For those that have put the R56 brakes on your R53 could please explain how it was done.

What wheels did you have (Will X-lites work?)

What year was your car?

What modifications needed to be done?

How much were parts?

Was it worth it?

Keep in mind that the JCW brakes pretty much ARE the R56 brakes, so the same rules apply.

VERY few 16" OEM wheels will fit the JCW brakes, although I do believe the X-Lites are OK. Generally speaking, for OEM wheels you need 17" wheels or larger to fit the brakes.

Anyway, don't waste your time looking to add R56 brakes, just price out the parts & installation cost of the JCW brakes instead.

Where do you think MINI got the design for the R56 brakes from?

The real upside to all of it... the JCW brake pads were quite expensive, but now they should be (or become) much cheaper as I believe they are the exact same fitment as R56 brakes. Aftermarket options will significantly increase too.

The reason for asking is that there seems to be a R56 brakes for sale in the market place from time to time. $350ish for a brake setup is always going to be cheaper than the factory kit.

it's not a straight bolt-on. I believe how the calipers mount to the hub knuckle is different.

Not to be rude but if you have not done it then the mystery remains unsolved.

I Know someone has to have done it by now. Please post your expeerience.

not to be rude, but, please search - there's no mystery. those who have done it have posted a thread about it.

I've searched and searched to no avail. I dont see why they wouldn't!?

If most r53 studs are smaller, then they should pass through the larger holes of the r56 brakes without issue. The real question is if they mount to the hub in the same way. If the r56 brakes were indeed modeled after the r53 jcw's, then they should fit.

I'm going to give Dan at Grassroots Garage a call to see if he's come across this yet.

Helix did this...put StopTech's on their R56 and the R56 brakes on an R53.

According to This Guide HERE.

It indicates that you can install r53 JCW brakes on any r50, r52, r53, or r56.

Now reason tells me this would be the same for the opposite, r56 brakes on any of the others.

not so quick. note there are different part numbers on that doc and that the install instructions are different for the R56 vs. older models. I wouldn't say that's conclusive proof, unfortunately

I asked Ralph at Helix, and he says:

ralphhelix@com: morning! The R56 brake conversion would be replacing everything....sensors, calipers, pads, rotors, and carriers

So what does that tell us?

I'm not saying it won't work. How about the straight dope instead of cryptic answers?

if the JCW kit is spec'ed for the 56 then the 56 brakes will fit on the 53. There's no way they can't!

Matt

no wai!










Perhaps it's because there are three P/N's for the JCW kit (one for the R56). If someone could confirm all three kits use the same caliper, then this mystery is solved.

The caliper doesn't bolt to the hub. The caliper carrier does. That's what has to have the bolt spacing that matches the hub carrier. The cailpers can all be identical, but if the carriers are different, you're hosed!

Matt

if the calipers are identical and just the carrier is different, one could reuse the carrier from the R53 brakes to make it work

My sentiments exactly.

which JCW kit P/N works? there are three to choose from

I junno, we'll need to talk to someone at MINI for that.

just call Helix! If they;'ve done it, they have the exact answer!

Matt

see my post from last night.

I am getting my r56 brake calipers and rotors in today. I will let you all know after i paint and install them how it went and if they are a direct bolt on or not.

Forget the paint, just mock one up and settle the debate. LOL!

maybe i should lol plus i don't have the paint yet.

So are the R56 the JCW brakes? I need to replace the rotors and pads on my wife's JCW brakes (after only 35K miles) and want to know if I can just use the newer brake parts.