What's it take for a DIY brake upgrade?
 

Last time I worked on brakes, the car had wooden floorboards (MG TD, IIRC) and that was a very longtime ago. So, I'm essentially a beginner.

How difficult is it install larger brakes on an R56 MCS? What is involved?

Is there any interaction with the OBC, DSC, or ACS?

Thanks,

It just takes a jack, jackstands, and relatively basic hand tools such as wrenches. No electronic worries.

Jack your car up, remove a wheel and make sure you have wrenches to fit the caliper bolts (can't remember if it is a hex or Torx off hand), plus either sockets or wrenches for the two capscrews that hold the caliper on the hub. There will also be a large Torx screw that holds the rotor on the hub. If your kit doesn't reuse the OEM calipers, you'll probably also need wrenches for the brake lines and one to fit the bleed screws on the calipers. If you loosen the brake lines for any reason, you'll need to bleed the brakes.

It sounds more complicated than it actually is.

Scott
90SM

Thanks. I assume that something like the TSW package would involve bleeding the brakes, right?

TSW package? u mean the Big bad mother BBK or something? yeah you will need to bleed ur brakes

but TSW package such as rotors and pads shouldn't REQuire bleeding ur brakes,,, although people recommend you to so

The most important ingredient---- Money!!

Standard replacement parts (oem) are not difficult to do as you have the old parts to look at. Pads are probably the more time consuming (rears for sure) with the clips and such. Moving from rubber to stainless steel flex hoses are fairly easy also but do require bleeding. Even that's pretty simple.

Installing a brake kit can vary a bit by both the design as well as the required work to assemble the kit. In the case of the 13" TCE/Wilwood kit there's some minor clearance grinding required. For those who've done it they'll tell you it's quite simple. However for someone not wanting to so such things (or lack of a Makita) the installation of the smaller Wilwood kits with the "foolishly simple" radial mount bracket makes it all but a no-brainer to do.

A lot of kits do require the assembly of hats and rotors which usually mean loctite, a torque wrench and often safety wire if so chosen to use. On the other hand the install of the pads on most kits is often easier than that of the oem parts!

Most folks can handle this work themselves but why not hook up with a local MINI owner in your area who has done such things and ask for some help? A nice lunch and you might be all set and make a new friend along the way.