16 replies to this topic

[oldzimmer]

Hi Guys i am new member so please bear with me if i am going over old ground .

As the new owner of a 1982 mini HL , currently on drum brakes . 

just asking will it be better to swap the front drums to discs , as i feel that the brakes are not as good as they should be , or it might be my imagination. 

Any suggestions or best upgrades to but , 

thanks

[Spider]

Drum Brakes can be quite good and have a lighter touch on the pedal, however they need a lot of regular maintenance to keep them in good working order. Most people can't be bothered with them and go to discs, which will go for quite long periods between maintenance and I feel are way easier to do that.

[mab01uk]

If you want to keep 10" wheels this is the Minispares budget kit in link below to convert from drum brakes to discs brakes. This kit includes every nut bolt and component necessary:-

https://www.minispar...as-per-cooper-s

 

 

 

 

[Steam]

Drum brakes are fine and will work well but as Spider says need to be kept in tip top condition. If you are comparing them to modern cars then discs will always feel better. Disc pads are easier to replace than drums if you do your own maintenance and are self adjusting whereas drums need manual adjustment.

[weef]

You have to remember you are in a vehicle that is over 40yrs old and as such the braking performance will never equal todays modern vehicles.

A disc brake conversion will undoutably improve performance but a well maintaned drum brake set up will be adequate if the vehicle is in standard trim. A conversion kit can cost up to £550, and dependant on the use you will put the vehicle to will no doubt influence your choice.

Before you comdem the drum brake set up ensure it is working as design, paying particular attention the drum diameter is within design sizes and surface condition is not "ribbed" and uneven, brake cylinder operation, brake shoe condition and check the adjusters are free to operate.

If you fit any new components wait till the brake shoes are fully bedded in and adjust them up accordingly.

When everything is in working order it is really no great problem to adjust up the shoes, and it's not like you have to adjust them every week, you could take the vehicle to a local MOT testing station and ask them to do a brake performance check for your reassurance. This will give you an idea of the braking efficency and maybe some piece of mind that things are as designed.

[Ethel]

If anything you might find you have too much braking if you lean hard on drums. They make use of the rotation to pull the shoes on to the drums. Discs feel more linear and stay balanced better. For "sensible" driving in good weather drums are at least as good. The Cooper S discs Mab linked to were fitted with a servo, so they can feel  hard without one, particularly with "racier" pads - they do still work though.

 

Swapping to discs from drums replaces most of the front hub assembly, so it makes more sense when those parts need replacing anyway.

 

It could make sense to give the brakes a bit of a service anyway, if they're an unknown quantity. It's pretty straight forward & doesn't need much in the way of tools. There's bound to be some Youtube vids & you can take some snaps with your phone to remind you how it was before you started, or to ask the forum for an opinion or ten.

 

Check out the TMF+ discounts if you are tempted to splash the cash on new anchors.

[timmy850]

I had twin cylinder drums on the front of my mini and it stopped really well when they were properly adjusted. The pedal was reasonably light and it was fine around town and I never had brake fade (I had a standard 998 engine). Adjusting them takes 5-20 minutes and I might have done that twice a year

I’ve now got unboosted 7.5” discs and I feel the brake pressure is a lot firmer to get the same braking performance as the drums around town. It’s something I’m used to but would be a bit strange for someone coming straight from a modern car

I’ve also driven minis with 7.5” discs and a booster and they are much the same as a modern car and have a nice feel to them.

[68+86auto]

Nothing wrong with drums. Most people just compare worn out poorly maintained drums to discs. The only reason I'd bother switching to discs is to reduce maintenance but that's pointless with how much most people drive their minis.

[coopertaz]

drums are fine but do fade easier if pushed and as stated need regular maintenance but so do the rears so no problem to do at the same time just keep the adjusters lubricated. also you will at least need standard plastic arches and spaced rear drums too. these were standard on my 82 hle not sure if same on hl or not. would also need a servo, can be fitted without, as i have with cooper s 7.5 but will have a hard pedal and need more pedal effort than the drums but having said that will stop better.

[Steam]

to be honest a servo makes little or no difference, Minis are light enough to brake well without one. The choice of pads will effect pedal feel.

[ADRay]

converting my brakes from drum to disc was probably the best thing I’ve done to my Mini for safety and drivability.

[Cooperman]

Don't forget that you will need new wheels because of the different wheel datum position. The original 10" wheels as fitted to the drum-braked 998 will stick out too far on 7.5" discs.

You can still get the 7" disc brakes for the 998 Cooper and you'll need the LD19 callipers, but I think the original drum-brake hubs would be OK (a long time since I worked on 7" Cooper brakes). The original 10" wheels would then be OK.

[coopertaz]

to be honest a servo makes little or no difference, Minis are light enough to brake well without one. The choice of pads will effect pedal feel.

try cooper s 7.5 with then without a servo if converting from drums and using same master cylinder. fitting a remote servo, even only to front due to split system makes a massive difference. I know master cylinder is matched for drum cylinders volume not disc caliper but this is a get around

[Ethel]

The Cooper S had a servo, so the pad compound was designed to work with one. When the GT got 8.4" discs it lost the servo, but gained about  half an inch more leverage. They'd have had to consider a servo failure shouldn't be catastrophic though. 

[Steam]

to be honest a servo makes little or no difference, Minis are light enough to brake well without one. The choice of pads will effect pedal feel.

try cooper s 7.5 with then without a servo if converting from drums and using same master cylinder. fitting a remote servo, even only to front due to split system makes a massive difference. I know master cylinder is matched for drum cylinders volume not disc caliper but this is a get around

Which particular trait of a Cooper S makes them require a servo as opposed to any other Mini?
When I fitted discs to my HC 1275 engined Clubman I initially fitted a servo, when I removed the servo there was little or no difference in the braking performance.