I've got the factory 4 piston Brembos on my 2013 JCW Clubman.

Are the rear brakes different on the GP2?

I see front GP2 kits that include a Master Cylinder, then I see the complete front/rear GP2 kit.

 

From my research, the rear JCW brakes are the same as the GP2 rear.

I would love to have GP2 brakes on my Clubman, but $$$$

 

The rears if i remember right when we tested them and developed the GP2 OEM+ BBK for aftermarket and upgrade, the rear is the same they just moved the caliper out a hair more on the GP2. Thinking it was for brake basis. When tested we could not see a difference in the feeling. Big difference is that GP2 master cylinder change.

 

Would there be any benefit of upgrading to a GP2 master cylinder on my standard 4pot Brembos? Always a fan of better pedal feel.

My plan was to upgrade the pistons in my stock brakes but the urge to have those big beautiful calipers peeking behind my wheel spokes keeps tugging at my heart...

 

Better pedal feel but its not really needed on the 4 pots. You might see some change, i did not feel it was needed based of pedal feel when we tested. I had the four pots installed and then went to the 6 pot front and the upgraded master is needed. Down the road if you do 6 pot up front then you will have it i guess.

Those calipers do look awesome.

 

8mm spacer to run the R112s? Front and rear?

 

The GP2 rear brakes and JCW rear brakes are the same, so no need for you to do anything to the rear.

You can upgrade the front to the GP2 brakes as they will have more clamping force, but would recommend doing the GP2 master at the same time.
https://www.waymotorworks.com/jcw-jo...brake-kit.html
You can just do the GP2 master with your current JCW brakes and it is an improvement as we have done it to many cars.
https://www.waymotorworks.com/brake-...inder-gp2.html

 

I ran 15mm to clear with those wheel. Now I am on 20mm to be more flush which the wheel arch on those wheels.

 

So lets look at it a different way now...

Im sure ECS and WMW can chime win with the tech.

How much does a JCW caliper/rortor weigh vs a GP2 Caliper/Rotor?

 

I can't tell you without actually weighting them in person. But it is a pretty good difference as I just did some GP brakes last week and those calipers are clearly heavier than the 4 piston, not to mention the weight. If you are concerned with the weight I'd lean towards a 6 piston wilwood kit as the calipers are lighter, rotors are lighter with aluminum hats, and the kit is cheaper.
https://www.waymotorworks.com/wilwoo...kit-12.88.html

 

any input on simply upgrading to metal pistons on the factory Brembos with some braided lines?

 

Looks like last time we weighted it was ~7.55 lbs each for the 4 pot: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...t/34106856651/
Thats for everything seen in the pic.

Gp2 JCW 6 pot https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/Sit...w_gp2_caliper/
was ~12.08 lbs each for everything in the pic.

 

Good info, good options.

Last question. Are there lightweight rotor options for the factory 4pots?

 

https://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2013-...raking/Rotors/



Just cross drilled and slotted or slotted, might be marginally lighter due to material removed. In the future we hope to have some floating rotor options.

Cool thing if you notice on the back of the JCW and believe the GP2 rotor they have this smooth finish on the back of the hat to near the vein. Like its contours for air.

 

Has anyone attempted to swap the mini cooper gp2 brake servo and master cylinder into the r53 platform?

 

I had some lightweight two-piece rotors made for my GP big brake install. Much lighter than the stock rotors.

 

Do you have a link to them? Do you know if ECS produces this part since ordering it from them?

 

We dont carry a two piece for the factory size GP2 rotor. Just slotted and drilled solid one piece.

 

what about the regular R56 MCS - what is the difference between the JCW and MCS rear brakes?

 

Rear S brakes use a 259mm diameter rotor, JCW and GP2 rears are 280mm diameter.

The actual caliper and brake pad is the same, but a larger bracket is used to mount the caliper to the larger diameter rotor.

The only other difference is JCW and GP2 are painted red.

 

The difference from GP2 to Gen2-JCW with Brembo brakes and the MCS with standard brakes ... is the displacement of the master-cylinder and the coding of the brake-module specific to the diameters, pad area, tire size. The GP2, JCW-brembo, and Gen2 MCS all have different programming for brake bias, anti-lock parameters etc... The "Coding" is different for these three cars in terms of brake controller.

If you can get a dealer to re-flash your brake controller with the GP2 coding... AND you have the right master cylinder... then I'd say its a good idea... otherwise.... I'd personally stay away from the combo, even though there are plenty of mod people out there that say the coding doesn't matter. It matters enough that I think it would be pretty difficult to find a dealer that would be willing to re-flash your brake controller.... there might be some independent shops that have figured out how to hack it.... not sure there... but also not sure I'd trust that either.

For a GEN1... I'm not even sure that you could come up with a reflash for the JCW or GP2 conversion.... though there again are plenty of MINI modders that have bolted on Gen2-JCW front brakes to their R53's ... without ever giving consideration to the balance (aka 'Bias' or 'proportionioning') of the brakes as they work... and leave the smaller diameter rear disks on there and hope that the brake controller can effectively modulate the forces applied to the brakes in day-to-day or emergency brake or DSC events.

Most aftermarket brake 'upgrades' to not take these considerations into account. Some may look at it in a systematic approach... but worth asking. In some situations with altered, 'upgraded', brakes... you may actually lower the performance and/or safety of the car you are installing them on.

In the end, you'll have to decide what you want to do in terms of altering one of the more complex and important systems on your car for your own/families safety and the safety of others on the road with you... or even for the track.

 

You can go to the Mini dealer and have them code the car for "JCW Sport Brake Retrofit". I'm not sure how it compares to the GP2 programming, but it changes the ABS profiles when big brakes are installed. I had the dealer perform that coding when I installed the front BMW/GP2 calipers. Definitely changed the ABS behavior and engagement. I don't think it changes any front / rear biasing. I still have my S master cylinder installed. I have a GP2 master in the garage, but haven't felt like the brakes need it. Pedal feel is almost no different from before the caliper upgrade.

 

I'm curious.... Which Rear brakes do you have?

 

I have my original S rear calipers with JCW brackets and bigger rotors.

 

Sincere question... Why would you NOT install the GP2 Master cylinder and the GP2 flash?