I did this swap a few yrs ago but never looked into reflashing the ABS for the bigger calipers. I just noticed the piston diameter change is substantial so worry if this is not brought up to "JCW" spec

 

I don't think so, but I don't know for sure.

ABS pretty much only needs to know each wheel speed compared to each other in order to block or open a hydraulic circuit to each wheel in order to keep the wheels rotating at the same speed.

 

I have never seen somebody re-flash the abs module for the R56/JCW Brake upgrade.

 

If you’re referring to the 1st gen JCW kit/(R56S upgrade), the factory JCW instructions say no programming is required. For the R56 JCW Brembos shaped like MINI wings, the factory instructions says coding is required. Not sure what the coding is for, or if it can be done on a 1st gen, but it’s listed in step 5 on the last page.

On a separate note, does anyone know why the JCW Brembos can’t be installed on a JCW Clubman or R56 JCW? This is specifically stated on the first page of the instructions.

 

See post #7 in this thread: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...brake-kit.html

Regarding your question @RB-MINI , can you clarify? The R56 JCW sport brakes were available on R56 and R55. I had them on my R55, no issues.

 

Pretty sure the retro-fit kit say not applicable because the JCW R56/55 already come equipped with the Sport Brembo calipers....

 

JackMac, I was referring to the JCW R55 and JCW R56 as this is from the first page of the Factory instructions:

Retrofit - John Cooper Works Sports Brakes
MINI Clubman (R55)
MINI Clubman S (R55)
MINI One (R56)
MINI Cooper (R56)
MINI Cooper S (R56)

This retrofit kit cannot be installed on the R55 MINI John Cooper Works Clubman and R56 MINI John Cooper Works.

njaremka, I was wondering if that was the case. Poor wording as the parts still fit on the car, just the coding wouldn’t be necessary. I wonder if the 1st gen JCW engine kits or sport brake kits say the same thing about the 2006-2008 Factory JCW’s.

 

Yeah, it's basically the 1st case; r53 w/r56/poorman's 1st gen JCW brakes. Thanks for looking that up. Kind of surprised there's no special ABS flash for the bigger brakes.

 

That's weird, my friend with an R55 put on the Brembos from a JCW R56 and they fit fine. No issues, I ended up buying his cast off stock from (R55 front brakes) to fit onto the R53.

 

They should fit, and I'm sure it stops fine by user input. The problem becomes when the ABS assist has to modulate to keep tires from locking up or steering. It's all based on some volume pushing on an area. If that changes (by too much), then the original calibration won't be accurate.

Does your friend track the car and rely on ABS?

 

ZSM, it says it fits the following regular versions. I was questioning the sentence below in red following the list on the instructions.

Retrofit - John Cooper Works Sports Brakes
MINI Clubman (R55)
MINI Clubman S (R55)
MINI One (R56)
MINI Cooper (R56)
MINI Cooper S (R56)

This retrofit kit cannot be installed on the R55 MINI John Cooper Works Clubman and R56 MINI John Cooper Works.

 

Just to clarify, which Retrofit John Cooper Works Sport Brake Kit instructions are you quoting? Got a link to the PDF?

There was an early JCW 16” Sport Brake kit available in 2007-2008. That was literally the same 2 piston brakes from the R56 S, just painted red and with JCW logos. I can see where those can’t be retrofit onto the later factory JCW cars.

Then there is the 4 piston JCW 17” Sport Brake kit which debuted in 2009 on the factory JCW.

 

It’s an early set of instructions because it still has the original JCW logo, but the parts overview shows a drawing of the 4 piston calipers:

https://s3.motoringfile.com/wp-conte...jcw_brakes.pdf

 

I stand by my statement that the words in red are likely included because the JCW cars came with the brakes already installed

 

OK the part number on that kit is definitely the 17” JCW 4 piston Brembos. As mentioned above, these already come with the factory R55/R56 JCW cars which is likely why the instructions say they are not applicable. The wording probably could have been more clear, as technically they would fit fine. Just wouldn’t be a “retrofit”, it would be a direct replacement.

 

i got that it was bad/un-necessary wording once it was posted that they were standard on the 2nd gen JCW’s.

The follow up in red was a response to ZSM’s post below clarifying that my question was regarding the JCW fitment sentence and not a question of them fitting a non-JCW 2nd gen car.