Stock (light rust from just washing the MINI):


Stoptech BBK :


Stock vs. Stoptech rotor:


Stoptech installed:


I installed Stoptech slotted rotors (stock sized) in the rear along with Axxis Ultimate pads to match the front. Stoptech strainless lines all the way around.

Will report on performance after completing another "bed-in" cycle.

 

Those look awesome!

 

Where did you get it?

 

wow those are HUGE!
are your wheels 17"?

 

Very beautiful...drooooool:smile: Do you have pics of the rear rotor?

 

Rear (stock sized) rotor from Stoptech:

 

Sweeet Thanks

 

17 x 7.5" SSR GT7s. They clear the Stoptech caliper without spacers

 

Oh how sweet it is!

 

Time to change that signature photo!

Pictures are worth a thousand words, but you really just don't get the feeling until you hold those monsters in your hands. I had a great time helping you with those, and just wish there were an appropriately-sized set for the rears.

 

Red Baron,

Brakes looks great. I have a set I'm getting ready to install but the brake bleeding got me all worried. After searching the forum, some guys are having mushy brakes after they replaced their brake lines. Seems there is some residual air in the lines that are stubborn to remove. I have a pressure bleeder and have done this procedure on my previous cars many times without incident. This my first attempt at bleeding the brakes on the Mini. How did you bleed your brakes? Did you also do the clutch? One of the post that I read said to try to keep the resevoir from draining when the brake lines are replaced. Not sure how to prevent that other than finding a plug to keep the fluid from draining. TIA

 

badassmini,

It's a piece of cake with the pressure bleeder. Bleed On!

 

It’s easy to replace the brake lines. First step is taking everything off, but don't crack the lines open yet. Install all your new part, but not the pads (normally the pads slip in thru the top). Now add the lines quickly with out too much fluid loss. Open the bleeder screw on you new unit till fluid starts to come out. Check and make sure you have some in your master cyl. If needed, fill it. Do the same for the other side. It’s best to do one side at a time if you need to look to see where something should go. Make sure the rotors are clean (no oil on them) then add pads. Now your ready to bleed. You don't need to bleed the clutch since you never opened it up and it never ran dry. Bleed as you normally bleed your brakes, making sure you refill as needed, then spray it down and look for leaks. Your good to go. Stop as fast as you can.



Good looking system RB!

 

Thanks for the support. Am I toast if for some reason the resevoir is drained because I did not install the brake lines fast enough. Just didn't want to rush. Never worried about this before. Thank for the advice on pre fitting everything and saving the lines for last.:smile:

 

Do yourself a favor and purchase this great tool:


I used 1/2 liter of Valvoline synthetic brake fluid to flush the air and old fluid out. Then I used just under 1 liter of ATE SuperBlue to ensure all the air was out. The Motive Power Bleeder worked great and there was never a worry in regards to bleeding the reservoir dry. The pedal is firm and is actually more "communicative" than stock.

Removing and replacing the lines was the most difficult part of the install and it wasn't difficult at all. A little time consuming, but not difficult. When you disconnect the stock lines fluid will drip slowly from the hard lines.

 

Thanks All. I'll post pics when I get them installed. I was worried for nothing.:smile:

 

so, how has braking performace been with those monsters?
pedal feel? fade-resistance? distance?
c'mon, you've had two days to bed them in

 

Hi,

Nice brake kit you have there

Can you please share with us what offset your 17s are, since they clear the larger Stoptech calipers without spacers?. I'd be interested to know.

Thanks,

Henry

 

Why don't you have to upgrade the rear brakes so that they are proportionately equal to the fronts? Are you depending on ABS or something to accomodate the brake bias issues? I am making the assumption that if the stock system with a given pedal effort allocated the braking 70/30 front to rear (just hypothetical values), then with the larger front StopTechs the balance is upset. If the front is now snatching you down quicker, does that mean you need to rethink shock settings and spring rates? I am not trying to find fault, I love real brakes on the track or the street, but what you did seems at odds with my notion of the 'rules.'

Vince

Of course, maybe they are proportionately equal. But they don't seem like they are.

 

There are no replacement rear calipers for the Mini unless you elimiate the E-brake. There are larger rotors but I don't think that rotor diamiter with stock calipers will make any difference.

 

This is the same question that I have had in the past as well. I don't understand the responses people give. People put these massive aftermarket front brakes on without any consideration for the back. When manufacturers put larger brake kits on their cars, they also uprate the rears as well to keep the bias in the same proportions. While the big brake kit may do okay in straight line deceleration, I would think the bias would start to show around a track.

 

StopTech engineered their BBK to be "balanced" and brake like a stocker. I noticed no adverse affects from installing this kit. The pistons inside the ST-40 caliper are 30 and 34mm (leading to trailing), which are smaller than the stock single 53mm piston. As a test I found an empty road and stopped from 50 mph with no hands on the wheel. It stopped in a straight line as expected. The real test will be when I test it out on the track very soon

I researched BBKs and spoke to a lot of folks who are very knowledgeable in the braking department and all of them said the same thing in regards to the MINI, "the rears [brakes] are along for the ride."

 

The offset is 42mm. The hub mount to inside spoke face distance is what helps clear the massive ST-40 caliper.

 

thank u for the thread, very nice .....how painful is this mod on the budget side?

 

Really? Even JCW brake upgrade only come with 2 red calipers in the front and stock in the rear?