16 replies to this topic

[Cooper Mac]

Hi All, Happy New Year!

 

Ever since I started rebuilding my mainstream Cooper, I've been wanting to replace the 13" wheels with 12x5 wheels...... In the last week, I've started wondering if I should be fitting 10" wheels instead?

 

So, the question is.... to allow a bit of flexibility, could I fit 7.5" Brakes and still use 12" wheels? Is there any reason why I shouldn't do this?

 

The car will retain it's servo, and have mini special arches refitted, so would there be a noticeable difference between the 8.4" and 7.5" in terms of stopping power?

 

Can anyone recommend a 7.5" setup and pads that would give good performance?

 

Cheers! 

 

 

[nicklouse]

Sure no problems.

[I hate Brian]

Thumbs up from me and if you want to enhance further try the carbon pads.

[Quinlan minor]

Can anyone recommend a 7.5" setup and pads that would give good performance?

 

I used the Mini Spares MSSK013 8.4" to 7.5" kit in mine and I'm happy with them.

[Hpal]

Do it! 10" wheels are the go, they look great.

[humph]

 

Can anyone recommend a 7.5" setup and pads that would give good performance?

 

I used the Mini Spares MSSK013 8.4" to 7.5" kit in mine and I'm happy with them.

 

 

Same here, have never noticed any difference in my breaking performance. Worth noting though that the car I converted is a pretty standard spi, just a stage 1 kit & lcb, not a highly tuned 1380 or anything.

 

Only issue I had whilst doing the conversion to 10s is that you have to be very careful where any stick on wheel balancing weights are placed as they catch the calipers if in the wrong place.

Edited by humph, 05 January 2022 - 09:00 AM.

[GraemeC]

Many, many people run 7.5" brakes on high power Minis - they are more than up to the job.

If you were feeling flush you could go to 7.9" with aluminium callipers.

 

Good discs and pads are recommended - the MiniSpares carbon metallic ones are excellent but not cheap (in comparison to some of the others).

Personally I would avoid green(/black/yellow/pink/polka-dot)stuff pads like the plague.

[Cooper Mac]

Hi all!

 

Thanks for your replies, all very interesting! So, I think I'll fit 7.5" discs, then that gives me the choice later of fitting 12" or 10" wheels.

 

Good point Humph, about the balance weights, I had read that before somewhere, but forgotten about it!

 

GraemeC, those carbon metallic pads are expensive, but I will keep clear of the xxxstuff pads as I've never seen any good reports about them and I removed some Greenstuff ones from a Golf GTi I bought as they were worse than the OEM ones!

 

Has anyone got experience of Mintex M1144 Pads with 7.5" Discs? I've got these pads in another car, and find they work nicely!

 

Cheers!

[GraemeC]

The Mintex 1144 work well on something up to a light level of tune and not driven too hard.

[cal844]

Mintex 1144 are a good pad for your application

Edited by cal844, 05 January 2022 - 02:16 PM.

[Cooperman]

+1 on the Carbon-Metallic pads - fantastic braking performance at all pad temperatures, you get what you pay for.

M1144 are good for slightly increased performance, but for really aggressive use they do fade. Mintex 1166 work well.

If you are really going to get the brakes seriously hot and are using C-M pads, you are advised to use a competition brake fluid as DOT4 has been known to boil (been there, done that)!

Everyone is right about XXXXStuff. Not much good and well over-hyped.

[beardylondon]

I'm curious, as I need some new pads soon, so looked up the M1144 pads, and MS says they are not for road use, is this right?

 

http://www.minispare.../C-8G8995.aspx?

[GraemeC]

A fairly standard disclaimer when selling stuff that isn't to OEM spec.

[Midas Mk1]

Im yet to fade m1144, and their great in snow too, doubt carbon metallics are good from cold.

It’s worth noting for uk driving you need bite not when cool, ie emergency braking on a motorway.

Edited by Midas Mk1, 06 January 2022 - 04:05 PM.

[Cooperman]

C-M have good bite from cold.
I have used lots of different pad materials from DS11 (NLA), Ferodo 3000, 'RedStuff', M1144, M1166 & 1177.
Carbon-Metallic are by far the best and well worth the price.