Alcon Conversion Front Wheel bell. Where from??

Johnnywb · 26-03-2013, 07:35 PM

Took my car into George at Technosport for a quick look at the brakes before Spa / the Ring this weekend. (Brakes needed bleeding)

Turns out it might not be such a quick look....

George's thought is that the bell has been 'machined' to allow a different size pad to be fitted, but rather than use a lathe, someone's tried using a file...

Now i've not done any work to the brakes other than a couple of fluid changes in my ownership (yes, yes, i clearly don't drive far enough or fast enough). Although clearly the bells have got pretty warm?

But more importantly, the bells both need replacing. Were these replaced as part of the Alcon conversion (it was on the car when i bought it). Does anyone know where i could get hold of some tout suite...?

The Gorilla · 26-03-2013, 10:28 PM

Hi,

Quote- '' .....but rather than use a lathe, someone's tried using a file...

Are you sure it was a file ?

Looks more like Stevie Wonder has
been playing with an angle grinder .

The Armco at Spa in no more forgiving
than anywhere else, so I would get
it properly sorted before seeing if
''Stevie's'' handy work is up to task.

Alcon maybe or borrow some ?

Regards,

The Gorilla.

**shimmy** · 26-03-2013, 10:30 PM

Ouch, silly billy whomever it was.

shane@mbtech · 26-03-2013, 10:31 PM

Your calipers are on the the wrong side too, you will have been experiencing brake issues, overheating?

Give alcon a call, and tell them which kit you have, they may have some lying about.

Johnnywb · 26-03-2013, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lawsy

Your calipers are on the the wrong side too, you will have been experiencing brake issues, overheating?

Give alcon a call, and tell them which kit you have, they may have some lying about.

My plan is to call Alcon in the morning. The work was done by Thorney originally (at least the brakes were supplied by them as there's a receipt for it, it's in the car so will need to check whether it included fitting).

How the F.ck could someone install the calipers on the wrong side?! Can't say i've noticed a big problem, but then again...

shane@mbtech · 26-03-2013, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnnywb

My plan is to call Alcon in the morning. The work was done by Thorney originally (at least the brakes were supplied by them as there's a receipt for it, it's in the car so will need to check whether it included fitting).

How the F.ck could someone install the calipers on the wrong side?! Can't say i've noticed a big problem, but then again...

The leading piston on the direction of disc travel, should be the smaller piston. So it grabs the brakes gradually. They way yours are installed means the biggest piston is braking first, so is rendering the smaller ones a little redundant.

shane@mbtech · 26-03-2013, 10:58 PM

They have been made like that.

If you swapped sides and turned them the correct way, your bleed nipples would then be at the bottom. And bleeding from the bottom of the caliper would be difficult

.So you will need to take bleed nipples out, and take connecting pipe off, then swap them top to bottom.

My guess is when they were painted yellow, and the decals applied, the nipples and connecting pipes were installed incorrectly.

**AlexGTT** · 26-03-2013, 10:59 PM

That is diabolical workmanship! Can't believe anyone would do that in a professional workshop..................but then again I shouldn't be shocked. The disc's look ready to part from the hubs on the first big brake at the end of Kemel! Glad you didn't get there with them in that state!

NZ_M3 · 26-03-2013, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lawsy

My guess is when they were painted yellow, and the decals applied, the nipples and connecting pipes were installed incorrectly.

Lawsy's correct - your calipers are upside down and as stated the bleed nipple and the connecting pipes were installed incorrectly.

That wear mark looks to me like one of the brake pads have failed and come away from the holding slot within the caliper and made contact with the disc and chewed through it.

You can buy the bells independently from Alcon - if you search I am sure someone has posted a part number up before, otherwise I can look for it later on.

I think this is the correct bell part number (found it in my photo files)

M5 Powered · 26-03-2013, 11:39 PM

Hi Johnny,

That is pretty shocking. Those don't seem to be original Bells. The correct ones are as NZ shows (they have a black heat coating on them).

Call Alcon in the morning. Customer service was excellent!

26-03-2013, 07:35 PM	#1
Johnnywb S5 - Full Throttle Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: London SW4 / W1 Posts: 387 Casino cash: $6791	Alcon Conversion Front Wheel bell. Where from?? Took my car into George at Technosport for a quick look at the brakes before Spa / the Ring this weekend. (Brakes needed bleeding) Turns out it might not be such a quick look.... George's thought is that the bell has been 'machined' to allow a different size pad to be fitted, but rather than use a lathe, someone's tried using a file... Now i've not done any work to the brakes other than a couple of fluid changes in my ownership (yes, yes, i clearly don't drive far enough or fast enough). Although clearly the bells have got pretty warm? But more importantly, the bells both need replacing. Were these replaced as part of the Alcon conversion (it was on the car when i bought it). Does anyone know where i could get hold of some tout suite...?

26-03-2013, 10:30 PM	#3
shimmy CSL Register Uber-poster! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Uk Posts: 14,646 Casino cash: $43909	Ouch, silly billy whomever it was. __________________ .

26-03-2013, 10:31 PM	#4
shane@mbtech CSL Register Uber-poster! Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: warrington Posts: 5,419 Casino cash: $19783	Your calipers are on the the wrong side too, you will have been experiencing brake issues, overheating? Give alcon a call, and tell them which kit you have, they may have some lying about. Last edited by shane@mbtech; 26-03-2013 at 10:34 PM.

26-03-2013, 10:58 PM	#7
shane@mbtech CSL Register Uber-poster! Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: warrington Posts: 5,419 Casino cash: $19783	They have been made like that. If you swapped sides and turned them the correct way, your bleed nipples would then be at the bottom. And bleeding from the bottom of the caliper would be difficult.So you will need to take bleed nipples out, and take connecting pipe off, then swap them top to bottom. My guess is when they were painted yellow, and the decals applied, the nipples and connecting pipes were installed incorrectly.

26-03-2013, 10:59 PM	#8
AlexGTT CSL Register Uber-poster! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Herefordshire Posts: 4,374 Casino cash: $8572	That is diabolical workmanship! Can't believe anyone would do that in a professional workshop..................but then again I shouldn't be shocked. The disc's look ready to part from the hubs on the first big brake at the end of Kemel! Glad you didn't get there with them in that state! __________________ CSL Register Alcoholics Anonymous Group Leader & Businessman of the Year '93! www.earleyengineering.com

26-03-2013, 10:28 PM	#2
The Gorilla S5, Sport Off, DSC M-track Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 740 Casino cash: $14401	Hi, Quote- '' .....but rather than use a lathe, someone's tried using a file... Are you sure it was a file ? Looks more like Stevie Wonder has been playing with an angle grinder . The Armco at Spa in no more forgiving than anywhere else, so I would get it properly sorted before seeing if ''Stevie's'' handy work is up to task. Alcon maybe or borrow some ? Regards, The Gorilla.

26-03-2013, 11:39 PM	#10
M5 Powered S5 - Full Throttle Join Date: May 2009 Location: Solihull, West Midlands Posts: 297 Casino cash: $2712	Hi Johnny, That is pretty shocking. Those don't seem to be original Bells. The correct ones are as NZ shows (they have a black heat coating on them). Call Alcon in the morning. Customer service was excellent! __________________ M3 CSL, Silver Grey, 2004, Factory de-limit, Alcon BBK, Rogue Rear Control Arms, Turner Top Mounts, Braille CF Battery