My deluxe is currently equipped with 8.4" brakes and 12" wheels but there seems to be a lack of choice in go-fast tyres. I could go up to 13", trim the guards (I'd rather not do that) and buy new wheels and tyres or I could back to 10", use some of the pile of Contestas in the garage and spend a lot less on quality rubber in a 10" size. To do that however I'll need to convert the 8.4" brakes to 7.5" or 7.9".

Given the favourable dollar/pound conversion at the moment I can get a 4 pot caliper & 7.9" vented rotor conversion kit for under $600 which is looking mighty attractive. I'm just wondering whether anyone here is running 7.9" brakes and knows whether a standard ROH Contesta/Contessa will fit?

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66 Deluxe, 07 Cooper

Gday Paul, Our moke is running 7.9'' brakes and we have no trouble fitting standard Contestas. We cant run the LS/SS contesta though or some other 10" wheels.

Steve,

I'm pretty sure the limiting factor is the caliper, not the rotor diameter. That is, you'll find calipers designed for 7.5" discs which will fit over 7.9", and it's the caliper which you have clearance issues with when it comes to wheels.

4-pot calipers to fit 7.5" (or perhaps 7.9") discs will not fit under a lot of 10" rims. For example, the Mini Spares alloy 4-potters which I have on my car _do_ fit under standard-offset ROH Contessa's, but only just. I know they won't fit under Cooper 'S' steelies (or the alloy copies), and I think Mamba's are trouble too, but I could be wrong on that one (I think Fat Boy Dave could tell you with certainty).

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

Ours are metro turbo calipers turned down to 7.9".
Ten inch wheels that we can run include" (we have run all of these wheels before)
-standard contestas
-10X6 revolutions
-10X5 revolutions
-10X8 Mawer Split rims
-10X6 Japanese racing wheels
-10X5 Cosmics


Thats what we have run with our brakes, we could run more if we grinded down the Calipers.

Thanks guys, it looks like it is worth trying. Mine are the standard offset Contesta (i.e. require flares) so that should give a little more space for the caliper than the LS type. At the very worst I'll be up for another set of 10" rims.

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66 Deluxe, 07 Cooper

ping `boostedmini', I think he found the 7.9 4 pots don't fit in Contessas. But I may be mistook...

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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.

Is it the calipers or the rotors that have been turned down to 7.9"? If the calipers, why can't you run the 8.4" rotors? If it the rotors, then what calipers do you run?

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Steve

Would also like to know this, surely its not as easy as turning down metro turbo rotors and using the standard calipers to fit under 10" wheels?

oops i havnt explained properly, yes we turned down 8.4” rotors down to 7.9” and we run metro 4 spot calipers. We can run all 10” wheels except LS contesta's and most stock steel wheels

are you sure the calipers haven't been modified too Steve? I have a set of metro (non-turbo so skinnier) calipers and they're really big. I have seen on an english site a set of metro calipers that had the mounting holes welded up and redrilled, and fitted over machined down rotors

I'd be wary of welding calipers up and redrilling the holes for 2 reasons:
1. It is illegal to weld brake components except factory original.
2. They are cast iron not steel, arc welding it is a dodgy practice at the best of times.

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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.

Is there any real need or reason to be mucking around modifying brakes to try and fit when you can buy Cooper S brakes so cheap these days?

You got photos of the calipers? Would like to see what has been done to the Metro 4 pot calipers.

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Steve

Cadet stuff split.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

With my most recent post about the brakes

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Steve