Category: Brakes
Price: $500
Private or Vendor Listing: Private Listing
Part fits (you may select multiples): R56
Location (Region): NorCal
Item Condition: Used

I’m looking for a set of R56 JCW Brakes. Preferably front and rear calipers.

Thanks.

 

If you are just looking to upgrade your R53 brakes you do know that the R56 MCS calipers are basically the R53 JCW calipers right ? and they bolt right on to the R53. If you end up getting actual R56 JCW calipers I am not sure those are interchangeable with the R53, I could be wrong.

 

Right, the R56 brakes are the R53 JCW brakes. I'm not 100% sure they bolt right up but some digging online will answer that.

 

FlynHawaiian, I am right in the middle of doing the R56 to R53 brake swap. I have read up on this and here is what I bought; R56S brake calipers and carriers from EBay (make sure you get the carriers they are larger than the R53s), you will need to pick up the following parts for an R56S; brake pads, rotors and brake lines. I am painting mine red and adding the JCW stickers. I tried cleaning the used R56S calipers with Simple Green, brake cleaner, carb cleaner and Krud Kutter (from Home Depot). So far Krud Kutter worked best with a wire brush. I ordered Sonax wheel cleaner from Way Motor Works and am waiting on that (I'm lazy and heard that this stuff dissolves built up brake dust). So far I am under $500 and I ordered Stainless Steel brake lines front and rear included in that price. The rear JCW brakes are the same as what you have and they are not painted red from what I have read and seen. The cheapest I have seen JCW brakes was $600. I'm sure you could probably find them a little cheaper but it will be a waiting game. Me, I want it NOW! So I will make my own.

 

If you're looking for the R56 S brakes, my buddy should be selling his soon since I sold him my Stoptech's. Is that what you're looking for?

 

Just keep your rear calipers, The 2007 rotor works with R53 Caliper, If you change to the R56 Caliper you need brake cables, And the R56 cable fitment does not clear the Steel swing arm, I ran this rear set up with R56 fronts for a year, But I then ended up with a compleat 2007 rear suspension

 

http://www.c0op3r.com/MINI/FrontBrakes.html
http://www.c0op3r.com/MINI/RearBrakes.html

 

I was thinking about the R56 JCW Brakes Honestly, I've seen them go for $600 without rotors and pads. I was looking at the R56 S brakes. I’m not sure what is needed for the upgrade, if someone could shed some light on it, that would be great. I know I need new lines. If you think the R56-S way is the way to go let me know.

 

The R56 S brakes are 1st gen JCW brakes so I'm sure you'll be fine with them. Get some better pads if you track and you should be fine, or swap out the rotors for some slotted stuff.

Like I said though, if you're looking for regular S brakes my buddy is selling his soon, so if you want them, let me know.

 

Look at what I posted and c0op3r posted and we are telling you what you need. Per Way Motor Works the R56S rear brake lines are the same as the R53S in case you order Stainless Steel brake lines like I did. I went with the R56S calipers and carriers because it is easier to obtain than the JCW setup.

 

Ok there seems to be some question about upgrading the R53 Brakes lets me go over somethings I have found:

First please see my articles:

http://www.c0op3r.com/MINI/FrontBrakes.html

http://www.c0op3r.com/MINI/RearBrakes.html

If those do not answer your questions, please post your other questions here so that people in the future can see the answers and learn also.

Now that being said, there are brakes that are better for the R53 then what I went over in the article (to those of you that are going to say something about tracking the car, that is something else, and you are free to expand on what I have written). My article is about making your own better brakes by using parts that can easily be found and are not grossly over priced!

So let me make a note about some of the bigger OEM brakes that CAN be fitted to the R53, so that maybe the confusion that is going on in this thread can be figured out.

The R56 JCW Brakes:



These are the REAL R56 Front and Rear Brakes, these will fit the R53, but please note some things; you must have at least 17" wheels (and then even some of those have been known to have needed spacers) and the pads are Wicked Expensive. Also note that the Rear are the same rears only RED and with better pads!

OK what most people (R53 People that is) think of when they say R56 Brakes they mean; JCW R53 kit which is nothing more than the R56 kit again Red with stickers and good pads.

This is what they look like:



And if you really want to go to the top! then you can fit the units from the 135BMW:

 

I just upgraded mine to the R56JCW fronts and they look badass, only question is, is it worth replacing the rear caliper? Or should I keep my R53 rear calipers?

 

It sounds like you should just keep the R53 rear calipers, as the others are the same.

 

The simple answer here is to do exactly what MINI/JCW did, change the pads.

If you want a little more, both performance and looks: see post #11 and my article on the Rear Brake upgrade.

The Factory Rear can be upgraded to perform better and look better on the cheap.

BUT always remember that 2/3 of the braking force for the car are on the front, so no need to go crazy.

I just completed the photo'ed ones for a friend that is going to add the SS Lines and the EBC Red pads.

 

Guess I will keep the original rear calipers and just change to braided hose and the rotors not to fond of rears painted red but that is a matter of choice, I was even considering to powder coat the fronts black but decided to keep the red. Thanks for info I guess I will be listing the rear R56 jcw caliper once I get them nice and clean