4 pot calipers

[swifty]

I'm upgrading my front brakes and want to try some 4 pot calipers . 7.5 inch discs. Non vented . I'm using vortz rose petals with the spacers as well . Any recommendations ? Experience of what ones are the best to use ? . Mini sport ones look good value but I'm also considering the mini spares ones . Will be used mainly on the road but occasional track day as well . Opinions appreciated .

[Chalkie]

Turbo mini boys Say Minispares ones are better but KAD Or Specialist components now do fronts aswell

[Lord Croker]

In my opinion, a very worthwhile upgrade, whichever 4-pots you choose, you will notice an improvement, particularly if you don't use a servo, due to the greater torque arm effect of 4-pots. I have driven Minis with Metro 4-pots modified to fit 10" wheels & MiniSport alloy 4-pots, both worked well without a servo, but if money was no object, I think I would be looking at KAD. Unfortunately, in my case money is an object so my drums work just fine.

[swifty]

Went for the mini spares ones . Kit was missing the split pins though . Look pretty good .

[Dean]

i have the mini spares 4 pots with non vented 7.5discs. and also running MS rosepetals

they were tested with there own calipers when they designed the wheel

they do fit , as long as you use the spacer for the rosepetals, but its tight.

i had to trim the inner bleed nipple down as it was slightly touching the inner edge of the rim.( only a little trim)

also you can't run stick on balance weights on the wheel where the wheel passes the calliper . but you can run them farther back, also bang on weights on the inside edge where standard callipers hit if the weights if they are too big.

caution when having uprated tie rods and no engine in as the caliper hits the tie rod when turning only on the bottom corner, not a big deal as once the engine is in and the front is weighted down it should he fine.

i have not got a chance to test them yet , as i am still building the car, but a good chance to get photos.

they do look very nice, much lighter than standard calipers,

over all they are a nice caliper, the bits above are minor and handy to know before you buy,

[Chalkie]

Thats good info Dean

thanks
Stephen

[swifty]

Thanks for the advice . I haven't tried the wheel on yet and have yet to see if there's a problem with clearance on the bleed nipple . I'm now wondering if I'm also fitting the wheel spacer if the wheel studs are long enough ?

[Dean]

you could get away with 3 mm spacer and then the bleed nipple will clear easy, or just trim them down

from your photo, you will find once you turn your steering, that the bottom of the caliper hit your tie rod as it is drooped. i put a bit of pipe insulation on the tie rod to stop them hitting.

i had my wheel balanced and had stick on weights put on, but being the wheels are small the weights did not stick very well on the inside of the wheel, even after i went back a second time, he even heated the glue on the weights and put black duct tape over them, ( not a problem with the wheels i must add )

after the wheels were stacked up and i moved them a few mouths later, i found the weights had fell off again, but they needed to come off as with the calipers they would fowl anyway.

after all that, once the wheels are on you can't even see the caliper , ha ha

[pad4]

i got a set of minisport 4 pots just before blyton , they are complete fking garbage , the nipples do not seal and they just leak leak and leak - Ive spent hours messing with them and thought id sorted it but nope






the other problem is you cant get the pads low enough in the caliper because of where the split pin holes are resulting in the top of the pad overhanging the top of the disc

Very poor effort im afraid , although with carbon pads they (when they do manage to work, one hit wonders) are amazing and really do put you in the harness's

i think id go minispares

pad

[Red Mist]

Have you considered a standard Cooper S setup with some good carbon metallic pads? I run Carbon Lorraine pads in mine and they are unbelievable. Almost as good as the 6-pots I used to run with Ferrodo pads!

The pads are pricey but come in 3 different compounds and are very hard wearing.

Might be worth considering.

[swifty]

Glad I went for the mini spares ones now pad . You've got a good reason to take them back if they leak .

[Sean1380]

i run a set of Mini Spares 4 pots on my 7.5s - they clear well under my Force Racing 10's - no issues with balance weights, as i cant find anyone in South Africa who has a balancing machine small enough to fit the 10" wheels LOL.

Brakes are freaking awesome, had Cooper S calipers on before without a servo and found a big diff by going to the 4 pots.

I had a set of silver 4 pot Mini Sport ones, but heard that the bleed nipple give problems and that they have no dust seals, and as the car is not a track day special, i sold them on and bought the Mini Spares one from Rich.

[atlanticdave]

Just to balance the opinions already made, I run the Minisport 4 pots, and have done for past 3 years, with Minispares rosepetals, not had any issues, run with a non servo set up also. Had more issues with the wheels tbh, bloomin lacquer flaking off.

[swifty]

That's the first time I've heard of a issue with the mini spares rose petals .

[rich@minispares.com]

That's the first time I've heard of a issue with the mini spares rose petals .

me too, and ive sold loads of them!

even the set that a mate of mine ran for over a year, never ever washed and ran right through a salty winter looked fine once he finally jetwashed the crust of them.

still, as with any lacquered wheel, if the lacquer is damaged, water will eventually get under it