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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Minifin drums (?)

Hi all! I sure do appreciate having all of you participate in this forum . . .

Vehicle under discussion is my '71 midget, moderately hotted-up garage queen (with wire wheels).

Several years ago I purchased some Minifin rear drums from a going-out-of-racing-sale; I took a peek at them after receipt and did nothing more.

Looking at them now, I observe
* They've been drilled for larger studs
* The depth of the drum appears that I would have to machine the outer edge of the backing plate
* I haven't measured the drums to see if the ID (inner diameter) is within spec for my application

Apparently, I have an affinity for shiny bits (performance doo-dads), which prompted the original acquisition. It seems that I'd have to address some questions if I wanted to install them; and if their braking effect isn't substantially similar to stock brakes, I'd have some brake balance issues.

One specific question would be in regards to re-lining the drums if they are outside of spec - is this feasible? I have no idea . . .

Your thoughts? "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" is a valid observation, as well.

Thanks!

Phil
Philip S Jones

Phil,

i had some on my 998 cooper, which i sold a while back to feed the Triumph monster. From what i remember the mini rear shoes are a different width to the spridgets, but i may be wrong.
cheers
Brad
B Richards

I don't think I've got a pic of the inside face of the drum but I'll keep looking.

Rob

(Sold the car last year)


rob multi-sheds thomas

Two weeks ago, I changed the rear shoes on my Mini and on my Midget. I assure you that both are the sames! The cylinders are also the sames.

Claude
klot

The Mini brake back plate is different, which means also that the back edge of the drum is diffeent. You need to match the backplate to the drum and then everything works
Bob (robert) Midget Turbo

Are they minifins, or super mini fins? I am sure we tried to put supers on my mates frog and failed dismally.
Shawn

Wider shoes should fit though.

When I had a mini as a youngster I put the front shoes on the back to get it through the MOT, put the proper ones back after so I could do it again the following year.
Markdj

Thanks for you comments and photos! From this, I take . . .
* It's worth pursuing, and
* I should compare the width of the swept area to see if I have the capability to run wider shoes.

The latter could influence the brake blance question; but is a variable I need to consider.

Thanks for your comment and input!

Shawn - is there a way I could distinguish whether I have "super" mini fins? I didn't see any markings to indicate such.

Thanks again!

Phil
Philip S Jones

I think 'supers' had built in wheel spacers from memory.
Shawn

Yes I think you are right Shawn. I had it in the back of my mind the super minifins had wide wheel spacers machined into the drum.
Bob England

Super minifins were Cooper S spec and definately had the spacer cast in.
I bought a set of the std minifins many years ago and then didn't get round to fitting them on the midget I had at the time, now I regret it very much. IIRC they were v expensive in their time, 1960 & 1970's
Ian
Ian Webb '73 GAN5

This thread was discussed between 05/09/2008 and 09/09/2008

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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