4 replies to this topic

[idaz]

I have a 1980 mini currently with front drum brakes and 10" rim with old tires. I want to switch over to 12" rims (mini lights) and want to know if there is any issue with switching to  12" on front drums

 

thank you

[Quinlan minor]

Yes, the suspension and handling will suffer from fitting the 12” wheels. Better to spend your money fitting discs on the front.

[mab01uk]

I think you will need to fit disc brakes at the front as they give you the wider track width to match the 12" Minilite alloy wheels....but you will also need to fit the spacer type rear drums plus longer wheel studs at the rear, as fitted to the Cooper S/1275GT and all later Minis with 12" wheels to maintain the correct clearances from suspension, shock absorbers/dampers and inner wheel arches.

If you really want to retain your drum brakes at the front I suppose you could also fit the spacer type drums/longer studs at the front to increase the track or better still fit Minifin alloy drums.

Back in the day it was common to fit alloy spacers/longer studs front and rear to drum braked Minis when fitting wider alloy wheels, as disc brakes were expensive new or secondhand and only factory fitted to the Cooper & Cooper S/1275GT.

Edited by mab01uk, Yesterday, 10:29 PM.

[idaz]

I think you will need to fit disc brakes at the front as they give you the wider track width to match the 12" Minilite alloy wheels....but you will also need to fit the spacer type rear drums plus longer wheel studs at the rear, as fitted to the Cooper S/1275GT and all later Minis with 12" wheels to maintain the correct clearances from suspension, shock absorbers/dampers and inner wheel arches.

If you really want to retain your drum brakes at the front I suppose you could also fit the spacer type drums/longer studs at the front to increase the track or better still fit Minifin alloy drums.

Back in the day it was common to fit alloy spacers/longer studs front and rear to drum braked Minis when fitting wider alloy wheels, as disc brakes were expensive new or secondhand and only factory fitted to the Cooper & Cooper S/1275GT.

Got it, looks like I will just stick with 10" for right now. 

[Spider]

I have a 1980 mini currently with front drum brakes and 10" rim with old tires. I want to switch over to 12" rims (mini lights) and want to know if there is any issue with switching to  12" on front drums

 

thank you

 

You can put them right on.

If, as mab01uk suggests in regards to the track, you'd like to do that, you can fit standard spacered drums, as on the rear on the disc braked cars, on the front and rear. We had many models made here in Aust that came that way from the factory. You do also need to change the wheel studs too.