This is not necessarily true and especially in this Mini specific hobby.

Some of the folks here have basically upgraded their brakes using junk yard bits, milled down rotors and saved substantially.

You don't have to be spendy in this hobby but as always "safety fast".

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do a full flush, fill up with dot5, change the pads, check the discs and the rubber lines. also maybe check the vacum hose for the booster for leaks.

Thanks guys

Just spent some time diagnosing, but I've been too busy to take anything apart.

The booster is working, the pedal does go down when I start the car.  What I think is the problem is a large amount of travel before getting a firm pedal.  It does not pump up,  but I have to get my foot onto the pedal, then there is a large "squish" as it goes down.  It doesn't go the floor or anything, it's just not high enough for a fast reaction.  I think I need to just do a full flush, bleed and drum adjust to see where I am at.

Go for the mintex pads, and perhaps consider having your rotors ticked to have the glaze taken off. Stock 8.4 rotors are plenty thick enough to take a skim.

You should have no issues locking them up. If you do, then you need to chase the culprit.

With my 130hp D-Series conversion I run stock 8.4 discs on the front , no booster and drums on the rear.. locking brakes is not an isssue.. although it's usually faster to stop without locking anything. For space and configuration reasons, I use a Wilwood brake master mounted inside under the dashboard.. and use brake bias adjuster to balance the front to rear braking.. If you have to stand on the brakes to lock them, something is wrong.. as with the original setup and the booster there were no issues either.

also......

Lots of pad left?

Rear brakes adjusted properly?

Also with the car running if you pump the pedal around five times the idle usually raises up around 200 rpm's.

Hmm, I will check it at lunch - I'll bet it's not.

Do you want to know if the booster is working?  ut your foot on the brake.  Then start the car.  You will immediately feel a change in the pedal if the booster is working.

yeah, I was thinking it feels like no boost brakes - the car does stop, it just feels like there is a hard shell turtle under the pedal when I nail it. 

Thanks all, I love the paddy kits too.

I bet your booster isn't working or your pads are cooked and useless... Disconnect the booster and see if it makes any difference.See what pads you have, you could fry stock ones. Your set-up with good pads and everything working properly is more than enough unless you're going to race it.

My turbo Mini is just as fast and with boosted stock 7.5's and Green Stuff pads I'll stop with anybody with light pedal pressure.

8.4' Vented 4 Pot Alloy Caliper Brake Kit

If you want to play you have to pay cheap and good do not go together with brakes I fitted  these.

//www.kad-uk.com/mini-parts/mini-calipers?product_id=4

Hey guys

Looking at non-bling options for stopping my little missile.  Once it gets it's 16v motor (130bhp) I think I am going to need more brakes.  I already have wide 13" tires, and I have to try very hard (ass off seat) to lock them.  I think I have drilled 8.4 disks on the front with stock 90's dual piston calipers. I have stock drums on the back.  Brakes are boosted, but they sure don’t feel that way.

I don’t want to spring for brembos or anything blingy, I wonder if I just need some more aggressive pads and a flush.  What have you guys done to make your car stop better?