disc brakes again

Post by **bmcecosse** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 9:42 pm

Yes - indeed it can be placed using the bolt pitch of the caliper dimension - drawing an arc etc - but on the Spridget drawing the hole position is defined clearly as being on the centre line of the J radius. I wasn't criticising!! Just asking if that size was known as would be easier to mark out.

Post by **RussLCV** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 9:45 pm

Anyone able to make these? If so I would like another pair for my van!

Post by **grant69** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 2:58 am

RussLCV wrote:Anyone able to make these? If so I would like another pair for my van!

Russ take the drawing along to an engineering shop they'd be able to knock them out very cheaply, especially if they have one of those new water cutters or laser cutters

Post by **paulhumphries** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 9:03 am

grant69 wrote:
RussLCV wrote:Anyone able to make these? If so I would like another pair for my van!
Russ take the drawing along to an engineering shop they'd be able to knock them out very cheaply, especially if they have one of those new water cutters or laser cutters

A friend is building a 4" scale model traction engine (still huge and heavy)
He was planning on cutting the spokes, for the wheels, by hand until someone at the local model engineering club offered to get them done.
Turned out he owner such a laser cutting frim and did small jobs for the club members.
The spokes he cut for my friend were amazing quality and very cheap.
I'll ask if the chap is still willing to do small jobs and let the list know idc but maybe it might be worth those interested in the various conversions having the caliper brackets made ? I certainly would prefer ones for my conversion cut on laser then spending ages cutting them out myself !
I'd be happy to fund (as long as not too dear) with people then buying off me at cost rather than payment in advance. Obviously posting not a problems as long as I was reimbursed.

Paul Humphries.

Post by **aussiemike** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 9:14 am

nice offer Paul. So are the discs still available ot buy new for a midget?? i really like the look of this conversion though the attractive thing about the vw polo one is the 'newness' of the parts and also the relative ease for upgrading to a vented disc and larger calipers if and when needed.
cheers,lov these threads. michael.

Post by **dunketh** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:10 am

Speak to 'packedup' regarding MG hubs and discs. I'm fairly sure he's got some somewhere.

Post by **Packedup** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:13 pm

The discs are still available, for around 10 - 15 quid each (there are grooved, drilled and other exotic ones available but they do cost a fair bit more) and there's not a shortage of good s/h ones either. Hubs - Seems there's no shortage of s/h ones, I've not looked for new. Caliper pistons and seals are plentiful (same as a Mini I'm sure, though apparently the calipers themselves have different mounting holes, for some arcane BMC reason). Pads - Mintex, EBC, cheapo butter (disolve rapidly) and cheapo teflon (never wear, never bite either) are all out there.

I do indeed have a spair pair of hubs that I suspect I'll never use (it's quite tricky to break one, but I bet I will now I've said that) and I should have a spare pair of calipers if I get round to getting the broken bleed nipple out of one. Already got someone who might be interested in those though, but if the only difference between them and Mini is the mounting hole spacing then it should be easy to adapt the mounting brackets in this thread to suit Mini ones (and also Metro I'd imagine).

Personally I'd be far happier fitting common easy to find parts that line straight up and just need one adapter (the bracket) than common, easy to find parts that need more machining or depernd purely on being a good fit on the studs (like the Polo conversion).

Speak to 'packedup' regarding MG hubs and discs. I'm fairly sure he's got some somewhere.

Somewhere being the operative word! I think to find a complete setup I'd have to trawl at least 3 places... My spares organisation is second to... Well, everyone's really!

Post by **IslipMinor** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:48 pm

just need one adapter (the bracket)

You can do this by staying with the Midget hub and solid disc, and then use either the standard Midget or solid disc Metro caliper (need to use the appropriate caliper bracket).

Going vented (Metro) means machining the Midget hubs (once) and the vented Metro discs each time they are changed.

Pads are readily available for both calipers from road to full race specs.

P.S. Using either caliper set up results in a heavy pedal pressure - be prepared to consider a servo!

Post by **dunketh** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 4:33 pm

P.S. Using either caliper set up results in a heavy pedal pressure - be prepared to consider a servo!

And a remote reservoir I'd imagine?

Given the capacity difference between brake pistons and wheel cylinders.

Tis a job I'd like to do but I frankly can't be (you know).

Even with the 1275 my standard 8 inchers seem to perform fine.

Post by **RussLCV** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 5:33 pm

Packed up I have PM'd you you about the hubs & calipers as I stated I wnated to purchase them

Post by **paulhumphries** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 6:01 pm

I've got new / unused Midget calipers and secondhand hubs / discs that I intended using but aren't 100% happy with the "J" mount.
Absolutley nothing wrong with then - just not the way I'd do the conversion.
What I'm now going to mock-up is Midget hubs, wire wheel discs and Fiesta calipers.
The wire wheel discs are closer to the hub face than steel wheel items and thus Midget calipers won't fit.
Hopefully the Fiesta calipers will will solve that problem and avoid having to machine Minor hubs or Polo discs.
In theory it should work but the lousy weather means I cann't be bothered to go into garage to check.

Paul Humphries

Post by **Packedup** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 9:41 pm

RussLCV wrote:Packed up I have PM'd you you about the hubs & calipers as I stated I wnated to purchase them

Indeedy (though I thought you only wanted the calipers?), which is why I said I had someone already interested in the spares I've got

Weather and a broken halfshaft on my only road going car have stopped me doing anything about that caliper with the sheared nipple, which is why I've not been in touch. Why is it the perfectly reliable 43 year old car suddenly fails whenever it can as soon as you put it into service as your only motor..?

Post by **RussLCV** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 11:19 pm

No worries me old mate keep me posted...............I am away till Monday at the National.