't really bother with the abarth conversion. I would stick to what is tried and tested. Basically you have 3 options;

1. Grab a set of 75 calipers, get a set of 156 discs (cheapest I've seen is $65 each) get them drilled to suit your standard hub and run spaces
2. Do a complete aftermarket fit as per Darryl above.
3. Just convert it to five stud. Parts are easier to find and cheaper especially if you gonna run 156/147 discs. Also have a better choice of wheels with most 156/147 alloys going on ebay for as little as $100 for a set and you can choose from 15 to 18inch.

Option 3 is not on your list but 1 & 2 are viable.

Not sure where you are getting $1800 brake discs costs from. Your must have misunderstood the guy.

If you're hell bent on going down the route you describe, you might want to look at punto discs which may be similar and more readily available second hand.

[Sam]

High thanks for you responses,

ANG156, no I didn't misunderstand him, I asked him to repeat it a few times.
Essendon Fiat/Alfa quoted me $820.00 for each disc. (~$1800 for 2).
Maybe he was looking at a  Ferrari disc instead of a Fiat, I can't say but that was the price he quoted me.

I Tried Ziggame yesterday and they quoted me $250 each. ($500 for both)

However the folks in UK can do them for $185.00 - for both - delivered.   

I agree there are 3 options.... and I've investigated the 2 most cheapest some time ago.
The link to the  ABB  I provided in the original post,  shows that there may be  a forth option now.

From my understanding of that blokes post,  its doesn't seem too complicated or overly time consuming task.
In my case I don't want to replace my Simmons rims so I would like to stay 4 stud if possible, otherwise its yet another expense to get new wheels.

Fiat Arbarth and Alfa Mito  are becoming more available so the price and availability should reflect this. Furthermore, there are some more options for  4x98 PCD wheels from these cars.

At this stage I just want to prove  one way or the other if it is possible.

To do that, I want to get an  old ,worn Arbarth or Mito Rotors to try it out .

So , going back to my original post ...... does anyone know where I can get an old worn Fiat 500 Arbath or Mito Vented rotor from?
Any friends working for a dealer that can help maybe?

[Darryl]

Sorry, can't help with abarth rotors.
Did you notice that the abarth rotors are exactly the same as the 156 rotors aside from 4 vs 5 stud drilling? So with the spacer and volvo calipers (I assume?) you should get the same fit as with redrilled 156 rotor, including needing to increase the hub hole diameter?

Maybe worth trying fit with a used 156 rotor (easy to get)?

[Sam]

hi Darryl,

I didn't know that, I'll try them instead
- Thanks for the tip

Sam

[Nate Dog]

All this talk of using callipers from various other antiquated sources.
(well, 75 is old, don't get offended 75 owners).
Why not examine the callipers off the same fiat Abarath you intend to take the discs from.
Maybe all you'll need is an adapter plate (any half decent metal shop won't charge more than $20 if you make them a cardboard mockup) some locktighted screws and away you go.
Let me know how you go with that.
If it comes up trumps for you i'll try it on mine.
Yeah, the standard breaks feel like shit. They pull the car up ok, but even with new fluid and braided break lines, they still feel like shit. Hoping that triple the surface area on pads to disc ratio will help that lack of bite feeling.

[giulia_veloce]

Oh Nate

Still haven't fixed the brake problem ??

A cheaper solution is to put some Commodore calipers on a V6 disc
Then you will be happy.
Did you try some real brake pads yet ?

Robert

[Darryl]

Oh Nate

Still haven't fixed the brake problem ??

A cheaper solution is to put some Commodore calipers on a V6 disc
Then you will be happy.

Robert

Nate,
Not only cheaper, the Abarth calipers are the only things being discussed here that are a *downgrade* from the stock Alfetta... They are tiny single pot sliding in a fetching shade of red - if you are ok with that technology, go with the big C'dore ones and a can of paint.... I can assure you they are *very* effective on road and bolt straight on. You can even call them Corevette calipers which I'm sure makes them stop faster...

[Nate Dog]

Oh Nate

Still haven't fixed the brake problem ??

A cheaper solution is to put some Commodore calipers on a V6 disc
Then you will be happy.
Did you try some real brake pads yet ?

Robert

hi Rob,
Wouldn't so much call it brake problems, they work fine, they don't fade, even after a vigoruosish morning blast up and down the old pacific highway, just the feels not what you'd call..... biting i suppose. Good feedback, they hold, they don't let go, but they definitely feel like a 40 year old design.

Darryl,
Kiss my arse.
Not sure where that came from, but i don't recall posting anywhere about being cheap, or using shittier tech, simply spitballing ideas.
First part of your post, cheers, appreciate the info, 2nd part, see above.

[AikenDrum105]

Loads of pad options out there - I'm really enjoying the Ferodo DS2500s on the daily Super.     A friend as the DS3000s -  they squeak a bit when cold,  and need to be warmed a touch - but once on song the initial bite they give is very very good.

*cough* the Super has the Brembo alloys with vent discs....   ;P    don't think it stops any better than the std ATE brakes,  but the vent discs do wonders for heat soak,  and the alloy calipers make up or the increased weight of the discs. 

Cheers,

[Darryl]

Not sure where that came from, but i don't recall posting anywhere about being cheap, or using shittier tech, simply spitballing ideas.

Robert bought up the C'dor calipers being cheaper - I just pointed out (in first part of post) that the abarth ones were sliders and small as well as relatively expensive... I don't know if you are cheap, but I certainly am and effective "shitty tech" isn't "shitty tech" in my book...
Clearly my attempted humour spitball hit the wrong target - was having a giggle at car company marketing/image over substance (FIAT using the Abarth name and GM using Corvette) - nothing personal.

[Nate Dog]

Hi Darryl,
Sorry, over reacted, was having a very very bad day.
And was still a bit funny. Just not at my best.

[Storm_X]

Redrill the rotors and use 75 callipers .