15 replies to this topic

[ginger_monkey]

Hello people. Had a search round but can't find this. Just in the process of putting some 3/4" spacers onto the mini and have come across a problem. I have fitted the front ones fine but when I came to do the rears I found the studs are already the extended length. I think this is because there are minifin drum things on the back.
Has anyone come across this before. Do I need to get longer studs again to be able to fit the spacer at the rear??? If so boooooo to the people on the stall for not telling me :'(

[Retro_10s]

Am i right in saying the following..... you want to fit spacers on top of the minifins?

Firstly, I really wouldn't recommend it, as you'll be replacing wheel bearings every six months lol.

however,.... yes you will need extended studs.. and they'll need to be xx long to get through the spacer built into the minifins and the one you're plonking on.

[ginger_monkey]

Well that sucks I have been changing my mind for about 5 months now weather to fit them or not. Now I get the fronts done and it's all going to pot.
So normal drum setup on the back would mean the wheels would be further in still and doing this they'd still look lost under the arches??? I'm heading up that creak again without a paddle

[Retro_10s]

As i understand 'Minifins' have a spacer in, so they are similar to the spacered drums used on rear brakes on minis from 1984 onwards, the only difference between them being the addition of cooling fins.

You should be able to get some studs long enough to go through the fins and the spacers, but you'll be increasing the trck by about 2" i think... or 1.75".. (Can anyone confirm the spacer depth?... I thought it was 3/4 on the fins and on std spacered drums.) which brings up the whole 'premature wheel bearing wear' argument. But I think the stud lengths ARE available.

Undoubtably the extra track WILL increase Pressures on the bearings,.. but I wouldn't be able to say by how much in terms of time bewteen replacments. I'd wager you'll notice quite an increase in wear though.

**edit** the only other thing i can think of is if your minifins don't have the spacer built in... in which case they would be the same depth as standard drums, so adding a 3/4" spacer would be fine, as It would just replicate the increased track of a spacered drum.

Edited by Retro_10s, 12 October 2006 - 05:58 PM.

[ginger_monkey]

I think they do have the spacers in them already. I might have a go at doing the extra long studs and see what happens in regards to wear time on the bearing. As long as it's not gonna be dangerous that is

[Retro_10s]

I wouldn't like to say if it's dangerous or not. If you do it you will have to keep an eye on bearings etc for funny sounds..... personally I wouldn't do it.. what wheels are you running on mate?

would it be easier just to change your arches

[ginger_monkey]

Well that's the thing. I just put some sportspack ones on as I was on my way to getting bigger wheels but as usuall the money had to go elsewhere. I'm running 12" minilitles. Not too sure if there 5 or 6.

[Retro_10s]

bigger wheels will also increase the load on bearings to due the weight of them.

If i'd were you I'd get some Nice 12's (there are some out there honest lol) and some smaller arches.

[stickycreambun]

erm retro 10s you seem to be the fountain today, so would a possible solution be to find and fit un-spaced drums? or is it the spaced drums that are the standard track, i.e do you need the spaced drums to have same track width as front?

I ask as I am planning on pretty much the same thing, as soon as the build gets that far.

thanks mate

[Retro_10s]

erm retro 10s you seem to be the fountain today,

I'll take that as a compliment?!


Ok... if your mini was built on or after 1984 It will have spacered drums. So for a std 1984> mini... yes it is standard track

However, you can put Spacered drums on a mini that was pre '84... you just have to replace the wheel studs for longer ones so they can reach through the spacer.

So, a car fitted with MiniFins or Superfins,.. you have the track of a 1984> mini.

I think the safest choice if you're dead set on having wheels that stick out loads is to have spacered drums (or pre'84 drums with a spacer... or minifins or superfins) and Wheels with a large offest... you could also look into getting some wide wheels... like 8" wide etc... couple that with big offsets and spacers etc... you're gonna be a lane hogger.

To be honest Minifins are only useful for Long drawn out heavy breaking and lots of hard short breaking where the pshoes and drums are going to get real hot.... which is only really in race conditions.


gingey monk.... I would just find some wheels with a whapping big offset and stick with you minifins as they are spacered already.

**edit** something i didn't consider!.... bungle has just mentioned on another thread that you might be able to fit Metro radius arms to give wider track...... I've heard this too but can't remember where... might have been the mini resource or something..

Edited by Retro_10s, 12 October 2006 - 08:41 PM.

[ginger_monkey]

Ok thanks for all the help Retro_10s you are indeed a fountain. For now I'll probably put it back to normal on the front while I rack my brains as what to do. God bless the mini, nothing is ever straight forward

[Retro_10s]

I am running normal front drums, with spacer drums on the back on 6x10 superslots. looks good to me, i think the back is ever so slightly widert than the front, but it's marginal... and i like it lol.

[ginger_monkey]

You got a piccy as I've never really been one for 10's??? But I know if you can get the right look they are great for handling

[Retro_10s]

Picture of 10's

The picture from the back shows the wheels sticking out on the left hand side. This is a normal spacer drum.

Attached Files

•  Back_end_DONE_angle.JPG   40.95K   0 downloads
•  Ns_back_reflection.JPG   33.13K   0 downloads
•  wheels_shot.JPG   53.05K   0 downloads

[ginger_monkey]

Ahh the good ol roller mini. Yeah they look nice like that. The guy at my local garage said to get rid of my sportspack's and get smaller arches with some nice deep wheels. Gonna look at some 12's again as they've been quite good to me up to now. just need to get the right arches to get the look. Think I'll ave a poke round the site later to see what's best.