10 replies to this topic

[Russell-Mini30]

1979 clubman estate

Hi guys,

I have a clubman estate 1979 with mamba wheels on, they have front and rear drum brakes, however rather than upgrading to discs and then changing all the wheels as they will not fit once discs are fitted, i was wondering if you can get performance brake shoes for the front and rear drums?
Has anyone done this, if so where from and are they any good?

RM30

[Pooky]

I've bought Ferodo shoes from Halfords. I think the main thing to worry about is that the drums are well maintained and adjusted. I'd rather have properly working drums with standard shoes than neglected drums with performance shoes.

[lrostoke]

Not really an answer to the performance shoes question.
But I'm running drums all round I just buy standard shoes and properely adjusted the brakes are great, even pulled a trailer from Stoke to Cornwall and brakes worked great on even the steepest inclines.

One point you mention your wheels won't fit with discs, you can get 7.5" discs same spec as Cooper S ..10" rims fit over these. Also another popular conversion is the 7.9" disc with Fiesta calipers, although with this I believe not all 10" rims fit. Of course you are talking a fair bit of cash for the disc options.

[Russell-Mini30]

Ah ok wasn't sure if they did discs small enough to fit mamba wheels, i would definatly like to retain the classic part of the car by having original drums

[MRA]

Yes you can get uprated shoes for drums in 1.5" wide for front and 1.25" wide for rear, although the 1.5" wide will fit some rear drums as well, however I wouldn't fit 1.5" wide on the rear if you have drums on the front

[mk3 Cooper S]

Also think bout adding a remote servo as an option with performance shoes.

[Russell-Mini30]

Ah ok brilliant, any idea where you would buy uprated shoes? Thing is don't want to upgrade the front drums to disc as gotta buy new discs, then 4 new wheels to replace my mamba wheels, and it is a big expense for something that already works Plus i dont fancy taking away all the original parts that at the end of the day make this a classic car

[lrostoke]

Will it depend on what drum setup are up front though.

Mines got the twin leading edge setup so totally different shoes than those that go on the back. And yes my fronts are a wider shoe.

[MRA]

PM sent

[Spitz]

Ah ok brilliant, any idea where you would buy uprated shoes? Thing is don't want to upgrade the front drums to disc as gotta buy new discs, then 4 new wheels to replace my mamba wheels, and it is a big expense for something that already works Plus i dont fancy taking away all the original parts that at the end of the day make this a classic car

I'm not quite sure why you think you would need to change wheels going to disc. Your Mambas will fit fine on 7.5" discs ( nut not 8.4" discs )
Having said that.....I still think a properly set-up set of drums has as much stopping power as a disc set-up. .....just not in quick succesion..lol

[Cooperman]

Contact Questmead on 01706 860088. They do all types of competition friction materials and are very helpful. Their main line is former Mintex lining materials and for a Mini we used to use AM4 material for the front and AM3 for the rear. That was back when we were rallying drum-braked 850's. Racing Minis used the same materials.

Edited by Cooperman, 25 March 2010 - 03:27 PM.