11 replies to this topic

[gazza82]

Looking for feedback/views on the Minifins from Minisport ...

[nicklouse]

Have heard of issues with some of their early ones. No idea on the current.

[Cooperman]

Minifins are good for the front brakes of drum-braked cars if you don't wish to go for discs as a replacement.

Unless you are racing and thus trying to reduce un-sprung weight they are really a waste of money. The rear brakes o so little work on a Mini that normal drums are never a problem and you won't notice any benefit.

That applies not only to Mini Sport ones, but to all of them.

Over the years there have been some quality issues with aluminium drums, but these days that's unlikely.

[beardylondon]

I bought some Superfins in 2005 from Mini Sport, and they didn't fit my back plate. In fact they sent 2 sets that were no good.

So I put the 70s non spacered ones I had back on, with separate spacers and sent them back. I never did get to the bottom of it, and Mini Sport were there usual unhelpful selves.

In approx 2018, when inspecting the 70s ones, they were oval and worn. So I bought some new steel ones from mini spares, with built in spacer and they fitted perfectly, no issues.

Edited by beardylondon, 05 April 2024 - 03:54 PM.

[stuart bowes]

I was debating them when I was buying parts, with the whole 'unsprung weight' thing in mind more than anything else

 

but what Cooperman wrote above pretty much sums up the conclusion I came to, or at least what I strongly suspected at least. having that confirmed makes me glad I didn't bother cheers 

Edited by stuart bowes, 05 April 2024 - 06:21 PM.

[Midas Mk1]

Running minispares chinese minifins on both of mine, all good.

[Bobbins]

I have a set of Minisport Minifins (Superfins?) and they’re fine. With regard to unsprung weight the difference over the spacered cast steel drums is massive.

I’ll probably be selling them because the fins go right to the edge of the wheel mating face which doesn’t work with the Rosepetal wheels I’m fitting, the Rosepetals have a rebate in the rear which isn’t big enough to accept the fins. As far as I’m aware all other wheels are fine.

Edited by Bobbins, 06 April 2024 - 06:51 AM.

[GraemeC]

You need to use the supplied small spacer with the rose petals

[Bobbins]

That’s the problem Graeme, I’d prefer not to use the spacer so I’ll need to revert to cast drums.

[GraemeC]

I’d try a cast drum in the wheel before you remove what you have - I have a suspicion you might have the same problem. I’ve come across the issue you have and from memory the car had cast drums.
What’s the issue with the spacer? It only adds a couple of mm to how far the wheel sticks out, hardly noticeable.

[Bobbins]

I’d try a cast drum in the wheel before you remove what you have - I have a suspicion you might have the same problem. I’ve come across the issue you have and from memory the car had cast drums.
What’s the issue with the spacer? It only adds a couple of mm to how far the wheel sticks out, hardly noticeable.

Graeme you’re spot on, this morning I’ve tried an old spacered drum inside a Rosepetal and it’s the same issue. Looks like I’ll be keeping the Minifins.

[Spider]

I've been running the Mini Spares versions on many of my cars and many of my friends have been too for some time now on the rears. While actually stopping ability remains unchanged, one thing we all noticed right away was a more solid and better feeling pedal. On the Mokes we go off roading in, the rear suspension also behaves much better which we all knew would occur, but we thought it wouldn't be noticeable. After my experience here, unless I was doing a period restoration, I can't ever see myself fitting cast iron drums ever again.