I'm all ready to go. I just need to finish the desk I'm building for my son and then the brake conversion is next on my to do list. I can't wait!

!!

//www.minimania.com/InvDetail.cfm?item=C-AJJ4028MS

In the email I got regarding this, it says it expires on 3/31/12  ( I'm guessing that's 31 March )
...but I just got the email today (?)

before you know it.. you will want big disk setup

My tax return is going towards the disc brakes. So far I've only broken the news about the front components to the wife, but she's known me long engough to know that there are always "incidental" charges/purchases when doing things like this, right? You can't skimp on safety....

Pippip don't forget you could also do the Ford Fiesta brake conversion which seems relatively easy and cheaper, i belive there is a you tube video for it miniaddicts.co.uk.

Or if you have a tax return coming:

//www.minimania.com/web/item/SUPERFINS/InvDetail.cfm

I'd have to agree - if I'm going to do this, I'm going to buy all new components. That way I know what I am working with. I don't want to put something together like this and then have something fail soon afterwards (especially when brakes are involved). 

As for re-using the front brake parts, I was more just curious as to what is identical between the back & front. I'm assuming that there is zero resale value for any of the old drum bits, or at least not enough to make it worth my while trying to resell anything. I'm probably going to go with a new set of drums with the spacers built in anyway. I'm no professional builder, but it would just look/seem more finished to me to have the actual part, even though I guess there is nothing wrong with running with spacers.

@vespa400 - I'll send you an email shortly.

I tend to not read all post to a thread like this. I some times just scan the info. Now this is just me, I think spaced drums are to cheap to bother with having old ones machined. You also will have to deal with the radius change and the shoe perhaps not matching. I tried some older machines over here and they would not accept the little drum. Another thing, buying used uprights may be poor investment. I find about 20 percent have bore issues bearings having spun in place. Bite the bullet buy the good stuff do it once and ride safe from now on.

CTR

i have a real nice set of 4 revolutions, no curb rash, these are the early ones without clearcoat, they were bought new from Don at mini mania in the mid 80's, 4 center caps and lugs, original black paint and nice aluminum, let me know when you get ready to purchase, i can help if you are interested

John

You're both right and both wrong.

The drums may be physically the same when made, but the groove worn inside will be different front to back - I wouldn't swap them without getting them skimmed first to give an even friction surface.
Okay, you can counter that by using the wider shoes on the rear to match the drum groove, but that will then give too much braking at the back and spin you like a top.

No need to repeat yourself ian...

Damn netnanny - at least that's my excuse....

Cheers

"I didn't say anything about the shoes.....the DRUMS are the same.."

And I didn't say you did.... you should posts read more carefully..

pippip asked "Are any other of the front drum brake parts compatible with the rear brakes."  Shoes look like they might be interchangeable to the casual observer but they aren't - so I added words of caution...

Cheers, Ian

PS after all this time I think I'd be looking for a new judge...

I have a stock '76 Mini w/ a 998 engine and 10-inch stock steel rims. I eventually plan to upgrade the rims to 10-in revolutions, so whichever solution I go with will need to fit behing the 10-inchers.
You will note that the Cooper'S had Cooper'S steel wheels. (if not minilites, revolution, J.A.P [JA Pierce], cosmic, dunlop, rosepedals, or some other "mag" - true magnesium or aluminium wheels)  As Chuck H. was saying in another thread - not all drum brake 10" wheels will fit over the 7.5 Cooper'S discs.  So you might want to see if someone in your area has the 'S setup and try your wheels to see if at least two will fit over them - or be prepared to buy at least two 'S steel wheels, or two revo's to make it work.

I didn't say anything about the shoes.....the DRUMS are the same 

I went with this one: //www.minimania.com/web/Item/MMKT0509/InvDetail.cfm except it used non-OEM calipers.  I found that the calipers were not sized correctly and had to be grinded down to avoid rubbing the hub.

Make sure to be careful and install the ball joints correctly and know that the hub retaining nut should be torqued to 150+ lbs.  The advice I was given was to never back off the nut to insert the pin.  Either tighten it further or grind a bit off the nut to allow it to fit.

There was also a problem with the inner race on the rear.  The depth needs to be set using a caliper - or some other method.  I did not do it correctly.

But the shoes aren't... (the same front to rear).  I would suggest the drum is the only part that can be transferred...

However, you may save money if you reuse some of your existing bits (upper and lower ball joints for example) and shop second hand for bits like the hubs/uprights.  All disc uprights are the same so maybe someone doing a fancy vtec conversion may have some relatively new uprights going cheap.  Sourcing bits separately would allow choices such as 4 pot alloy calipers to be considered...

Cheers, Ian

Studs

//www.minimania.com/web/item/21A1278/InvDetail.cfm

Spacered drum

//www.minimania.com/web/item/21A1279/InvDetail.cfm

The drums on your car right now will be the same front to rear

Having used 1 Honda set and 2 Cooper S sets, I's go for the S ones.
Cooper S rear wheel studs 2.3" long are what you need.

Great info. So it seems that the "S-kit", for the most part, is bolt-on ready, and the Honda kit is good, but more work is involved and I won't be able to fit my stock rims. I think that fact alone may force my decision, as I don't have the $$$ to buy rims too right now. I'm definitely going to wait until I see the kit on sale. I think I just missed one, so I'll need to keep my eyes open for the next one.

What size rear wheel studs would I need if I run with the 1" spacers? Other than looking a little odd, is there any danger in running without the spacers in the rear (I plan on adding them, but I'm just curious). Are the front/rear drums the same? Can I save my front drums and reuse them in the rear, if the need ever arises? Are any other of the front drum brake parts compatible with the rear brakes. I did a ful brake job about 2 or 3 years ago, but the car only has maby 1000 miles since then (it sits all winter and since my new job is 70 miles round-trip, I don't get to drive it as much as I'd like).