20 replies to this topic

[ScrambledEggs]

Hello, 

 

I've finally bought my first mini after about 20 years of wanting one! 

 

One of the first things I plan on doing is all new wheels, tyres and suspension. I've always preferred the 10" wheels. My mini is an '88 so already has disc brakes. 

 

I've been looking at the 8.4" to 7.5" conversion kits on Mini Spares and Mini Sport. I'm assuming the 4 pots are better than the Cooper S calipers? Please correct me if I'm wrong there as I have no knowledge about mini brakes, only brakes in general. 

 

The 4 pot kit on Mini sport is £423.90. What seems to be the same kit on Mini Spares is £568.36. 

 

Is there a reason the Mini Spares kit is nearly 35% more expensive? 

 

Does anyone have experience with either 4 pot kit? Good or bad? 

 

Thanks!

 

https://www.minispor...-10-wheels.html

 

https://www.minispar...-alloy-calipers

Edited by ScrambledEggs, 19 February 2025 - 08:15 PM.

[4130]

I'm sure you'll get numerous opinions, but from my research the Cooper S 7.5" calipers are enough for road driving. The 4 pot are a step up for the track, but can certainly also be used on the road.

[ScrambledEggs]

The Cooper S caliper kit is actually more expensive (on Mini Spares at least), so assuming the 4 pots are good, I may as well go for them! 

 

 

edit: I was looking at this kit for the Cooper S calipers. https://www.minispar...4-to-7-5-brakes

 

I've just seen they do another kit which is substantially cheaper but uses their own calipers https://www.minispar...ing-ms-calipers

Edited by ScrambledEggs, 19 February 2025 - 08:30 PM.

[nicklouse]

Join the TMF+ for £5 a year and you get a 7.5% discount for the time you a subscriber.  Very easy to save more than the fiver over a year.

 

the biggest issue is getting the pads warm. I would stay with the 7.5 standard calipers.

[ScrambledEggs]

How do I join? I'll certainly make use of that. My shopping list is already quite long!


The pads look like very similar sizes so I think getting heat into them would just come down to the compound of the pads.

[KTS]

there's a 'subscriptions' tab at the top of the page 

 

something else to bear in mind with 4-pot calipers is that your choice of 10" wheels that will fit will be limited

[Blumeanie]

Hello,

I've finally bought my first mini after about 20 years of wanting one!

One of the first things I plan on doing is all new wheels, tyres and suspension. I've always preferred the 10" wheels. My mini is an '88 so already has disc brakes.

I've been looking at the 8.4" to 7.5" conversion kits on Mini Spares and Mini Sport. I'm assuming the 4 pots are better than the Cooper S calipers? Please correct me if I'm wrong there as I have no knowledge about mini brakes, only brakes in general.

The 4 pot kit on Mini sport is £423.90. What seems to be the same kit on Mini Spares is £568.36.

Is there a reason the Mini Spares kit is nearly 35% more expensive?

Does anyone have experience with either 4 pot kit? Good or bad?

Thanks!

https://www.minispor...-10-wheels.html

https://www.minispar...-alloy-calipers

Very nice!
Congratulations on the mini!

I am also interested in this conversion for my sportspack with 8.4" oem disks. If you are able, please document your logic behind the choices made and parts used. (And any kits to avoid).
I will have to ship FAR far away, so messing-up an order will be expensive and very wasteful.

I do not have anywhere to see what others have done in person, so your insight will all be very much appreciated!

Edited by Blumeanie, 20 February 2025 - 07:03 AM.

[4130]

I've just seen they do another kit which is substantially cheaper but uses their own calipers https://www.minispar...ing-ms-calipers

I found multiple post reviews that were very positive for the Minispares calipers, so that's what I have. I didn't feel the need for authentic AP. Mind you, they're installed on the car but not back on the road yet due to engine work so I can't comment personally. In my case, I needed the drum to disc conversion kit.

Edited by 4130, 20 February 2025 - 05:09 AM.

[Quinlan minor]

 

I am also interested in this conversion for my sportspack with 8.4" oem disks. If you are able, please document your logic behind the choices made and parts used. (And any kits to avoid).
I will have to ship FAR far away, so messing-up an order will be expensive and very wasteful.

I do not have anywhere to see what others have done in person, so your insight will all be very much appreciated!

 

 

I put the Mini Spares calipers conversion kit on, when I swapped from 12"s to 10"s on mine.

Perfectly happy with them and the car rides so much better on 10"s. Looks better, too!
 

Edited by Quinlan minor, 20 February 2025 - 10:03 AM.

[evansisgreat]

You can get alloy versions of the 2 pot 7.5" Cooper S brakes, I believe this is the lightest brake set up that you can fit. 

[Steve220]

Depends what you're using your car for, and the power. I'll be running 160bhp in my mini van, so wanted the largest disc size I could fit under 10s. Opted for KAD 7.9" vented.

[imack]

Depends what you're using your car for, and the power. I'll be running 160bhp in my mini van, so wanted the largest disc size I could fit under 10s. Opted for KAD 7.9" vented.

KAD 7.9's are great.
But, trying to find out what wheels they will or won't fit is a bit of an issue.

Edited by imack, 20 February 2025 - 06:51 PM.

[petey81]

I fitted the fiesta conversion years ago.

[ScrambledEggs]

Depends what you're using your car for, and the power. I'll be running 160bhp in my mini van, so wanted the largest disc size I could fit under 10s. Opted for KAD 7.9" vented.

This is something I'm taking into consideration. It's a 998...for now but it won't stay that way for long. I've not decided what route I'll go down yet but it will get a good bit more power than standard. 160bhp sounds like a reasonable amount. I plan to mostly use it for road use but it's possible I'll do a trackday or two in it. I currently have a clio 172 cup track car which doesn't get enough use so planning to sell that and maybe take the mini on one or two if I get the itch. Hence I was leaning towards the 4 pots. It won't be getting more power for some time so I could go with cooper s calipers and upgrade later if needed but that might be a waste of money in the long run.

Edited by ScrambledEggs, 20 February 2025 - 07:00 PM.

[imack]

For performance use fit the largest diameter discs you can get in the wheel.
I've had 3 cars since the 80's with 7.5" discs, one with a remote servo and two without servos, and in my experience they're not particularly good. Very easy to fade using standard (Lockheed back in the day) pads. Better with Mintex 171's, but could be scary with no heat in them. They might be better with more modern pad compounds.
The increase in required pedal pressure when switching from unservoed 8.4" metro turbo down to 7.9" KAD's was pretty noticeable. Pads and discs were the same ones in both sets of brakes, I modified the discs to suit, and 10" wheels were fitted to the turbo brakes as well. KAD calipers use metro sized pistons, so the only performance difference was a disc reduced in diameter by 0.5". It's noticeable.
You don't necessarily need vented discs though. Solid will do in most cases.

Edited by imack, 20 February 2025 - 08:01 PM.