19 replies to this topic

[NunoTT]

Hi everyone!

 

I'm doing some research on what parts to buy for the rebuild and now I'm on the brake section.

 

Like the title says, 2 pot vs 4 pot?

 

The car will have a 1380 engine with a 7 Port Head, and 10" wheels. My question is: are the 4 pot calipers with 7.5" discs worth the price difference to the 2 pot, and will they fit under 10" wheels?

 

I really like the MiniSpares 4 pot caliper kit, but are they any good? I like them over the KAD calipers, because the MiniSpares kit has everything, and KAD only offers callipers and discs. And the MiniSport 4 pot kit is almost £100 more than the MiniSpares 4 pot kit (£732 vs £656).

 

Thanks!

[pdaykin]

I have no experience of the alloy variety, but a have metro four pots on one of mine.

Can't say I go "wow, that's so much better that the two pots I have on my 10" or 12" wheeled cars" when I get in it.

Maybe of greater value on a track car ? But a good set of pads seems to manage fade and provide the stopping power I need on a road toy.

[Dusky]

Your braking power is limited by your tyres. 2 pot 8.4" calipers on the front and minifins on the back can lock up all 4 wheels with wide super sticky (qualifying) slicks, so imho 4 pots arent worth it.

[froggyben]

I personally have used on many of my cars the KAD 8.4 set up and it's mega. Mintex M1144 pads compliment these calipers.

Having said that, you need a well sorted suspension and good sticky tyres such as Yokohama.

You will also need to reduce rear braking with a limiting valve or you will lock rear wheels because of increased weight transfer.

Cheers

[mk1leg]

Hi everyone!

 

I'm doing some research on what parts to buy for the rebuild and now I'm on the brake section.

 

Like the title says, 2 pot vs 4 pot?

 

The car will have a 1380 engine with a 7 Port Head, and 10" wheels. My question is: are the 4 pot calipers with 7.5" discs worth the price difference to the 2 pot, and will they fit under 10" wheels?

 

I really like the MiniSpares 4 pot caliper kit, but are they any good? I like them over the KAD calipers, because the MiniSpares kit has everything, and KAD only offers callipers and discs. And the MiniSport 4 pot kit is almost £100 more than the MiniSpares 4 pot kit (£732 vs £656).

 

Thanks!

I run a 1380 swiftune with an SW8 cam with a Vintage large valve 7port head running 10" with KAD 4 pot calipers and have not had a problem and they stop on a 6pence

[podifold]

I've run a MiniSport 7.9" vented set-up in the past and currently have a KAD 7.9" vented set-up.

 

Can't say I've noticed any real difference at all in the braking efficiency between the two. What I will say is that over the years I've sheared 2 of the MiniSport bleed nipples and I know others have had this problem too.

 

No issues with the KAD's so far, but I've not had them that long.

[GreaseMonkey]

I do like the design of the Minispares alloy 4 pots. The twin bleed nipples are a good idea. I'll be getting a set of them for my current project.

[Cooperman]

If one wishes to spend out on 4-pot brakes that's up to them.

However, on a light car like the classic Mini the sold disc brakes of 7.5" or 8.4" with 2-pot callipers are entirely adequate for all applications so long as the right brake pads are used and top quality discs are fitted and kept in good condition.

Remember, the FIA Group 2 race and rally Cooper 'S's run with solid 7.5" discs, 2-pot callipers and they surely stop very well. I have had my 7.5" discs glowing literally red hot, but still they brakes worked very well. That is with Carbon-Metallic pads and AP600 brake fluid.

But if cash is not too much of an issue, then there is no problem in fitting bigger or multi-pot brake discs and callipers.

What is somewhat incongruous is fitting 8.4" vented discs with 4-pot callipers plus fitting 13" wheels with 175 section tyres, then finding the brakes tend to lock up too easily due to there being insufficient tyre contact pressure with the rod, especially in the wet.

[Spider]

Not the 7.5 or 7.9" set up, but I do have a set of Non-vented 8.4" Mini Spares 4 Pots on one of my Minis

 

The stopping power is incredible, WAY better than any 2 pot set up I've got on anything else. Yes, you can get all brakes to lock, but we usually don't want them to lock, just slow up as fast as they can and these do so very fast. I'd rate them among the top 5 cars I've ever driven for stopping ability.

 

My only 'gripe' is that the pedal pressure needed is quite high, higher than 2 pots.

 

A Mate of mine fitted them on his Moke, he found the same in terms of stopping power and also the high pedal effort. He fitted a hydraulic booster. Having driven the car it's does have a very nice feel to it and I'm likely going to go the same route.

 

<EDIT: The Mini Spares versions have dust seals around the pistons, the Mini Sport ones don't and I also seem to recall the KAD ones don't either. >

Edited by Moke Spider, 29 January 2017 - 06:47 PM.

[nicklouse]

Info on the booster?

[cooperS]

got KAD 7.9" vented and 4pots on my 180bhp Mini with amazing stoping power (no servo)!

[Spider]

Info on the booster?

 

PBR VH44, they;re Aussie made and that's what they fitted to our MKII Cooper S's and Clubman GTs here. Similar to the Lockhead ones in how they work and fit up.

[nicklouse]

Info on the booster?

 
PBR VH44, they;re Aussie made and that's what they fitted to our MKII Cooper S's and Clubman GTs here. Similar to the Lockhead ones in how they work and fit up.

Oh a servo. I thought it might have been some nice small gadget.

[burchy35]

I have on my turbo clubby 8.5 solid discs, minispares alloy 4 pots and carbon metallic pad, no servo. on the rear are minifins and the small bore slave cylinders.

I have never had brake fade or lock up from the rear and its gets a good thrashing on track. especially the mk1 action day at blyton (great event).

Suspension set up has a lot to do with the braking balance and feel especially when its stood on its nose at the end of a straight heading into a 90.

You are doing the right thing researching and listening to peoples experiences.

[mini-geek]

I have MiniSport 7.9 vented 4 pots, I used to hate them no feel and never really stopped the car..

I was ready to ditch them but had seen people reporting the same issue with 7.5 S brakes and mention of fitting a servo as the cooper S had..

The servo with the MiniSport 4 pots is excellent