| There are other ways to get disk brakes into a mini than going to 12" wheels. Here's some comments: |
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For 10" wheels there are two main choices...the expensive route...and
the VERY expensive route. The first way is to fit 7.5" Cooper S disc assemblies. You should be able to pick up a second hand set in the UK for between 100 and 200 quid. Mine were 120 and have been pretty good (not as good a 8.4" discs, but that's what you get for running 10" wheels). I have fitted grooved discs and will fit fast road pads soon. 7.5" discs do require strong leg muscles, but they do work well if you push hard. You can use 8.4" assembly hubs, driveshafts and CV's. It is often cheaper to buy the S calipers second hand, new discs/flanges and an old set of cheap 8.4's. The more expensive route is to machine down an 8.4" setup to 7.9" and fit alloy 4-pot calipers, or machined Metro 4-pot calipers. This will give superb braking, but you're looking at best part of 500 quid for it. Personally, I'd go to shows and buy some S discs for 100-150 quid. They'll be in a state, but with a clean up and recon will be great. Also check out conversion details in IME: Internet Mini Encyclopedia maintained by Scott A. Bevis |
| Here's a later comment from Kelley Mascher. |
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The information in the IME on MkI/II disks is incomplete and
incorrect. It also doesn't answer Christopher's question. I've
posted several times on the history of the early Mini disks.
First, concerning drive shafts, I believe that except for the earliest drum brakes ('59-'61? ) all Mini drive shafts are interchangable. Second, If you do indeed have 7" 998 Cooper disks then it is unlikely that they will give you better braking than the '78 twin leading shoe setup you have now. That's the bad news. The good news is you are half the way to having a 7.5" Cooper 'S' disk setup. You will need 'S' calipers and rotors but all of the other parts should work. Sorry, I just checked, it looks like you'll need drive flanges too. Does anyone know if this is correct? Here's the disk brake history for MkI/II with some comments from an earlier post. The "S" (7.5") brakes are significantly better than twin leading shoe brakes. They aren't as good as 8.4" brakes but these would require larger wheels. The earliest Cooper disk brakes , used on the 997, were probably not as good the twin leading shoe drums. In fact I'm told they they are far worse but they are also rare. These used a 7" rotor and 2.120" pads. The next generation Cooper disk brakes used the same size rotor but a different caliper with a 2.335" wide pad. They seem to be the equivalent or maybe just slightly better than the twin leading shoe brakes. If you have 12" wheels the cheapest way to upgrade the brakes is to get the 8.4" brakes. They seem to be quite plentiful and cheap in the UK and they're even cheaper than 'S' brakes in the US where they were never officially imported.
I hope this helps,
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