8 inch disc brake kit for Cheetah - COMPLETED

[John Boucher]

I am excited Chris... I take it the wheelspat version is CXO's

E-mail sent Andrew...

[AWACS]

Turbo,
Looks nice. Finally back in SA. Will phone you.

Luckily you were first John ...

[flybynite]

I am so keen on the spats version!!! PLease keep us updated

[Turbo]

Whiz wheels - got your mail, sky ranger is clearly ahead of rainbow with the design, as its the same "leaf spring" design which has only been introduced recently on the bush cat. However I will respond to you in email with a possible plan.

Gents - you are correct I am designing the setup to maintain the spats on stock wheels. However I must tell you that after a day with Eddie and Aidan, I have seen a small weakness in the stock cast wheels. They are weak points in the castings around the area at the brake drums. Ill post pictures in the morning of where these wheels crack. Be that as it may, this will need to be checked before any work is done, and if cracks exist, they need to be sorted out before I am prepared to do any work on the wheels -- safety first!! The mod is going to be a simple one, and involves machining a billet aluminum adapter, to accommodate the brake disc mount (fully floating) and a shaft mod to mount and secure the caliper. From there it all bolts together simply.

Purchased the 8 billets today and started machining on one already, hopefully have one finished for you tomorrow afternoon. Check in again tomorrow for an update with pics.

[CHARLIE WHISKEY]

Hi Turbo.

If needs I'll get new rims. No problem.

Thanks for keeping us "Brake hunger Cheetah okies " informed.

Saw you Monday at Kitty Hawk. Sorry I wanted to meet but were in a hurry.

Cheers

[Turbo]

hey Charlie Whiskey -- pleasure, next time...

here's an update -- the first set is complete, here are some pics -- spent most of the day on this, with good results! My old tires seems to be very wide, and JUST fit into the spatts - anyways i managed to get these to fit into the Spatts just fine - so normal 4 and 6 play tires shoudl fit much easier than mine.

The kit will include the following:-

1) 2 x calipers with pads and all hydraulic fittings and lines
2) 2 x discs with floating pins and locators
3) machined adapter ring/mount
4) CNC machined Hydraulic Hand Brake lever
4) shaft sleeves to adapt calipers onto the stock shafts
5) All nuts, bolts, washers, and extra bits and bobs
6) work carried out on the knuckles and shafts to accept the brakes -

The stock wheels are machined down slightly to accomodate the brake drum, you will see in the pics where this has been done, and where the rims crack because of this (it does weaken the rim some) as the strengthening portion of the rim (gusset) has been machined away... another pic of the unmachined side showing the gusset -- you will clearly see where these rims have cracked - all cheetah owners need to check your rims for cracking (thats why i dont like spatts on a cheetah, cant get to anything!
I know three other people with the same problem. also in the pics is the billet adapters cut down ready for machining.

Then upside down spatt with wheel assembly mounted with knuckle, and you will see the caliper inside the spatt - you will need to cut a small 30mm hole into the side of the spatt so that the hydraulic lines can run through it, and give you access to bleed brakes and do the necessary leak checks if and when necessary.

Anyways == the pics i took off my phone, not great quality, but ill take some nice ones when i return from a snowboarding tiffendell event next week.

enjoy.

[John Boucher]

Chris...

There is a strong possibility that different rims have been used during the production lifetime of the Cheetahs. Over 1000 hours on my Cheetah without tell tale signs. Those cracks possibly from hard landings and too soft tyre pressures, however, a really good thing that all owners check the rims and not just leave it to the AP's.

JB

[Triker]

HI turbo

You think you can organize this disk brakes for the Cobra's ?
Apparently the rear RIM and tyre are the same as the cheeta's

Would be nice to have rear disk brakes on the cobra.

[Turbo]

Hey triker,

sure its possible, will have to have a closer look at it and decide from there whats involved. because i can fabricate most things, it will definately be possible, and if the rims are te same as the Cheetah then i dont see why not, it will depend on the axles used and whether or not you have spatts and the clearance inside the spats etc.

[CHARLIE WHISKEY]

Hi Turbo

Nice to see all the progress.

Keep us posted brew....

Just let us know if we must "gooi" some "mulas"

Cheers

[Turbo]

Hi Charlie Whiskey

Don't worry about mulls, I have all the parts and material here, once each kit is complete, then you pay for it.
I have one more piece to complete on my old spats, which is a key way which I have to cut into the shaft to hold the caliper in place and then it's done, ill be ready for Mr Bouchers set, then one at a time after that.

Keep your eyes out for my Cheetah nose wheel upgrade.... Hate my nose wheel, will be changing this to a beefed up version that will never break, even if you land on the bliksemse thing....

[John Boucher]

I checked my rims yesterday as part of the pre flight before my PPL renewal. Absolutely no cracks. My rims are different - I do recall only 3 spokes... will post pics later.
But maybe I was too focussed on the pre-flight?


Can't wait

[Turbo]

Hey John,

Please do post the pics, need to see the bolts that hold the drums onto the rim, and the knuckle that bolts onto the rim also.

Thx

[John Boucher]

Here you go Turbo... as mentioned 3 holes only and the rims definitely stronger!

[Turbo]

Hey John,

Thanks for the pics. This is most definately a different rim altogether, however since I work from billet material, this won't be a problem at all, it might be a different PCD but that is measured, and put into a CNC mill, and cut by computer so it will be perfect. I'm glad this came up. Looks like I will behave to make each one individually, and not just machine all the billets the same.

Well let me know when you want to send up the parts so I can get cracking. I'm ready when you are John.