Wilwood Disc Brakes on the front of my smart

[pitstopautoinc]

So I started looking at the various front disc brakes that companies sell that are super super super expensive. At the particular auto parts store that I work at we sell Wilwood calipers. I chose the largest 4 piston caliper on the shelf, made my own bracket, if you need dimensions of the bracket to make your own let me know. Here are the pictures. I forgot to take pictures of the bracket after I finished with it, but try to imagine it without the circular cutout on the end and two more holes to bolt it to the stock spindle. Some of the many questions you might be asking, yes it stops a lot differently, much faster, but because of the stock tires being so small some times I can lock the brakes. It did not affect my ABS, and yes it fits into my stock 15" rims just fine.

STOCK CALIPER


THE CALIPER BRACKET SITTING ON MY NOTES


WILWOOD CALIPER INSTALLED


WILWOOD CALIPER AGAIN


WILWOOD CALIPER BEHIND MY STOCK 15's


CLOSE UP PICTURE OF THE CALIPER


I took them off and I'm having the guy across the street from us poweder coat them red so they stand out more. When I get them back from paint I'll post the pictures up of my caliper bracket and the calipers. I'm not trying to sell this stuff, just simply throwing the info out there for those of you whos interested in doing a conversion that is a little more cost effective. Also as I'm sure some of you will ask the calipers you can get almost any where for around 100-150 depending on what you're looking for and the 1/4" thick plate that I used to make my brackets cost 10 bux.

[pitstopautoinc]

okay before i go to bed, i got pm'd by several people for caliper bracket dimensions. my caliper from center hole to center hole was 5.25 inches the cars spindle bracket from center hole to center hole was 4 inches and if you measure from the center of the caliper bracket holes to the center of the holes that bolt to the smart upwards you measure 1.5 inches. these are the measurements that i used for my specific caliper heres a photo shopped picture of what im talking about until i get my brackets back from paint i'll photo those and repost.

[Dunerunner]

Very nice Mod!! Is the mounting plate mild steel?

[pitstopautoinc]

Thanks I appreciate it. Tomorrow when I get to work I'll post the wilwood caliper part number that i used. i'm sure that you can use a ton of other wilwood calipers out there, this is just what we had at work so i used this one.

-chris

[NeWave]

Someone else has done this.. I know I've read it. I remember the whole stopping so much faster when you slam the brakes that you darn well better be wearing your seatbelt.
I like the sound of that for brake checking passengers.

[pitstopautoinc]

If you come across their work on here send it to me please.... I looked for days and didn't find anything except post about brake kits from dealers. I would love to see what other people came up with.

[jwight]

Excellent mod, and should look very nice once the powdercoating is done.

As in all these changes, results from a side-by-side instrumented test of stock brakes vs. these calipers would certainly help evaluate the effectiveness of the swap.

[pitstopautoinc]

For the brake test I wouldn't mind trying to do some runs a long with a stock smart to see how much sooner I can stop. I'm sure the extra surface area of the pads help, I doubt they help a whole lot more than stock, that is why I didn't want to fork out the $2000+ dollars at a smart car parts store to get just a "tad" more braking power. I mainly wanted them on there for the looks. Don't get me wrong, they "seem" to stop on dime now, a lot better than stock. I'm not trying to sell anyone this kit or anything like that, just my own idea to get some nicer calipers for a lot less money.

[pitstopautoinc]

The calipers came back today from paint, this picture totally doesnt do them justice. They are a nice bright cherry red with the letters brushed off. Oh and by the way for those of you who wanted to know it is caliper number 120-6818 and you can find specs on it here: Untitled Page The picture they show is wrong though, because when you get them, they dont have that aluminum spacer between the two halves.

[IH8OPEC]

Originally Posted by pitstopautoinc

The calipers came back today from paint, this picture totally doesnt do them justice. They are a nice bright cherry red with the letters brushed off. Oh and by the way for those of you who wanted to know it is caliper number 120-6818 and you can find specs on it here: Untitled Page The picture they show is wrong though, because when you get them, they dont have that aluminum spacer between the two halves.

Is the fluid crossover internal? I don't see a crossover tube between the two halves of the caliper is why I ask.

Never mind I found out from the link you provided.