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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Which brake disc do Frontline use?

As per the title really. I'm looking as using mini front hubs on my Sprite, but I can't find which brake discs Frontline use. From the pics on their website they appear to have a nice shallow bell so I can use an adaptor as they do, but I can't find anything that matches.

Or, if not the Frontline discs, does anyone know of a brake disc with a nice shallow bell/raised centre section?
S Overy

What is this conversion??
Do you get bigger brakes?
FL only does the 9 inch mgb caliper or biger alloy caliper conversion afaik
Onno Könemann

probably my memory again - weren't you going to use a modified front suspension assembley off a Sierra complete with brakes - I'm probably wrong as usual, mind as well as memory going
Nigel At

spitfire discs on the peter may for certain, probably the frontline one as well.

small japanese disks seem to have a shallow bell, MX5 ones for instance, and the ones on the g/f toyota starlet are vented, shallow and not too large in diameter.
Rob Armstrong

Sorry, a little more detail would've helped wouldn't it?!

Nigel/Onno, I was going to use the Sierra uprights, but having gotten hold of some mini front uprights, I've decided to use those instead as they are more suitable for what I want, apart from the small brake disc size. They will still use the same basic double wishbone idea I was going to use, but altered to suit.

I should also have said that I'm after which ever disc is used on the 10" brake kit.
S Overy

Get a metro 8,4" vented setup
That is a straight fit and gives you all the braking you need.
The vented setup disipates heat quicker than the 9" set
Onno Könemann

I know, but I was wanting to try and fit a 10" set up, as I already have a set of alloy calipers, and getting an adaptor made up isn't expensive and fairly straight forward.

If it comes to it, I may just fit the Metro stuff for now and then see about upgrading later.
S Overy

10" might foul the shock absorber arm where it joins the top trunninon when on lock. Ours did.

Which alloy calipers are you using?
Paul Walbran

Frontline fitted 285mm front discs on mine.

Eddie.
Eddie Brown

I'm putting Spitfire 9" solid discs on mine to replace the metro vented setup. I don't think I need the extra cooling from the vented discs, and would rather have a quicker warm up of solid discs in normal driving, than better cooling on the race track. I would hazard an opinion that Mintex 1144 pads can handle any extra heat from solid discs over vented, on a 'fast road' car. I would also think that the choice of pads is more important than choosing a 10" over a 9". Ie good pads on a 9" would be much better than average pads on a 10" setup.

The spitfire discs don't need much work doing, just a spacer making up. Don't know about the 10" discs.

Onno, how is a 8.4" vented setup a straight fit? Discs need a lot of machining, hub needs machining, and you need to do something with the metro caliper mounting holes, or buy specific midget 4-pot alloy calipers.

Anyway, just my experience. Hope it helps.

Matt
Tarquin

Just to clear some confusion up: I'm NOT using the standard Sprite/Midget front suspension in any way. It will be an all new coil over and double wishbone set up using the mini uprights. Hence the Metro stuff being a direct fit. And also why I have no annoying top trunnion to get in the way.

Tarquin,

I have similar thoughts about the large vented stuff, as my old race engined Mini used to pull up quickly with just the old Copper S brakes and green stuff pads. However, this car will go a little quicker than even my Mini did. I would prefer to use large solid discs over vented, as most of what I will be doing will be road use as this will be my only car.
S Overy

just for info may or may not be relevant or of use to you

last night I almost missed a turn from the suggested route on a run so braked quite hard and locked at front

mine's a mildly off standard engine tune and bits and bobs with FL all round, standard brakes with Mintex 1144 pads

my mate who's worked in various parts of the car industry all his life starting as a trained mechanic got high up in Pagid Performance Brakes even now can't stand Green Stuff pads even after getting made redundant from Pagid a few years back

EBC are of course local to us
Nigel At

I've heard that the green stuff compound isn't a patch on what it used to be, but when I had the car running, it would pull up very smartly when asked to. I'd probably use the Mintex 1144 pads too these days as I've only really heard good things about them.
S Overy

Also, just discovered the Fiesta St rear disc. 253mm, 10 mm thick and a nice shallow bell of only 33mm which then leaves me with 29mm left for a PCD adaptor. And they're only £25.08 for the pair! I was looking at MGB front discs, but they're about 10mm too big to fit inside a 14" wheel.
S Overy

I wouldn't publish too much some commercial concern might borrow your ideas and developements :)
Nigel At

my green stuff were rubbish 'till I properly cooked them, smelt awful but have been much better since then. 'no dust' claim is total wotsits though.
Rob Armstrong

Matt
I gues you read the comment on the mini hub ;P

Still have a complete set of 9" ready to fit just no money for B calipers :(
Might be able to fix something while the fiancee is not looking
Onno Könemann

Nigel, I have no idea what you mean! ;) Although if it all works out, then we'll see about the commercial possibilities. At present though, my system is being designed around new chassis mounts and cutting a good portion away from the outer edge of the coil spring mount, so we'll have to see.
S Overy

Simon,

Have you got any photos yet of what you have done to the front suspension / crossmember

Cheers

Spencer
S Deakin

Spencer,

Not as yet as I started working on the rear De-Dion stuff whilst I was waiting for the mini stuff, so once that's done I'll move back to the front end. The front end will probably be fairly similar to the Huffiker racing stuff from the States that I have seen.

Have a look at my Flickr account for current progress:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53944874@N04/
S Overy

How come you chose Mini uprights, if you have worked in Mini's over the years you will know what a b@ll ache the ball joint shimming is, why not 'K' Metro / MGF? - Proper Ball joints and dirt cheap with all the dead Metros / MGF's around.

I still think the concept is sound though with the steering arm position, I have some MGF uprights for a look see as well as the time / money I have invested in the MX5 route, whatever can be implemented with least hassle.

Cheers

S Deakin

Some how half of what I wrote didn't appear in my last post and then it wouldn't let me edit it...

I was going to say that a lot of people seem to like the 'K' series route as there is an MG family connection, the same would be true if you used MGF uprights plus you get proper ball joints and a ABS trigger wheel if you want to run an electronic dash / speedo - but none of this might be important to you.

Cheers
S Deakin

Spencer,

I know what you mean about the family tree idea, but it's not something that bothers me to be honest. And I mainly went for the mini uprights as I could swap an old 998 mini gearbox for them, so they were basically free! And whilst the ball joints are a PITA, they'll only need doing every 3-5 years, so they're not something I will worry overly about. I intend machining most of the CV cup off if I use them, as it's just extra weight.

I'm not dead set on any one upright as yet, although now I have the mini ones, there's no way I'll bother with the Sierra ones. The minis are lighter, smaller and give a better top wishbone length whilst still allowing me a wide variety of brakes, albeit with simple adaptors. And the steering arm is both bolt on and top mounted so it removes any worries about potential flex in an extended lower arm.
S Overy

This thread was discussed between 10/08/2011 and 14/08/2011

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