26 replies to this topic

[DylanAWRoberts]

I'm putting a Vauxhall 1.6 engine in my mini and I'm wondering what type of stopping power I will need because I know the old breaks won't cut it! And suggestions welcome. Please not I don't want to spend a complete fortune so any good of brand items I'll give a try! Thanks

[DylanAWRoberts]

Can disk breaks be fitted front and rear?

[charie t]

Decent front brakes and possibly even tone down the rears if anything

[The Matt]

What size wheels are you going to run?

[DylanAWRoberts]

What size wheels are you going to run?

I think I'll be putting 11" ones on any ideas on the breaks then :)

[charie t]

I think I'll be putting 11" ones on any ideas on the breaks then :)

Try some 6.5" discs, although i would try looking for your 11" wheels first

[DylanAWRoberts]

I think I'll be putting 11" ones on any ideas on the breaks then :)

Try some 6.5" discs, although i would try looking for your 11" wheels first

What would you say the best wheel size is? Since I haven't bought them yet I'm open to change! :)

[Alex_B]

I don't think 11" wheels exist for a mini, but you can get 4-pot brakes in both 7.9" and 8.4" sizes, the 7.9s allow some 10" wheels over them depending on offset and the 8.4s can only fit 12" and bigger over them,

[DylanAWRoberts]

I don't think 11" wheels exist for a mini, but you can get 4-pot brakes in both 7.9" and 8.4" sizes, the 7.9s allow some 10" wheels over them depending on offset and the 8.4s can only fit 12" and bigger over them,

im going to go with 12" wheels thats what i want, if its more expensive for breaks for a 12" wheel then im going to get the smaller wheels!

[Skortchio]

From a purely mathematical standpoint, you don't need better brakes because you have changed the engine.

The Vauxhall block isn't substantially heavier than the A series, if at all and stopping is purely a matter of mass and speed / available grip.
How much power you have makes no bearing on this.

However, if you forsee that as a result of your upgrade you'll be braking hard from speed much more often (ie. on a track) then you may well find you need to alter your braking to something that cools more efficiently.

If you're not driving on the track or exceeding the speed limits, then you don't need better braking. But they do look good

[charie t]

Dylan, please don't take this the wrong way, but you have asked a couple of simple questions that could be answered by reading through some of the buiild threads
Alot of they common questions have been answered solved in them.
Most people that take these projects on,have spent a lot of time reading,and planning with the help of these builds

[DylanAWRoberts]

Dylan, please don't take this the wrong way, but you have asked a couple of simple questions that could be answered by reading through some of the buiild threads
Alot of they common questions have been answered solved in them.
Most people that take these projects on,have spent a lot of time reading,and planning with the help of these builds

I know what you're saying and I have read posts I just find it more beneficial for people to reply to my specific questions I'm happy to look at other posts it's just if I can ask a question and get a few replies then it's great for me! :) I've noticed you've posted on a few of my topics so thanks for your information!

[DylanAWRoberts]

From a purely mathematical standpoint, you don't need better brakes because you have changed the engine.

The Vauxhall block isn't substantially heavier than the A series, if at all and stopping is purely a matter of mass and speed / available grip.
How much power you have makes no bearing on this.

However, if you forsee that as a result of your upgrade you'll be braking hard from speed much more often (ie. on a track) then you may well find you need to alter your braking to something that cools more efficiently.

If you're not driving on the track or exceeding the speed limits, then you don't need better braking. But they do look good :P

Well I won't be on a track I just want to make sure my breaks can handle high speeds so that if I did go fast I'd have the stopping power!

[Skortchio]

Where the mini brakes fall short is in their cooling capabilities, not stopping power. They're easily able to lock the wheels, whether that happens is as much to do with your tyres and suspension, not to mention road surface and driver input.

Realistically how fast do you expect you'll be going on regular occasion and need to brake heavily?
Better observation would seem to benefit more than better brakes in that situation :)

[The Matt]

Metro vented 4 pots will be alreet for 12" wheels