F40 brake question

My car is in for the major and while it's there, I am systematically going through everything and correcting or replacing anything that needs refurbishment or replacement due to age. I have stockpiled a lot of parts, including brakes and all hardware. I was just going to refurbish all of the parts that came off and put them on shelves in my basement and have them as spares. However, I was looking at the rotors and I don't know what to do. There are small cracks emanating from the drill points. i know this is not uncommon but new to me. Do I have them turned and put them away or are they now solely decoration. Here's a pic of the most extreme example, although they are all relatively even. Thanks in advance.
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Rotors are not usable for any kind of performance driving. Turning them will only remove material and make them less usable. They can be used lightly on the street as the cracks have not propagated very far

 

Possibly this can help? http://f40brakes.com/

If not the solution to your current issue atleat you could/may recieve some valuable feedback, best of luck.

Those rotors are merely for decorations now and should never be used ever again on a car as the integrity of the rotor no longer exist.

 

Spider cracks mean new rotors to me. Same on my LM refurb and we are replacing.

 

Well, they're getting replaced with the brake rotors below. I just didn't know what to do with these ones. After 22 years, I suppose it's okay that they be turned into wall art or something.
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Is there a reason you are changing the rotors to a different style? Are you using standard Brakes?

 

I acquired an LM spare parts package (with front wheels for the stradale version) and these are the 355mm rotors supplied with them. I am also upgrading the calipers to the gold LM ones from Brembo (through Michelotto). All of the parts that I have seem to be fairly significant items per F40LM history and development. I spent a fair amount of time tracking down the heritage of the various pieces of the parts package and it led to some interesting doors...

Anyways, I was told that these rotors hold up significantly more durable than the original design. Fine with me. Interestingly enough, the brake pads that the calipers came to me appears to be from a special batch made specifically by Pagid for Brembo for Michelotto. I have opted for a different compound so these special pads will go in boxes on the shelf.

Traveller, I think that if you end up getting new rotors from Italy or Brembo for your LM, these are likely what you will receive, assuming that you have the large calipers.

 

I threw my drilled rotors away that were cracked. Let us know how the new ones work. I'm always looking for the newest and very best. Thanks.

 

Thanks, Steve. I'll keep you in the loop. If I remember right, you have the same caliper size as my new ones so these rotors should work with your car. Of course at some point we can meet up to compare. In the meantime, if you end up taking your car in for service, you can check out the new rotors in person.

 

Find a clock that will fit in the rotor then mount to garage wall.

 

i did that with my 360 cs ccm rotors that went bad. gave one to my dad for xmas the year we were tracking her together.

 

sherpas, sounds like you have the parts and the plans, so i wont get in between.

the only comment i would make is that while you are putting after market equipment on the car, you might want to check on the ccm alternatives. i am not a huge fan of them, but they do work, and god knows the f40 needs more stopping power. taz has a line into the ccm guys, so ask him.

 

Hi Ross, thanks for the input. In my opinion - and this is only that: my opinion - I don't think that the car needs more stopping power. It's just that you have to stand on the pedal firmly and effectively (can you tell I have a karting background?) to make it stop quickly. That said, these new calipers and rotors should help with that as much as anything without boost assist will. All of that said, I do appreciate the input.

Also, because these are effectively F40LM parts, I don't quite see it as aftermarket as something that is truly aftermarket and adapted for an F40. I see it kind of like fitting M parts to a BMW or AMG parts to a MB. And, of course, all of the stock parts that are unbolted will get refurbed, cleaned, and put in a box and stay with the car. If I ever want to put the car back to concours condition, everything can bolt right back on with no fuss.

Except for the rotors. I guess those will be made into clocks! Thanks for the suggestions.

 

no problem. i have the same LM style brembos on right now. they do work.

 

I've been trying to find the F40 guys in this group and it sounds like I have.

I want to make sure conerting back to stock is easy and doesnt leave problems. This philosophy has worked well with my gullwing and I think this will be the gullwing for the 90's.

With that in mind I am looking for a solution to the safety issues with seat belts and seats; My two inch shoulder belt no longer re-spools and is way to unsafe for me. Also-I can't wear a helmet because even at 5'11" my head is hitting the ceiling.
Q: what should i do? Place a aftermarket seat in and modify for heighth and add five point belts and a removeable bar for the harness?
Can I get f40LM seats with the holes for harnesses?
Any sources you can refer me to?

 

regular f40 seats accomodate 4 point harnesses. so you shouldnt have any trouble there.

i am surprised you dont fit into the f40 with a helmet - i am 5'11" and i fit. but admittedly i am short of trunk and long of leg, so maybe its that.

otherwise, you might look into taking the fabric off the seat and replacing the seat foam with a flatter version.

btw, i agree on your comment of the f40 being the gullwing of the 90's

 

Like Ross, I'm surprised you can't fit with a helmet. I'm only 5'9" but I have way TOO much head room and feel like I sit very low in the car.

As to seats and harnesses - your car is ready for the harnesses. All cars have the eyelet holes threaded in behind the seats. All you need are the eyelets and harnesses with the hooks for the eyelets. All very easy. The trickier part is finding seats to accommodate the harnesses. Anyone with a motorsport background will advise you that you can't use harnesses with the stock US seats as there is no provision for the shoulder belts to pass through or even rest on. In the event of an accident, they would actually do more harm than good.

I had some NLA lightweight (14lbs per) Sparco seats custom angled and mounted to OMP sliders for Ferrari in order to increase headroom and mimic the optimal seat position. They essentially copy the Euro one piece seats and have cutouts to accommodate the harness as well as actually fit in the car. The only problem with using them in an F40 is that they are black fiberglass shells and not the matching carbon/kevlar. Some people care and some don't.

BTW, I disabled my stock belts in the "on" position and I'm going to try to use them as long as possible but I did create a contingency plan for when they no longer work.

 

You should also be able to get some race seats from Michelotto.

 

sorry brookedale, i was thinking of my euro seats instead of your usa versions. the euro seats are already built for harnesses. so is the car. fitting the harness was relatively easy. i removed the regular belts and kept them aside.

 

geez guys that was fast-
The information on the eyelet holes is invaluable-My local ferrari guys are good but they kept saying I had to add a straight bar to attach the harness to and i did not want to mess with the structure.
regarding the seats-it begs the question: how do i get euro spec seats from ferrari or their vendor?
very much appreciated

 

Tell them to look under the upholstery for the eyelet holes. Like Ross said, many people just put the stock belts in a box but I like them for now.

As Traveller mentioned, get in touch with Michelotto. I am sure they have some they can sell you. As far as Euro spec seats straight from Ferrari, I have heard that they are NLA.

 

I am no expert, so please don't ban me if I am way off base on this...

... but shouldn't those holes be chamfered (or countersunk) to reduce the risk of cracking?

(See example here) http://www.visionpromotions.net/drilled_slotted_rotor_closeup.gif

Those rotors look like they were just straight drilled and that's it. Might be why they are cracking so easily.

 

Here is something from Mov'It, supplier of CER ceramic brakes, and steel brakes, too, that may help on deciding when to replace rotors with cracks emanating from the lightening holes.
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Directly behind the seats on the "package tray" area, you can simply remove the felt-covered panels and voila - the harnes bolt holes. You will need 7/16-20 eyelets, readily available from any racing harness supplier.

IMO the real trick is a seat that fits properly. I tried a Sparco with bottom mounts and while the sliders bolted right up, the seat was not positioned quite right and the lack of a "dish" to drop down between the sliders eliminated the headroom I needed.

I gave up on seats and would be tempted to try the late model Elise/Exige seats - spartan, thin, lightweight in the tradition of the F40, with harness holes and a design that may let you keep the headroom you will need. Otherwise, I'd need a custom seat or the Euro seats and I think the latter are pretty pricey.

 

Thanks, Terry. That is super info. It looks like they are doomed to be clocks, though.