42 replies to this topic

[Mini_Magic]

Because the Cooper S brakes cost £300+ and is a lot more work then just fitting a new set of wheels.

Still not sure why spacers are such a problem, especially if you're fitting them to a Mini that's already had the mods for heavy 13s.

[MJWarren]

I'd rather be satisfied with the work I've done and pay the money for a brake setup which isnt grinded instead of doing a bodge!

But that's just me.

[jaydee]

I want to play devils advocate and say it is less safer on the long studs than on the wheel bearings. Physics of lever here.
(But teenies - how much they weigh? 6/7kgs with the tyres?)

[james962]

I'd rather be satisfied with the work I've done and pay the money for a brake setup which isnt grinded instead of doing a bodge!

But that's just me.

I totally agree. I cannot seem to edit my post (#27), but this was referring to the 10's with the built in spacer as per Mini Magic's old mini; not weller's with a grinded caliper. I would not want to be grinding my calipers.

[ibrooks]

It's not the spacer in and of itself that's the problem. So long as you use correct legth wheel studs of the proper material and the proper nuts and torque them up correctly then there is no more problem with a spacer than without. The problems come with the resulting offset that you give the wheel.

Draw an imaginary line through the top and bottom ball-joints and project it downwards. On most cars it will hit the ground around the centre of the tyre's contact patch. This means that when you turn the wheel it is spinning about it's centre on that pivot point and the resistance is as small as possible. With 13x7 or 13x8 or whatever size wheels you try to keep this situation the same. OK with a wider wheel you add a little resistance either side of the centre-line and up the stress on the components but not by a huge amount as you are still simply spinning the tyre about that contact patch.

Now add a 1" spacer. That moves the entire contact patch 1" further out from that pivot point. THAT is what puts all the stress on the components. The tyre is now turning about a point almost on it's edge. In order to turn one way or another the whole thing has to move forwards or backwards as well as scrubbing sideways. So you're thinking that moving forwards or backwards is easy for a round thing? Try it with 30 horsepower trying to push it the opposite direction - or has your Mini got more power than that? (yes really it's the ft/lbs that matter here but most people think in terms of horsepower so for simplicity of the example I used the wrong term).

Iain

[jimmyH]

No spacers or built in, just a massive offset, right over my MPI 8.4's. They pull around abit on the hills, but look pretty good i think ..... oh and hold the road damn well too ...

But i can understand and feel the extra stresses put on the suspension components.. however the next will have to be wider similar wheels put over smaller brakes ... with a less excessive offset.

Edited by jimmyH, 09 September 2011 - 07:41 PM.

[E.L.M.O]

No spacers or built in, just a massive offset, right over my MPI 8.4's. They pull around abit on the hills, but look pretty good i think ..... oh and hold the road damn well too ...

But i can understand and feel the extra stresses put on the suspension components.. however the next will have to be wider similar wheels put over smaller brakes ... with a less excessive offset.

Are they the newer alloy version?

[jimmyH]

Could quite possibly be, not sure, bought them off a chap here.

[E.L.M.O]

You should be able to tell if their steel or alloy easily enough

[Guess-Works.com]

Because the Cooper S brakes cost £300+ and is a lot more work then just fitting a new set of wheels.

Wrong....

http://www.minispares.com/Product.aspx?ty=pb&pid=42536&title=

and with a TMF+ discount brings a lot closer to £200

[jimmyH]

Well where the paint has scratched off it does not seem to rust, a silvery metal with a rough surface, so probably alloy..

[feargal kerr]

Because the Cooper S brakes cost £300+ and is a lot more work then just fitting a new set of wheels.

Wrong....

http://www.minispare...id=42536&title=

and with a TMF+ discount brings a lot closer to £200

[feargal kerr]

I've got the metro vented discs and callipers set up on my mini but I want to put 10inch wide wheels on will this conversions fit my car aswel or is it just designed for the rover 8.4 disc setup or is there another way of keepin the callipers with 10inch wheels?