4 replies to this topic

[JonnyAlpha]

In the hunt to find some 7.5 brake Calipers to go along with my 998 to 1310 engine upgrade 8 have realised that sourcing value for money 2nd hand 7.5s is pretty difficult.
What I am struggling with is how to tell the difference (in case I find a bargain).
So how can you tell the difference between 7.5s and 8.4s..

[Ethel]

Not easy to think of anything that'd be very obvious in an Ebay photo etc.

 

Perhaps the edge the pad pin holes are in because 7.5's have lugs & holes on the pads it's deeper and straight compared to 8.4's...

 

Of course, it's a doddle if there are pads fitted 

 

A rebuild will knock a big hole in any saving you make, so insist on photos with bleed screws removed and a clear view of the seals & pistons.

[mini-mad-mark]

When I first used S discs new calipers weren't easily available so rebuilding used was a more viable proposition and a rebuild cost much the same as it does today with inflation) however.....

 

+1 for Ethel's comment - Now that MiniSpares calipers are available at such a good price it's probably touch and go to find a decent SH set and then rebuild them for much less than the £144 for a new pair 

 

If you were lucky the pistons might be good but probably not, so pistons, bleed screws  and seals (incl centre seals as you would want to split them to do the job properly) would be 50 quid or thereabouts so you'd need to buy them for less than 100 quid (unlikely as Ebay has knocked the bottom out of reasonably priced second hand spares) and then you'd want to clean/paint them so also need to do some work IF the bores were in fact OK

 

I got my first complete 7.5" set up (incl hubs) for 40 quid at a scrap yard 20 years ago (and a full roll cage from the same car for £30!) and I bought a car for 300 quid 10 years ago that had S discs - fortunately both sets were good for refurb and I'm still using both (and the roll cage)

[JonnyAlpha]

Not easy to think of anything that'd be very obvious in an Ebay photo etc.

 

Perhaps the edge the pad pin holes are in because 7.5's have lugs & holes on the pads it's deeper and straight compared to 8.4's...

 

Of course, it's a doddle if there are pads fitted 

 

A rebuild will knock a big hole in any saving you make, so insist on photos with bleed screws removed and a clear view of the seals & pistons.

 

And even then photos are not as good as actually looking at them yourself Many things can be hidden by a camera!!

 

When I first used S discs new calipers weren't easily available so rebuilding used was a more viable proposition and a rebuild cost much the same as it does today with inflation) however.....

 

+1 for Ethel's comment - Now that MiniSpares calipers are available at such a good price it's probably touch and go to find a decent SH set and then rebuild them for much less than the £144 for a new pair 

 

If you were lucky the pistons might be good but probably not, so pistons, bleed screws  and seals (incl centre seals as you would want to split them to do the job properly) would be 50 quid or thereabouts so you'd need to buy them for less than 100 quid (unlikely as Ebay has knocked the bottom out of reasonably priced second hand spares) and then you'd want to clean/paint them so also need to do some work IF the bores were in fact OK

 

I got my first complete 7.5" set up (incl hubs) for 40 quid at a scrap yard 20 years ago (and a full roll cage from the same car for £30!) and I bought a car for 300 quid 10 years ago that had S discs - fortunately both sets were good for refurb and I'm still using both (and the roll cage)

 

Yes I have been looking for a while, nearly picked up a set at a reasonably (viable price) but then the guy saw how mush others were charging and then wanted around £200 (just calipers). 

Is that £50 for a set to refurb (parts only)?

 

A set of non genuine calipers are around £86 - £140 (depending who you buy them off) and a pair of genuine AP calipers are about £320.

 

So let's say £70 to refurb (nearly as much as buying a brand new set of non genuine), but for the benefit of having genuine Cooper S caliper's as you say, you'd need to be picking up a pair for less than £100 to make it viable.

 

I spotted a set on Facebook recently, it was a complete setup (Discs, Calipers, Hubs and Drive Shafts), the guy was not willing to split and wanted £250. The whole lot needed a refurb and I have the Hubs and Shafts and the Discs would be scrap anyway. The only parts I could sell on would be the Hubs and cleaned up I'd be lucky to get £80 - £100. Again making the £150 just too much.

 

Everytime I look at it I keep coming back to buying new - Mini Sport 12 - 10 conversion £170

 

8.4's are 2 a penny but I don't want 12 inch + wheels!!!

 

Even considered a Fiesta conversion (don't shout at me!!).  

[steeley]

I bought the mini sport set and fitted them yesterday,
about 20 mins a side, they look and feel good quality but haven’t driven the car yet