21 replies to this topic

[supermotolee]

i've done a quick search and cant find what i need. i have converted my girlfriends brakes from drums to metro turbo 4 pots using the goodridge line kit appart from the discs being warped (will get new ones asap) the cars steering is very light, i know i'l have to get the tracking sorted as i can see the wheels sitting like this / \ will this come out with the tracking? a bit confused ??????????

i did notice the ball joints not sitting into the arms fully as the nylock nuts didnt seem to seat fully any ideas can i get new ball joints maybe mini ones are slightly narrower?

thanks lee

[Bristolmini]

Did you use the metro hubs?

If so I believe they give you negative camber (wheels like / \)

If you use the mini hubs then you don't get this problem

[Steamo]

If you used the metro hubs that will definately be the problem. They actually give you positive camber and mess up the castor as well.

Best solution is to get some mini disc hubs and just use the metro calipers, discs, and drive flanges.

You can sort the steering geometry out to some extent using adjustable bottom suspension arms and adjustable tie rods - but for what these cost to buy and get proffesionally set up I'd definately look out for some mini hubs.

Also all but the Mk1 metros did have different sized ball joints to the mini IIRC - and I think you can fit the Mk1 ball joints to the later hubs - not 100% on that though. If you stay with the metro hubs with adjustable suspension then this would also be esential as I suspect incorectly seated ball joints are faily dangerous.

Hope this helps good luck with it.

[Dan]

ERA Turbo caliper bolts are needed to fit Metro calipers to Mini hubs. You should definitely be using Mini hubs, as above the Metro ones screw everything up.

[supermotolee]

i found a really good article on minispares about it saying you can swap the steering arms over and use pre 84 ball joints if this doesnt work then we will have to get some mini hubs which is a shame as we have just replaced all the bearings ect in the metro ones...
thanks for all the help and we'l let you know how it goes...

thanks lee

[pikey7]

Did you read ALL of the article. It also said that the camber angles with standard arms are all wrong (and was even a bit wooly if it could be corrected with fully adjustable lower arms), and also said the bump steer is horrendous.

Listen to the people who have done it, and count you're blessings that you're only out a set of bearings. Trust me, it's loads simpler......

[supermotolee]

right ok i understand what that just wasnt sure how seroius it was all we were trying to do was upgrade some drum brakes to discs found this turbo setup and thought might as well get them for the extra braking performance...

so awnser is get some hubs from a disc brake mini and some era turbo caliper bolts
out of intrest whats the difference between the caliper bolts?

thanks lee

[Dan]

Metro hubs and calipers are metric, Mini are imperial. ERA Turbo caliper bolts have an imperial thread to thread into the Mini hubs but a metric shank to properly fit into the caliper and locate it.

[Don't Panic]

you'll probably be able to sell the metro hubs on ebay and get some money back, particularly with new bearings.

[supermotolee]

right thanks dan thats cool minispares sell these so i can get them easy enough and yeah i'm sure we can put the hubs on ebay as they are completly refurbished with new seals and bearings and painted black i suppose the moral of this story is to properly re search things before you start buying, i feel so gutted as its not even my car its my girlfriends

thanks all

[Turbo Nick]

correct me if i'm wrong but couldn't you just take the new bearings out of the metro hubs and drop them into the set of mini hubs you'll be getting, should save you a fair wedge if you've used the pricey timken ones.

[Purtsi]

Doh, I did kinda same mistake myself. Just bought a metro 4pot brakes to improve my old discs. I had an idea to replace everything with metro bits but now it seems that only thing I can do is put the calibers from metro to my current set up and ad vented discs. right?

by the way. do all 8,4" vented discs fit Mini hubs or is there any difference between mini and metro dics?

[Steamo]

Yep to do it properly you only need replace the calipers (and the accosiated brake hoses) the discs and the drive flanges (you will probably need to remove the wheel locating lugs) and also the ERA turbo caliper mounting bolt (well remembered Dan I'd forgotten - its been a while since I last did this)

[pikey7]

when you do the upgrades, you'll need the following:

* A pair of metro 4-pot calipers for vented discs
* 4 Mini ERA turbo caliper bolts
* A pair of metro drive flanges (you'll need to have the central wheel locating tabs machined flat to the mounting surface)
* A pair of standard fit Metro vented discs
* 8 hub bolts (from hub to disc) for a Metro. (I gotta be honest, I noticed the head size was different from a Minis, but I didn't measure the thread)
* A pair of "mini to metro" upgrade brake hoses
* A pair or new split pins for the hub nut (along with a huge torque wrench to tighten that nut! ) )
* A pair of hubs/uprights from a disc equipped Mini. (and maybe bearings/swivel joints depending on condition)

[minimole]

when you do the upgrades, you'll need the following:

* A pair of metro 4-pot calipers for vented discs
* 4 Mini ERA turbo caliper bolts
* A pair of metro drive flanges (you'll need to have the central wheel locating tabs machined flat to the mounting surface)
* A pair of standard fit Metro vented discs
* 8 hub bolts (from hub to disc) for a Metro. (I gotta be honest, I noticed the head size was different from a Minis, but I didn't measure the thread)
* A pair of "mini to metro" upgrade brake hoses
* A pair or new split pins for the hub nut (along with a huge torque wrench to tighten that nut! ) )
* A pair of hubs/uprights from a disc equipped Mini. (and maybe bearings/swivel joints depending on condition)

The thread on the metro flange bolts is bigger than the mini flange bolts