Hi everyone just wondering if there are any good ways to improve the standard drums, I don't want to upgrade to disks because the drums have just been refurbished with everything replaced by the previous owner and I was wondering if there are more ways to improve the effectiveness of them?

I saw online that there are finned drums but only come with the spacer, are there ones available without the spacer and would that be a good upgrade to reduce brake fade?

Thanks Josh

If the whole system has been overhauled and adjusted properly then the next single best way is probably to install a brake booster. I remember a member on here years ago did this with an 850 and it stopped pretty darn good, for drums. It probably won't stop brake fade.

Sorry can't help you out with finned drums question, no idea if they are any better or not.

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Lillee - 1969 Morris Mini K

I was thinking about a booster but I just can't stand the sight of them, maybe I'm just to picky

I am not sure what you have at the moment but the very early cars had a single leading shoes.
Most drum brake minis have the twin leading shoes and the you can increase the wheel cylinder size from 15/16" to 1" wheel cylinders.
I reckon finned drums are an overkill for a road car. If you need them - then you need Discs.

You can't get the "minifin" brake drums anymore. You can get the "superfin" brakes, but they have the built in spacer.

If they are adjusted up properly they do stop very well and have a good pedal feel. Yes they will still fade with heavy use, but probably not the best way to be driving on the road.

You could try some ducting at the front to direct cool air to the front brakes to slow the fade?

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There are different shoe linings available as well that may help in reducing brake fade. I know Mintex do a race/rally version.

It has twin leading shoes, what effect does increasing the wheel cylinder size?

Just trying to get my brakes the best I can before I start any engine mods too my 1098 van. Will most likely just be a cam, slightly bigger heads, hs4 carb, and extractors for now

to have drums the best they can be, keep them adjusted properly.... my mate does sprints in his (very) hot 1100 at Winton on drums, he ran in the Doug Byrne memorial race a few years ago and the Group N drivers couldn't believe it

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

Thanks for the advice everyone, I'll ensure they are adjusted correctly before I look at changing anything

They give you a little bit more stopping power.

There is nothing wrong with drum brakes - adjusted well and they have almost no freeplay in the pedal and are as effective as discs.
I changed to discs on my mini because the drum adjusting nuts were so small they were hard to accurately set and they self adjusted almost daily!
gtogreen1969's comment about lining material is true - find a compound that suits you.
"Brake fade" is something I've never experienced in normal driving. It was invented by journalists to sell things - unless you are racing/rallying.
One of the best brakes I've had were drums on a Chrysler Galant 1400 - large adjusting nuts gave better accuracy!

I dunno bill, twice through Galston Gorge made my black stuffs fade pretty badly... It's not a made up thing, it exists in normal road driving!

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Lillee - 1969 Morris Mini K

Ditto.
I faded EBC Blackstuff pads coming down Kurrajong, OK so I was using them a bit to see what they were like...
When I ran out of brakes coming down Mt Keira a short while later, I binned them and fitted Greenstuffs again.
These pads are good without a servo, and even better with one.

@Willipede, my VH44J servo lives under the dash. Can't see it. I have the `Matic fresh air heater under the bonnet.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Athough it was about 25 years ago now, the best improvement I recall was replacing the steel wheels with a set of contessas. I was expecting grip to improve, but my biggest surprise was a massive reduction in brake fade.

I reckon the drums are fine on my 80ish hp 1098 van, it is 43 years old!

Once you have experienced brake fade, often due to brain fade...you don't ever wanna experience it again

I often shudder when following "careful" drivers down a mountain pass, riding their brakes all the way to the bottom. You can often smell the fried friction material...their brakes must be red hot (well, light straw??

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"Show me the Mini!"