Hayashi Racing Aluminium Brake Drums (Alfin-Style)

TL;DR saving 3 kg of unsprung and rotating mass

This story is about an upgrade I didn't see coming. Sure, the brake drums felt heavy when I removed them 3 months ago, and yes, I have looked for lightweight brake rotors for the front previously. There wasn't much to be removed from there.

So there I was last Saturday just minding my own business when a publication on the Caterham Car Club Facebook group got all my attention. "Exclusive for Caterham Seven 160 & 170 -  Aluminum finned drums reduce unsprung weight by 1.5 kg per side [...]"

With pictures to support the claim : those aluminium drums reading 2.15 kg on the scale, compared to the standard ones at 3.65 kg.

The publication was from Takamitsu Yahara, a creative mind who always comes with out-of-the-box projects and fresh custom parts and upgrades for the Seven. Most often with a very high level of engineering and/or craftmanship involved. As a serious hobby, he runs the Teikoku Industry web store for his creations, and also recently opened the Sevenology（セブノロジー Facebook group.

My reaction was just to comment "Yes, please!".  I got a message in the night telling me I could have a set for a reasonable price, with a reasonable-enough quote for shipment straight from Japan. So I was sent a PayPal link and proceeded with the payment right away. With import duties, VAT and everything included, I expect the set to cost me about 1000€.

Supplied in very limited batches by Hayashi Racing, those aluminium drums are "proudly made in Japan". My set should be shipped in just a few days. Not that it would really matter with my car still at the garage waiting for parts and a schedule for a paint job. With some luck I could get it before August...

Update on August 22 :
They got delivered on July 14th or thereabout, after about a month waiting for the customs to do their job.
Still waiting for the hood to be properly prepared and painted, I went to the dealer today to fit the new brake drums. While the right side went off easily, the left one once again required a bit of persuasion with a rubber mallet, despite the generous application of copper grease last time. Short (and lightweight) lug nuts were in the plans too. Read about that story is here.