Disc brakes and telescopic fronts

[youngun]

Im still gaining information regarding typical minor mods, and i hope to fit a disc brake kit to my mog. Ive seen many ford based kits crop up, which are the best? Also, do any parts of the car have to be modified in any way to fit the kits, as i dont really want to make any modifications that cant be rectified to return to standard.

As for suspension, ive heard a lot about telescopic front shocks, are these any good and should they be used in conmjunction with anything else?

thanks,
youngun

[jonathon]

Ford disc kits require no modifification of the standard parts except for the m/c, and plumbing should you fit a servo.
Front suspension falls into two catagories bolt on or weld on. The bolt on would not require mods except for cutting a slot next to the damper aperture on the inner wing, The weld on kit requires the top mounting plate to be welded into place. Both are invasive to the same degree I suppose. I'd always suggest that you fit uprated suspension as a system i.e front and back together, to take full advantage of them.
Cannot recommend systems really, but I know which is the better!!

[youngun]

I think i would most likely go for a bolt on kit, can you get them for the rear as well then? Do they cause any body distortion?

[jonathon]

There has been a thread on this topic recently which highlighted the problems with some bolt on kits, hopefully someone can point to it.

[Welung666]

http://www.morrisminoroc.co.uk/index.ph ... ic&t=15129

[jonathon]

There you go !!

[youngun]

Thanks,

Hmm, seems that fitting rear tele's can cause some problems. Does the front tele kit pose the same problem, and is it ok to do just the front and leave the rear?

Also, upon seeing the price of the disk brakes kits. I was wondering if a conversion could be fabricated by myself, as i have an old Ford sierra lying around!

[jonathon]

Correct on rear telescopic kit, the front bolt on ones can move on the bottom arms and the top mount is fitted to the original lever arm damper ,which was not designed to do this job. Some swear by these kits, but quite a few are now swearing at them. Cheap and cheerfull is how the designer described them to me. So pay's yer money........................
Several attempts have been made at DIY disc kits some successful, all I'd say is do your research before parting with your money.
You can just uprate the front suspension ,but remember it will effect the rear, go for 'systems' if funds allow.

[bmcecosse]

I have to point out (again)- that the poverty way to upgrade brakes is to fit larger drums from Wolseley 1500 or Riley 1.5 cars. The W brakes bolt straight on - no fiddling with the master cylinder and no need to worry about a servo. The R brakes are slightly more difficult to fit - and the pedal is very heavy - but excellent brakes !! It's also entirely possible to fit front tele dampers for hardly any cost - and the easy way to upgrade the damping is to flush and re-fill the dampers with heavier oil! 20/50 does a fair job.

[ricombi]

I've just fitted the SPAX telescopic kits onto both the front and the rear of my racing Minor shell. I had no problems with fitting the kits, except the backing plate for the front upper mounts needed a bit of modifying to get them to mount in the correct place. The rears went on with absolutely no problems.

I haven't tried them out on the road yet, but having consulted someone who has raced a Minor succesfully, and they think they are a good kit and work very well. I shall find out soon I hope.

[bmcecosse]

I'm sure they will be excellent. Where will you be racing ??

[wanderinstar]

Hi Youngun,
There was a thread on fitting VW Polo discs and calipers that you may find interesting to read.
http://www.morrisminoroc.co.uk/index.ph ... polo+discs

[Welung666]

There was a thread on fitting VW Polo discs and calipers that you may find interesting to read.

Although standard wheels will NOT fit over this conversion so bear that in mind before you start ;)

[ricombi]

I'm going to be racing in the Classic Touring Car Racing Club races when the car is finished, hopefully making my debut on the 21st July at Silverstone.

I'm putting MG Midget discs, hubs and calipers on the car. I have to because of some regulations, but I think this is an overlooked conversion. The biggest difficulty is getting the caliper mounting brackets, although I believe these are still available from the States from minimania.com. If not, there's another thread which I was discussing brakes with many people and was given the drawings for the mounting brackets, so if you can find a machinist, then they maybe able to make them for you.

[bmcecosse]

Well done with the racing - hope to see pictures in due course. I guess you can use the Midget discs because they are 'period' and would be used back in the good old days.

[youngun]

lots of conflicting opinions once again. Not sure which is the best route, the telescopics do seem to cause problems.......

[bmcecosse]

Front teledampers work VERY well for me - cost me nothing ! My car is Traveller with virtually no strength in the back - so to date I struggle on with lever dampers filled with 20/50 oil. It's ok - but not as good as the front which has both 20/50 levers AND big fat teles !!

[jonathon]

Youngun, its only some telescopic kits which cause problems. As I said before research the market as there are more than just one kit/supplier.
BM rear tele kits are available which strengthen the car/traveller to take the loadings, no need to struggle on

[bmcecosse]

I know Jonathon - but you know me by now - miserable Scotsman who wants to do it all for no cost. I will soon have plenty of time on my hands to design and fabricate a version of The Forth Bridge to span the back end of my Traveller.

[wanderinstar]

Lee, where does it say that 14" wheels will not fit over the Polo discs. I have reread the thread through again and can find no mention of it.