My wife owns a R53, and my favorite things to do is install bigger/ better looking brakes onto my vehicles, like my 96 Camaro having C5 brakes on it.

Anyway, I want to "Frankenstein" my wifes front brake setup using R53 JCW rotors (294mm X 22mm) and 4 piston Brembo Porsche 944 Turbo rear calipers ( 289mX 18.6mm rotor) or front calipers (298mm X 26mm). There will need to be brackets made, and the wheels will most likely need to be spaced, but my main question is if the R53, and R56/R59 brake boosters are the same/similar, and if at all the master cylinder is different from the R53 and R56/R59 JCW's since theres a little more fluid circulating in the calipers. I would want to go with the R56 or R59 Master cylinder since their front calipers have 4 pistons.

It's still way in the design stages, so nothing's written in stone, but this seems like the best way to go so far without spending tons of money on JCW calipers and set up.... and is quite a custom setup

 

R56 MCS brakes are the same as the R53 JCW brakes, except without the red paint. I've got a complete set (rotors, calipers and pads), front and back with about 8,000 miles on it if you are interested. It'd be a lot easier than what you are trying to do and we know these work. Heck, you could even paint them red and slap some heat resistant JCW stickers on them and nobody would know the difference. PM me.

Before you do anything... make sure its OK with the wife!

 

Ah, I may have been a little vague. I'm talking about the R56/R59 JCW 4 piston caliper style master cylinder, if, at all, it's any different from the stock master cylinder on the MCS R56.

Also, I'm thinking of using Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 calipers. There is a ton more out there, and can be had for cheap, as well as the rebuild kits. Also they are ment to stop a 3800 lbs. AWD beast. I used to own an SL (poop) model, and the VR4's got the best of everything Mitsubishi could throw at them.

This style:
http://www.minigenuineparts.co.uk/mi...6.784.590.html

and yes, the wifey does keep a close eye on my creations on her car, so far I haven't heard a know, just how much is this going to cost now .

 

Quite frankly, you lost me. By the basic questions that you are asking it makes me think you are just a "parts changer". Why you'd want to experiment on a brake system (your wife's car no less) is beyond me. The braking system is probably the last place you should be putting to use dissimilar parts from completely different manufactures without the thorough engineering and R&D needed behind it. You are just asking for trouble, or should I say your wife is. I only mentioned using the R56 MCS brakes because it is a straight replacement and would be more than enough brakes for the R53 unless you are running massive hp, which it doesn't sound like you are.

Sounds like your wife needs to know the possible ramifications of your work, maybe something like this...

"Uh, honey, I am going to completely change out your brakes with parts that I got for cheap that I don't know quite how well they will work together, for how long, and your brake system just might, maybe fail on you are the most critical time that you would need them, and you might die because of this. What do you think?" If she says "How much?" you are good to go! Best of luck.

 

Okay, I'm glad for the disclaimer and all, but I'm just asking if the Master cylinder for the standard/S series R56/R59 is different from the JCW R56/R59, being as the calipers now house 4 pots instead of 1 pot per caliper, that is all. Are the O.E part numbers the same, or different? Sometimes when pushing more fluid around, you need a different M.C., like my Camaro.

Originally a 4.1 Gen (LT1 style) it housed 1 pot per caliper with 10.5 in. rotors and drum rear brakes (V6) It now sports 12.8 in. rotors, and Corvette dual pistons calipers per side, and LS1 rear brakes. I had to upgrade to a 4 wheel disc ABS unit from a Z28/WS6, and an LS1 style master cylinder to handle the extra pressure, and fluid capacity needed to properly stop the car, and boy does it keep stopping after severe braking, no fading ( autocross/test n tune days)

As for the setup, and what is compatible, the diameter of the R53 JCW rotors are almost the same size as the VR4 rotors besides hat height, so it's pretty cut and dry, it's not frankensteining the system by cutting down brake pads, or putting rotors on the lathe to make the hat lower, I strongly opposed milling factory rotors (like some Mitsubishi Mirage guys drill out rotors from Galant to make them fit.....eeek) it just needs a custom bracket assembly to hold the caliper, and possible spacing of the wheels if the outer half of the caliper hangs too far over (which I wouldn't be suprised.)

I understand not many of you in the MINI community modify their vehcles beyond what MINI themselves sell, or what Alta/MiniMadness, insert internet company name sells. This is not my first rodeo in dealing with modifying brakes on vehicles, and with a little number crunching, you'd be amazed at how many your parts are capable of being modified from stock without making them a driving hazard. I've been in the automotive business for quite a few years, and my former job back round before the economy took a crap was R&D, so like I said, not my first rodeo in creating something from nothing and some numbers.

 

Try searching on RealOEM.com for the part numbers, if they are the same then well..they are the same part.

 

Oh, I didn't know they did MINI as well, I'll check it out then, thanks! I had to use them to get me the part number for oil piston squirters from an M3 CSL for my Camaro.

EDIT: Looks like the R56/R59 both S and JCW is the same, but I'm wondering now if the master cylinder on the R56/R59 will fit the R53 assembly...

 

No problem! I have little knowledge on the 2nd gen breaks so this is all I can offer to a solution...haha

 

Looks like the master cylinder assembly and brake booster from the R56/R59 is too different for a direct swap over to a R53 chassis. However, since the R53 master cylinder is the same for both a Cooper S and a JCW, and since the R56 uses the same Brake calipers as the JCW R53, AND, since the R56/R59 use the same master cylinder for both the single piston and the four piston caliper setup, looks like the Master cylinder currently on my R53 will work just fine. If not then I'll just have to fabricate a setup to use the R56/R59 master cylinder, but it's looking like that will not be necessary.

Hopefully I'm right, because it will take a lot of time out of mocking up the setup.