New Guy Questions
Discussion
Hi
I have just brought my son a 1990 Mini 1000 with discs on the front for his 17th.
It has some nasty 12 inch steel wheels on it, I/we would like to change them for 10s. Is this possible with discs.
Also if you put the side lights on all is fine but when you flick to mains the whole lot goes off. If you flick the switch a few times they will come on. I'm thinking just a switch what do you think.
I'll proberly be on here a bit now. I'm finding it really hard to keep my fat hands off his car. I had a 1275GT as my first car it makes me feel 18 again.
Thanks very much
Rob
I have just brought my son a 1990 Mini 1000 with discs on the front for his 17th.
It has some nasty 12 inch steel wheels on it, I/we would like to change them for 10s. Is this possible with discs.
Also if you put the side lights on all is fine but when you flick to mains the whole lot goes off. If you flick the switch a few times they will come on. I'm thinking just a switch what do you think.
I'll proberly be on here a bit now. I'm finding it really hard to keep my fat hands off his car. I had a 1275GT as my first car it makes me feel 18 again.
Thanks very much
Rob
The 10" probably will not fit. You can get disc's to fit 10" wheels new and second hand. Depends on how much you want to spend. There are a lot of nice 12" wheels around. But a lot of mini people do like the look and drive with 10" wheels.
It dose sound like the switch. If you get one dont for get there are a number of diffent types (left and right etc) so do check. If you have up rated lights/spot lights add a relay will make the switch last a lot longer.
Have fun and do let your son drive it now and then?
It dose sound like the switch. If you get one dont for get there are a number of diffent types (left and right etc) so do check. If you have up rated lights/spot lights add a relay will make the switch last a lot longer.
Have fun and do let your son drive it now and then?
I might know where there is a set of 12" Minilite alloy wheels as fitted standard to some Minis. They are not mine, but my buddy is breaking a damaged 1994 car. Email me if you want to. They probably need a bit of a re-paint, but they are sound. With Yokohama 165/60x12 tyres they would be superb.
I agree that it sounds like a light switch. Buy a new one from Mini Spares Centre. In fact I reckon you'll be doing quite a bit of business there in the coming months.
What a nice Dad to have bought his son suh a great little car.
I agree that it sounds like a light switch. Buy a new one from Mini Spares Centre. In fact I reckon you'll be doing quite a bit of business there in the coming months.
What a nice Dad to have bought his son suh a great little car.
Cooperman said:
I might know where there is a set of 12" Minilite alloy wheels as fitted standard to some Minis. They are not mine, but my buddy is breaking a damaged 1994 car. Email me if you want to. They probably need a bit of a re-paint, but they are sound. With Yokohama 165/60x12 tyres they would be superb.
I agree that it sounds like a light switch. Buy a new one from Mini Spares Centre. In fact I reckon you'll be doing quite a bit of business there in the coming months.
What a nice Dad to have bought his son suh a great little car.
If Rob7 isn't interested in your mates wheels, let me know what he wants for them. .... I may be interested.I agree that it sounds like a light switch. Buy a new one from Mini Spares Centre. In fact I reckon you'll be doing quite a bit of business there in the coming months.
What a nice Dad to have bought his son suh a great little car.
Regards, Howard
Rob 7 said:
Carry on Howard
My son is a bit lacking in funds at the moment.
I've spent my bit on him.
Rob
Thanks for that Rob, but 10" wheels definately won't fit on your present disc brake set up. The only way to achieve that would be to fit the 7.5" dia discs & drive flanges, together with the relevant calipers. These were the ones fitted to all the 60's Cooper S cars, and the 1275 GT to 1974. Quite honestly for what you would pay for those second hand, it would probably be cheaper sourcing some 12" alloys. My son is a bit lacking in funds at the moment.
I've spent my bit on him.
Rob
HTH Howard
Just a thought, but how about a cheap option for a stunning look? space the 10" wheels off enough to clear the calipers and then fit a nice snug set of arches. This will be cheap and look the nuts and allow the ten inch wheels to fit. Not that i condone spacers, but hey!
By the way. Hi Im a newbie in the same boat. My son has his first car, i INSISTED it had to be a mini, he built it up from a rolling shell and boxes of bits plus a few new parts and i loved it while he was on L plates. Now i am in the process of having to build my own. aaaaaaaaaaah memories!!!
P.S. I am nearly fifty, going on seventeen
By the way. Hi Im a newbie in the same boat. My son has his first car, i INSISTED it had to be a mini, he built it up from a rolling shell and boxes of bits plus a few new parts and i loved it while he was on L plates. Now i am in the process of having to build my own. aaaaaaaaaaah memories!!!
P.S. I am nearly fifty, going on seventeen
minimaster said:
Just a thought, but how about a cheap option for a stunning look? space the 10" wheels off enough to clear the calipers and then fit a nice snug set of arches. This will be cheap and look the nuts and allow the ten inch wheels to fit. Not that i condone spacers, but hey!
By the way. Hi Im a newbie in the same boat. My son has his first car, i INSISTED it had to be a mini, he built it up from a rolling shell and boxes of bits plus a few new parts and i loved it while he was on L plates. Now i am in the process of having to build my own. aaaaaaaaaaah memories!!!
P.S. I am nearly fifty, going on seventeen
With respect, that's not a good way to go, especially for a new driver. With spacers that wide the car will be more 'twitchy' and the spacers will make the wheel attachment less safe. By the way. Hi Im a newbie in the same boat. My son has his first car, i INSISTED it had to be a mini, he built it up from a rolling shell and boxes of bits plus a few new parts and i loved it while he was on L plates. Now i am in the process of having to build my own. aaaaaaaaaaah memories!!!
P.S. I am nearly fifty, going on seventeen
If you want 10" wheels with 8.4" discs you just fit Fiesta callipers obtainable from most good breakers. However, I don't know the precise details of how this is done. 'guru1071' will certainly know though.
Cooperman, I agree with your comments and i did state that i dont condone spacers, just that its an option. The fiesta caliper route is a good one, but i dont think tens will fit, dont quote me on this. I think the amount of work involved makes it a job unsuitable for the mechanically green operators. I thought about it and even with my engineering experience, decided to stick with twelves for my sons car. I do know that a few people have ground the castings of mini single pot calipers and fitted thin spacers (6mm) and made it work, but you have to be preety careful not to go into the oil chamber with the grinder!
I was under the impression that with Fiesta callipers the basic 10" Cooper 'S' wheel would fit. However, I could be wrong on this.
I think my friend wants about £60 for the 4 off 12" Minilite alloys so if anyone is interested PM me and I'll let you have his number. Actually it's 'Rougeleo' on here, so you could PM him direct. I think the wheels have reasonable tyres on them as well.
I think my friend wants about £60 for the 4 off 12" Minilite alloys so if anyone is interested PM me and I'll let you have his number. Actually it's 'Rougeleo' on here, so you could PM him direct. I think the wheels have reasonable tyres on them as well.
is it ok to post a link to another forum?
I assume youtube is OK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fbBWdSDT7E
This is the best i found for detail. Its a long video, but worth every minute.
I assume youtube is OK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fbBWdSDT7E
This is the best i found for detail. Its a long video, but worth every minute.
Edited by minimaster on Wednesday 10th March 13:40
Do a search for using Mk2 Fiesta Callipers. There are several ways of skinning a cat.
I use S Disks, but bear in mind that a lot of sets you pay £230 for are in need of new wheel bearings, new drive flanges, maybe new CV's. Look at which parts are the same as 8.4 discs and they'll be pretty cheap. You'll need some S Drive flanges and S discs, then it's a matter of getting some callipers to do the job.
Very competant engineers can play around with machining callipers, but this involves splitting the calliper (which is a no-no for the man in his shed) and making some judgements about where the drillings are. Get it wrong and you will kill yourself/other people.
S flanges and discs, 8.4 everything else and find out about fiesta callipers. They do the job and are well up to it. That's what I'd do.
I use S Disks, but bear in mind that a lot of sets you pay £230 for are in need of new wheel bearings, new drive flanges, maybe new CV's. Look at which parts are the same as 8.4 discs and they'll be pretty cheap. You'll need some S Drive flanges and S discs, then it's a matter of getting some callipers to do the job.
Very competant engineers can play around with machining callipers, but this involves splitting the calliper (which is a no-no for the man in his shed) and making some judgements about where the drillings are. Get it wrong and you will kill yourself/other people.
S flanges and discs, 8.4 everything else and find out about fiesta callipers. They do the job and are well up to it. That's what I'd do.
It's funny the way things come back after many years. In 1969 I bought a 997 Cooper which had been fitted with a new 1275 'S' engine. The brakes were dreadful (remember the 997 brakes?!) so I bought a full set of 'S' hubs, callipers and drive shafts for £20 in excellent condition. Then I fitted 'S' rear drums and 4.5" 'S' wheels plus Girling 'Amber' brake fluid, DS11 pads with VG95 linings on the rear. It made a great rally car. Reg no. was 605GGD.
Another load of useless information from Cooperman.
Another load of useless information from Cooperman.
That when £20 would get you a nice house.
Mini spares kit 12" to 10" about £280 part number MSSKU13 kit includes discs,calipers,pads with split pins and drive flanges with new screws .
There are other kits avalible.
The ford calipers do nead a bit of work to get them to fit 10" wheels. I had a set on a mini and you could see were some metal hade been taken off to get the wheels to fit.
Mini spares kit 12" to 10" about £280 part number MSSKU13 kit includes discs,calipers,pads with split pins and drive flanges with new screws .
There are other kits avalible.
The ford calipers do nead a bit of work to get them to fit 10" wheels. I had a set on a mini and you could see were some metal hade been taken off to get the wheels to fit.
DanGT said:
That when £20 would get you a nice house.
Mini spares kit 12" to 10" about £280 part number MSSKU13 kit includes discs,calipers,pads with split pins and drive flanges with new screws .
There are other kits avalible.
The ford calipers do nead a bit of work to get them to fit 10" wheels. I had a set on a mini and you could see were some metal hade been taken off to get the wheels to fit.
They are sliding callipers, so it's not exactly critical. Mini spares kit 12" to 10" about £280 part number MSSKU13 kit includes discs,calipers,pads with split pins and drive flanges with new screws .
There are other kits avalible.
The ford calipers do nead a bit of work to get them to fit 10" wheels. I had a set on a mini and you could see were some metal hade been taken off to get the wheels to fit.
I have a mate (engineer) who has done the 7.9" turndown of vented metro discs and is then fitting them with "modified" callipers. You have to split a large number of callipers and then choose the ones where the galleries have a decent bit of meat between them and "outside". Then it's a case of bluing them, filing, bluing, filing until they fit and then coating them with something which won't allow any corrosion of any sort. I've forgotten the "how much tolerance you're allowed" but it's in the order of 4mm or so. This needs to be bang on and not just a guess. You can also do it in a lathe, if you have a big enough lathe with a plate you can strap to it.
It has the potential to be a total deathtrap if you are less than a rigourous expert.
The fiesta brakes are more of a "dithering around" with the mounts and then trimming up "the carrier".
As mine is a Mk1 period jobby, it almost is a rule to use proper brakes, however, if I was doing it to anything else, I'd probably go the fiesta route.
S Brakes are not actually that great. They will stop you, but they are still pretty hair raising.
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