disc brakes again

Post by **steve4063** » Thu May 31, 2007 7:46 pm

sorry to bring this up again.

which car is the best way to go about doing a disc conversion.

i've read polo but u need to get it metal lathed to fit.
is there one that u can just bolt on or does it all have to be turned or trimmed down.

i read fiesta fits but still needs turning.
how does it all work?

do u need to replace the pipe from the rear or just add a bit on with an adapter and does the front tee to master get scrapped and a new one put on?

there seems to be a lot of threads about this but nothing really clarifies what to do and what to use

thanks

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu May 31, 2007 10:17 pm

There is PLENTY that tells you exactly what you need to do. It all boils down to how much you want to spend. Your mention of rear pipe and T etc are nothing to do with disc brakes - you are confusing with SERVO installation. Check back the various threads and read them carefully. The POLO discs only need a chamfer on the inner face of the centre hole - to match the chamfer on the hub - this can be done with a hand file. And someone has detailed how to make the caliper brackets using only a hacksaw and leccy drill. So - it can all be done if you do your research. But its' SO much easier to just chase down a set of Wolseley 1500 9" front drum brakes and bolt them straight on - 30 mins per side - no servo required - no fiddling with the seals in the master cylinder - and the braking results are excellent - more than sufficient for any sane use of the car!

Post by **jonathon** » Thu May 31, 2007 10:18 pm

If you want the easiest, and warrantied disc kits then purchase one of the kits available from most specialists. The merits of each kit has been discussed on other threads so the info is there. All kits will come with full instructions to help you on your way. The other kits mentioned on other threads require input from yourself so if you are not 100% sure of what and why you are making the change then I'd steer clear of these. That's not saying that I feel they are flawed, but brakes are not an area of your Minor, that you should be experimenting with if you not completely understanding of the engineering.

Post by **bigginger** » Thu May 31, 2007 10:21 pm

bmcecosse wrote:no servo required

Just like the discs, then
a

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 7:38 am

I agree - but most seem to want to fit a servo when fitting discs - I KNOW it's not necessary with the big Wolseley drums.

Post by **jonathon** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 7:49 am

Jeezzzzzzzzzzz, its a matter or personal choice ,not a hard and fast rule.
If you do opt for one then whats the problem in modding the pipework and m/c, after all you will be dismantling the drums and fitting discs, so whats the problem???????. Before you say it 'cost', well if this is an issue, then either don't fit discs, or go the drum route. Becoming just a bit tedious this rather inane argument.

Post by **dunketh** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:11 am

But its' SO much easier to just chase down a set of Wolseley 1500 9" front drum brakes and bolt them straight on - 30 mins per side - no servo required - no fiddling with the seals in the master cylinder - and the braking results are excellent - more than sufficient for any sane use of the car!

Easier said than done in my experience. I'd love a set but can I find any for pocket change? Nope. Sellers seem clued up on the fact they're worth real money to Minor owners.

Just like the discs, then

But drums 'feel' nice without servos, in my (limited) experience discs dont. In fact I think i'd rather have drums than non-servo'd discs.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 10:40 am

Really - mine were fitted on in an hour - both sides done. It's just 4 bolts and a brake pipe connection each side - and the pipe goes straight on the W backplate. Bleeding done by gravity while drinking coffee. I may just know of a set of W drums ....... And - haven't forgotten about your pics - but they are on a hard drive from my old computer and last night I couldn't get the drive to work properly. And at the moment my digi cam is in Canada !!

Post by **RussLCV** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 8:38 pm

Hello all

MG Midget is my chosen

Spent yesterday fitting mine after putting new wheel bearings in the MG hubs, these bolt straight onto the Minor stub axle. The claipers have been overhauled and bolt easily onto the 'special mounting brackets', all fits snug and the standard rims fits easily...............also added advantage easily returned to an original state should you wish to do so

From one side

And from the other

Post by **Matt** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 9:08 pm

That looks good Russ, did you make or buy the j braket?

Post by **bmcecosse** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 9:36 pm

Looks to be a very well engineered job Russell! Why does the bracket not form a complete U and pick up the forth bolt hole ?

Post by **RussLCV** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 9:55 pm

The brackets were made by a friend at least 5 years ago, he also obtained the Midget hub and calipers

These brackets used to be avilable but I have not seen them for many years and these that I have made were modelled on them. The adjustment on the calipers are washers on the mounting bolts. I guess you do not need the 4 holes bmcecosse.

Now if memory serves me the Metro calipers are the same but the pipework is different, but I guess they might still fit?

Oh by the way standard Minor wheel bearings fits as well

Post by **RussLCV** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 10:02 pm

Anothe image without the hubs so you can see more clearly

Simple but effective

Post by **IslipMinor** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 4:54 am

the Metro calipers are the same but the pipework is different, but I guess they might still fit?

The Metro calipers do not fit the Midget brackets - the hole centres are different, the mounting bolts are bigger and the calipers are mounted slightly further away from the centreline of the stub axle.

I have drawings of both the Midget and Metro brackets if anyone needs them. Both work on the standard Midget hub, same bearings as the Minor and steel wheel brake disc.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 8:27 am

Richard - could you either post them up here, or point to them in photobucket or similar ? Would be a great help! And - while these barckets are 'tres elegant' - is there any reason (apart from aesthetics) that they couldn't be more square and therefore more easily home made ?

Post by **IslipMinor** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 12:51 pm

First the Midget bracket:

And now the Metro one:

These came from a previous post 'Midget/Sprite Brake Discs' - there is a lot of discussion and information in this post, which can be found by searching the archives.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 1:09 pm

Thanks Richard - great drawings - but in the Metro one the upper hole position for mounting the caliper is not too well defined. There is no vertical height given from the horizontal datum. Is it to be found by trial fit of the caliper ?
And for others watching - if the Metro caliper fits here then so will the Fiesta MkI /II and maybe III caliper because they are used as alternatives on Mini for Metro caliper. There would probably need to some centering of the disc within the jaws of the caliper, but bolt hole wise it should fit - although in F case the holes would be clearance because the caliper is threaded to take the mounting bolts.

Post by **IslipMinor** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 1:47 pm

The top hole is defined by reference to the lower hole, the horizontal dimension and the hole centre dimension. The reference vertical dimension is 3/8" above the stub axle centreline.

Mine were made to the drawing as shown, and fit perfectly!!

Post by **bmcecosse** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 6:28 pm

Ahh - that's the size that's missing!

Post by **IslipMinor** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 9:05 pm

I don't want to be picky, but there is no 'missing' dimension. The dimension of 3/8" is a 'reference' dimension that you can use, but the actual construction dimensions are as on the drawing.

The principle is to locate one hole and then because the hole centres are important, the second hole from it. You should not position both holes independently by simple dimensions, or a build-up in tolerances could result in the holes being too close together, or too far apart, for the caliper mounting bolts to fit properly.