10 replies to this topic

[two_spanners]

Mini 1000
1979
Fitting 10" 4.5J wheels over drum brakes

I've got a set of 10" 4.5J Minilites with 165/80 Yokohama A008 Tyres and I'm fitting them to my 1979 Mini 1000 which had 10" 3.5j steel wheels. Originally I was going to fit 7.5 discs on the front but after a cost/benefit moment I decided to just renew the drums/cylinders and shoes.

On the rear I've had to get the "Spacered" drum so that the wider wheels/ tyres dont foul the shock absorber etc. There doesn't seem to be a problem on the front end but of course the track at the rear is now slightly wider than the front. I understand that the disc brake conversion at the front would have widened the front track as well.

Is there any problem with having the slightly wider track at the rear - and should I add 1" spacers or spacered drums to the front? Or will it be fine?

Thanks

[benspickup2011]

You candrive it like that with different track front and rear no problem, If however you want to put lonmger studs and spacer drums on the front it will be fine too. Just make sure your wheel bearings are good as gold as they'l have a bit more leaverage on them. Do not use those crapy screw on spacers tho, there ******* and dangerious! Cheers ben

[bmcecosse]

I would fit Minifin type drums with max 1" solid spacers.

[two_spanners]

Many hanks for the replies. I'll see what it looks like without the spacered drums on the front fisrt.

[PurpleEd]

Two Spanners can you tell me if you have arches fitted and if not, whether your wheels stick out beyond your wheel arches now you have changed to a 4.5" wheel?
Reason I ask is that my mini has arches fitted and I am debating taking them off and going back to standard and getting 4.5" wheels, though I have already done the front brake conversion and got minifin drums on the rear.

Thank you.

Edited by PurpleEd, 17 February 2011 - 03:40 PM.

[benspickup2011]

Good choice,it can be a bit of a sod doing the fronts, especialy if the wheel bearing gets stuck on the drive shaft. Ive got mini sport alloys calipers on the front with 8.4 hubs. On the back its on spacered 1inch mini fins. Ive got 4.5 minilights fitted, A048R tyres and no arches. Tyres sit flush with the arch lip but dont go beyond. Looks Top bannana on my pick up

[two_spanners]

Doesn't look like I'll need to extend the wheel arches. The fronts are not sticking out if you look from above and I haven't got the rears on yet as I'm renewing the rear backplate and brakes but I don't think it will be a problem as the original 3.5 wheels were well inside the arch.

[Spitz]

Doesn't look like I'll need to extend the wheel arches. The fronts are not sticking out if you look from above and I haven't got the rears on yet as I'm renewing the rear backplate and brakes but I don't think it will be a problem as the original 3.5 wheels were well inside the arch.

Itreally all comes down to the off-set of the wheels you are fitting. Many different ones available.

For example...I have a set of 5x10 GKN wheels that need the mayfair type arches with 165 tyres on. ( with 1" spacer on front )
Then I have a set of 6x10 Mambas that I only needed to put a 1/8" spacer on for clearance with 165 tyres and no wheel arch. This is over standard drum brakes front and rear....non spacered drum.
Many 5" wheels will not need spacers or flares when using 145 tyres

If you do spaer the front or get spaced drums, I would replace the ball bearings with tapered......easy job

[two_spanners]

I put new hubs, taper bearings, backplate assembly, shocks and spacered discs on the rear and the 10" 4.5j minilights with 165 70's are fine without arches. I was going to fit new drums on the front but when I saw the condition of the backplates and realised I'd have to replace them, and take the swivel hub off etc. etc. I decided that the extra cost for the 7.5 drum to disc kit from minispares was good value so I'm fitting the disc brakes on the front and will end up with new swivel hubs, ball joints, bearings and cv's. Yipee!

Of course now I will need arches as the disc kit pushes the 4.5 j's out about and inch and a half past the wheel arch

Edited by two_spanners, 10 March 2011 - 08:22 PM.

[PurpleEd]

I put new hubs, taper bearings, backplate assembly, shocks and spacered discs on the rear and the 10" 4.5j minilights with 165 70's are fine without arches. I was going to fit new drums on the front but when I saw the condition of the backplates and realised I'd have to replace them, and take the swivel hub off etc. etc. I decided that the extra cost for the 7.5 drum to disc kit from minispares was good value so I'm fitting the disc brakes on the front and will end up with new swivel hubs, ball joints, bearings and cv's. Yipee!

That'll be the same set up I have except my wheels are 10x5''. A picture would be nice when you've finished,... Please

[Spitz]

Here is a pic of 6" wheels with only a 1/8" spacer on stock ( non-spaced ) drums. Only needed the 1/8" as the wheel was catching on the backplate.
Of course, not all 6" whee;ls have this offset...these are Mamba


and here is another set of 6" wheels with spacered rear drums and discs on front.

Edited by Spitz, 26 February 2011 - 06:23 PM.