21 replies to this topic

[1984mini25]

i have 8.4 disks on the front they do a pretty good job.

but my back brakes are not the best they are fitted correclty and adjusted right, passed the mot etc but they just not good enough.

Even with my standard rear drums and cereal packet lined shoes (Halfords) I can easily lock the rears up when correctly adjusted if I really try when braking (8.4” disks up front)

Are you sure, with the hand brake off your adjusting the drum so it locks up and then backing off the adjuster the smallest amount passable, so you can just about turn the drum with some resistance?

[samsfern]

i had standard brakes on my old 89 mini, mintex shoes and pads, and was running at just over 80 bhp, never had a problem with stopping.

although on my new mini, i do have mintex shoes, alloy minifin drum things, and grooved 8.4" discs upfront with yellow stuff pads....

what makes you think you need more rear braking?

Edited by samsernie, 17 June 2010 - 08:28 PM.

[MRA]

I ran a 1380 turbo with standard rears

84 on had wider drums, however I meant the friction surface as the front shoes are 1.5" wide the rears are 1.25" wide...... that aside,

With standard 8.4" setup your rears will be more than up for the job....... how sure are you that they are in good condition ??

[booton]

the shoes are new, the drum in very good condtion,

i think it might just be me used to much better modern braking systems all my other cars i had are disks all round.

when driving the mini its stops pretty good but u can feel that the front is doing all the work. not that good for handling.

[miniobsessed]

I don't quite get where you think the front brakes doing most of the work is bad for your handling...

If you put much more braking on the rear of a mini you certainly will have a handling issue as it will likely go sideways on you when you lock the rear end up. There really is little weight over the rear wheels that needs to be stopped. This effective weight reduces dramatically when you apply the brakes as it is 'transferred' to the front.

If you want to make your mini stop better the first course of action should be to improve the front brakes or make the whole car lighter.

[wolfie]

the shoes are new, the drum in very good condtion,

i think it might just be me used to much better modern braking systems all my other cars i had are disks all round.

when driving the mini its stops pretty good but u can feel that the front is doing all the work. not that good for handling.

sorry thats rubbish

your brakes are either faulty or badly set up, mine brakes better than my audi a4 and has a completely standard rear brake setup and 7.5's on the front with no servo

Drilling the drums i think as a bad idea your not driving a race car! you will let more rubbish and water into the drums if you want better than what sensibly been suggested then get someone who knows what there doing to look at them for you or get open wallet surgery at KAD

[Cooperman]

The old BMC Competitions Department have been known to drill a series of holes in the rear brake backplates to let cooling air in. However, that let in water and DGS (dirt, grit and s***) which didn't really help. Then it was realised that the rears did so little work that on some racers they blanked off the rear brakes completely which reduced pedal travel on long races.
If you drill the drum through the braking surface you'll get wet linings during normal driving when the brakes are not being used much, then the brakes will be 'decidedly odd' when next you do need them.
All you need are good quality linings and really good front brake pads, with good quality discs and drums and you'll not have any braking problems.