NOTE: Since there is no R56 SPECIFIC "Brake" Section in the R56 specific 'Modification' section...AND brakes do NOT fall into the category of Suspension nor Drivetrain...I'm posting here to keep it relevant to R56's

I'll ask the question here as it would seem most appropriate. If a mod or admin feels the need to move this thread... please feel free BUT also please indicate who moved it and why.... and please consider adding "and Brakes" to the Modifications section that you put it in....thanks in advance for your consideration..

Looking for input ... StopTech BBK

I'm considering a BBK upgrade for my 2011 Mini Cooper-S (N18) R56.
StopTech really has horrible info on their site and also any/all of the distributors of their kits... even the ones that pay to advertise on this site... have HORRIBLE info on an upgrade that costs over $3000 for my car (mind you, it is a front ONLY upgrade).

Today... I called StopTech.... spoke with Tech and Customer Service...Both were kind of 'short', when I was inquiring into their products.
Not much info on the website... so I inquired...They show the same part number for JCW kit and a base model and the S model as well.
They kept repeating the mantra that the brakes are optimized for the car and that they are a bolt on and go modification. They also said that it was designed for Factory REAR-brakes (calipers/rotors/hoses) and factory rear-pads.

I then asked about the coding for the Brakes/ABS on the car. The MINI/BMW-factory techs insist, that for SAFE braking, that the car MUST be coded for the brakes that are on it... Justa, S, or Factory-MINI-JCW-Brembo.

Stoptech offers ONE kit for these 3 DIFFERENT cars... and no information... NO install guide, no photos of the actual kits, no part numbers of optional pads etc...

I'd like to consider them.... in comparing other kits like Wilwood, Sparta, Brembo, etc.
BUT.... I cant get good info...

Question:

... Is there anyone out there that has installed the StopTech BBK kit on their R56 (Hatchback, 2 door, S-model, SPECIFICALLY)... What were your results...What model did you start with (Factory-MINI-JCW/Brembo or factory S-model). Did you get ANY dimensions prior to purchase regarding wheel fitment ... and specifics on WHICH coding setup was needed... and what works best for Pads... both front and REAR.

Granted.... I'm not expecting to have my hand held on this...but SOME good info would be great. Offering a product, and supporting a product are two differnt

BTW: I am leaning, now, towards the TCE-Wilwood BBK offerings.... with the simple reason that Todd is active on these forums... and will help people on here with real hands on info.




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I don't have the Stoptech kit, I have the JCW Brembo front brakes on my Cooper S though. The Cooper and Cooper S have the same brake calipers front and back. The JCW has the same rear caliper as the Cooper and Cooper S, but with a larger caliper carrier and disc. The Cooper, Cooper S, and JCW all have the same brake master cylinder. The mounting points for the regular brakes and JCW brakes are the same as well.

So this is why they can offer a single front brake kit for all 3 trim levels of car.

The rule of thumb for any BBK on these cars is to have 17 inch wheels with a decent offset, somewhere in the 40-45 range should be okay. Stock JCW R112 wheels are 17x7 et45.

 

Some info here:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ed-list-4.html

And here: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ech-bbk-3.html




If you need a template i can get it for you. Install is just some brackets, lines, calipers plus the hats. Like most BBKs.

I am running the factory JCW 4 pot BBK and the GP2 Factory BBKs on several MINIs and have ran without JCW brake flash and with it. I have seen guys run the stoptech BBK at our local autocross and they liked them. Nice thing on the 2 piece is that you can always get re rings for them. So you dont have to replace the whole rotor down the road.

On the 4 pots you should not need the JCW flash unless you feel it kicks into abs early. Aggressive new pads and rotors will do this unless they bed in. Its a matter of taste and how it feels to you, you could also get the flash down the road.

 

Thank you for the fast replies... and thank you in advance for any answers you may have for the following questions...

I know that there are probably MANY people running BBK's out there without any coding... But why would the different coding exist in the first place... and EXACTLY what is that coding changing for the ABS module (which also controls traction control in these cars). I'm sure it "Works" without coding...but were talking about 'Optimizing' or 'Improving" the brake system with a $3000 'kit' .... that seems like a big thing to leave on the table... and...

StopTechs customer service is horrible and should learn a bit from people like the one that is representing ECS here.

ECS... If I go with StopTech... which, at this point is a 'maybe'... I'll buy from you...
Can you tell me if this photo below from the ECS website on the StopTech kit for the R56 mini is the ACTUAL StopTech (Shown below in this post) kit for the R56 mini? (it looks awefully generic)

If not... can you update your site or this post with this info/Photos of the ACTUAL kit?
What are the available/different StopTech pads for this caliper... and their characteristics?
What are the cost of the StopTech Replacement Rotors for this kit... are their different models in this size/config? (ie Drilled, Slotted, Drilled & Slotted, plain etc)

BTW... ECS...The link, http://www.stoptech.com/technical-su...templates/mini.... is a dead link with no template.
Can you post it up here please ... and maybe a PDF of the StopTech BBK install guide for the R56 specifically?

Is the MINI-GP2 REAR brake disk and/or caliper and/or pad different from the one JCW-Brembo-REAR-Caliper/Disk/Pad from Genuine-MINI?

What is the difference between the GP2 master cylinder and the master cylinder that is installed by the MINI factory on factory-built LCI-JCW R56 Hardtop cars?

Does the GP2 have a different ABS module from the factory than the one that is installed by the MINI factory on factory-built LCI-JCW R56 Hardtop cars?

Does Coding EXIST for, SPECIFICALLY, the GP2 brakes from MINI ? (ie, does a MINI GP2 have different BRAKE coding from the factory factory-built LCI-JCW R56 Hardtop cars??)

GP2 Master Cylinder

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The GP2 master cylinder is larger than the standard master cylinder, because the GP2 had 6 pistons brakes in the front. If you use it on the Stoptech BBK or standard JCW kit the brakes will become more touchy, whether you like it or not is up to you.

I didn't recode my car for the new brakes and haven't had an issue. ABS still engages pretty normally even running track pads on the street. I don't know if there is GP2 specific coding either. It wasn't exactly a package being installed by dealers on customer cars.

 

You will need the GP2 master cylinder if you go to the GP2 6 pot brakes, for the stock JCW 4 pot brakes you will not need it. ON the GP2 brakes you will need the coding to the JCW level, its too touchy and aggressive on those brakes. The gp2 cars their was specific coding as it also works with the dynamic of the car, last time i talked to MINI it was for the GP2 cars only and could not be coded by them for the non Gp2 cars. Maybe that has changed?

The JCW rears are near the same as the GP2 rears, they just moved the caliper out a hair more. My guess is for some dynamics. I have the JCW rears and the GP2 6 pot fronts and its fine with the JCW flash on stock pads.

Those pics are the stock pics, we can update them when they get new shots, they are the same just a 4x100 pattern. I will have our guys update the links on the template. Stoptech just updated their whole site that why its broken on the link.

Glad to help Here is the link to the templates: https://www.apcautotech.com/resource...ment-templates

You can read more on the larger OEM brakes here: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...e-massive.html






And here: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...in-here-3.html

 

The stoptech kit is well regarded on the mini r53 platform from the 2 guys I knew who ran it
equally that’s not adding a whole lot more to what you might know already, as well as the positive feedback on Tce
but every little helps, seems to me like heads you win, tails you win, perhaps wheel size and et would be a good starting point/different avenue of approach as it may open or close some avenues you are currently considering ?

 

I think this is a fine location for this thread. The other possible spot would be the Wheels, Tires, and Brakes section but this is Gen2 specific so we'll leave it here.

I upgraded to the JCW brakes, 4 piston front calipers and slightly larger diameter rotors in front, as mentioned above the rears use the same caliper (except for the red paint) but a different caliper carrier to allow for a larger diameter rotor. I think the main reason for the reflash is because of the larger rotor diameters, but I didn't notice any difference between before and after. I have been experimenting with different brake pads - I wore out the stock pads, totally overheated and glazed a set of EBC Yellows at the track, have tried Carbotech 1521s, currently running EBC reds front and rear. I have a set of Carbotech XP10s / XP8s waiting for my next track day.

If you do the math on the piston diameters, the JCW calipers have the same piston area as the base and S calipers, the main difference is the larger rotor diameter and the different feel of the fixed 4 piston caliper vs. the floating single piston caliper. I have been thinking about trying the GP master cylinder because I prefer a more aggressive feel.

There are multiple people here who have installed the GP2 brakes, I hope they will post their experience here.

 

FWIW I've also posted brake questions here and put them in the "Drivetrain" section under "Modifications" because I really didn't know where else to put it as well. Maybe we could add "Braking" under "Suspension" in the mods section.

I also had the same issues when I upgraded to the JCW brakes and took my car in the mountains. Burned through stock pads and EBC Reds. Currently running Yellows in the rear and XP10s in the front and have experienced exactly zero brake fade on Bear Mountain, Tail of the Dragon or Storm King Highway. The rotors get chewed up and they are noisy but the braking performance is worth it.

 

hi will the above wheel r99 double spoke be ok with JCW 4 pot calipers using a 5mm spacer as well

many thanks

 

Hello,

Some people have shown they have ran them without spacers. I would get them just encase they are too close for comfort, you could always return our ECS spacers if they are new and never mounted, Low profile wheel weights are needed.

 

thank you very much for that

 

Welcome.

 

I'm starting to lean, at the same price, towards the SPARTA Triton-R BBK's

TRITON-R SERIES BBK

PRO-LEVEL RACING USE

• Forged from aluminum for strength and weight savings

• Through bolt system for minimal caliper deflection

• Utilizes standard FMSI pad shapes

• Available in 4 and 6 opposed piston variations

• Castellated pistons to reduce heat transfer from piston to the brake fluid and increase fluid life

• Simple, race-proven pad retainer pins for guaranteed safety and quick pad changes

• 15% lighter than standard Triton caliper







































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Also... RMW has their own BBK... wondering about that too.

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I spoke to stop tech at sema about their 4 piston kits in the new nickel plating. they are suppose to be sending me a kit soon , if you still haven't decided by then ill post my thoughts / concerns.. but I don't track the car, just lots of spirited drives by the beach. I'm surprised you said their customer service wasn't up to par .. they've been incredibly helpful to me... but as always YMMV

 

The Nickle is a nice finish.... What color for the graphics?









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red as normal ... all of my powertrain components have red accents

 

Nice, we had them on our BMW give away car here.

 

Nickle plated StopTechs... or Spartas..


Any photos of that bad boy??

 

When we gave away a BMW E46 M3 last year: https://www.ecstuning.com/Page/ECS46M3/

Look at those Bad Boys!

 

6-pots for the R56 as well from StopTech??



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