The Independent American Magazine for all Mini Owners
Issue link: http://mc2.epubxp.com/i/33536
“The more I know about Minis, the more I know I don’t know about Minis.” Are Rear Drums More Complicated? I’ve been doing minor maintenance on my Mini (change oil, lube, etc.) and it’s time to take a step up and check out the rear brakes. My fronts are discs and the only thing I’ve had to do to them is to change the pads. The rears are drums and a quick look in the workshop manual made them look a little more complicated. Suggestions? Chris Oberlin Kansas City, MO Discs For The Rear I’ve been thinking about upgrading my rear brakes and won- der if discs have been made to fit in place of the rear drums I now have. John Crowe Atlanta, GA Maintenance Tips: by Chuck Heleker Have you lubed the fittings on your Mini lately? It’s a simple job, costs little, and saves big bucks down the line. There are only eight fittings that need regular attention on Minis and they’re all easy to get to. No excuses! When was the last time you checked the clutch and brake Upgrading Front Discs I have a 70’s Mini still running the front, twin-leading shoe brakes. I want to upgrade to front discs. I also want to stay with 10-inch wheels so the conversion kits I’ve been looking at are the ones that use the Cooper S/1275GT 7.5-inch discs. How complete are the kits? Wayne Baldan San Diego, CA 56 MC2 Magazine www.mc2magazine.com fluid – not just the level, but also the color? Depending upon whom you talk to, brake and clutch fluid (one in the same in a Mini) should be changed every two to three years. One of the most common problems I encounter with Minis brought to me is leaking wheel cylinders, especially in cars that don’t often get driven. Old brake fluid is death on wheel cylinder seals. It’s a lot cheaper to change the fluid every few years (easier, too!) than it is to replace wheel cylinders…and safer. i mpr to S-ty ov peoplnd ee dp than the lim G by having a w reassem I w do iving a cited spacp m o m plete w o basicved drum sho o gro uldnuld suggest so sitiow o s. As lo ’ t have any tro and wf the sho ing o m h the pho irro es no atc m red fro side. I c rear brakes installed c ’ m o an t say that I’ edges; the po bly ng as the brakes aren rksho . And pay spec er spring has to be installed so that it s and leaking w anual. I t sho m ’ o uble and yo n o e brake type anti- m ial attentio heel cu w t rub o ne side to the op m es. T n the hub, and rem he lo f the lo o o rrec tly ylinders, fo o’ n to w nt need any spec ear o r instanc : w to in a wve never had a c rksho ther , so do em ’ er spring; and the po seiz ber that the sho anual w , but I c ar in m e to be used duringn- alk thro uld get yo t c n the adjusters e) yo o ial to u sitio nt set up bo h o an say that it has been rare. hic y garage w nly sho e set up is w th sides to s o ith the ne ls. e available here, but yo ugh o f the jo u have a go o b w pletely trashed (badly u thro uld take m ugh the o o d start re of al, y int n we Th weel bear e on ou r p l ou ar o a h r ar e getti s – ne fom th , h sn n Nowl mi erth e al ti me as ev rum on kl, th Fan T es an r ti on of th y y ar d he d s a isc fro u d th n nd re nt b s a at i ou can ev n ou s e ol e axl e’s my take on th k s : f igs . In f act, y er g par s si y ig el l c k ra en u d h pacer Br s i r whe e ho e dr’t r es l os ts th s goi rs. e at I th g on e i i n n m ony a pr s a g eal ? Th T d 2-i on e f ln s r r ear dr ylind Whe th Th u e e f or w ti don ou ar “ub pint i If y p h av er i dealpen ss u e been av ppl s can s o s” ai son u actor p w as good as w on r l c t a bu e n h i ou m s r size va et u y -made M e t i i don g w on e w er e r i er i th th s l n s e f e l as ued f nd t s ii ns di rie eeded. Th t w pacer d n th th ooki e w e u ear br n , a t, bas , bu or al ed ov akes e a l a . eel e y er th ) yoabl ou wth a s e f u will find t l g to s av u ades pgr y y or man s , i ttl dn l 41 yrum , th i e r s an s to l ear e gr n f d, i he d l eates ear i ’t come w s we ea re a i cal act, v e amou i t maj ou t th y i mi ha eary y i ntead. Th at’s on e of th e bes t w ay s y ou cou l d s pen d mon ey to i e w isc b t re s ei et. M orty of th ar s ty r d os . M th dics an on s s of pr va u aki ms w odu b r dr pes of pr n t of br e br n gh k e M t th t ( e cnve i par n ra or js n ut i e? I’d pu t of th e mon i o n ey ito ter n k rsio es ted is ts n it sinc n C hee t hck H ig model a cal qu u n, he s gar ’ s i com. Be s es ue to i ti ire T s on r ruc s a Mini F . H clde ye can be r r neachame, ci i el s m age ar py t st eker got h rive n h oly d e a M o a . He is ha i is k nu s frt M n Minis. A p n ou ii s m ii C d th . e bas i c cti le wit e ila h er s n - oporg aki g i ome 40 y n ooper S P o ed at: sty an taf d s r c f nswe@mc2magaz la ng t tate i ear o he m ar c olce C re int n th s ago, an re el st d - e ssic Mini tie. i , as wl ehni- n keep ths at than e. If yce w ou don n r he ne n -to-r ch w d es t e r i mpor ys (ou lkel ce th tan ake balt h i er cyider z mal ear br n l ot a good i er s ie to r dea! ear as men ’t alch y hv ear tr , or is acks i ntal ti on r ed i akes can make a pan edu pgr t up o isc se ade to br enn fro s . It makes s ob s i ai l ylinds a b on th h es can rse u i e re slig e n at abouace th t w ht ly sho , di t, except fe s h r or d u e s ing up ts h g n e good ki pe die tu o n e y s e ar ou r car cs i red of re a av i or th tcomi h ou on l d be chake h t br n an os e ew ded h nt will wid e to do th n th u os e es rtr t s em, bu me to r ood ti . epl e s ms w ou 8-i l “S” drn a pr e 5/ eady h i ev i ae 3/ es top ev sr e pr c s 4-i ue at then mor i ) , make th e r ear n t ame at th. Ei ame prth th av he fro e s nt t c ra opore bu si s ti s dicu ear weel l on n s t h it i n e r er addear to son an ch r . L e exci pacer . d i h e chockitig n an g u t i n, bu ge to th p th t’s e e t . G eat i e cos n yo s a grf by th oi n dea. I rt of th r g f n whee evew par n s ne w hub om duecomments ( -l al eaki n d i nd whe ou n y ig y r al u b ts f g [ t o e ki i sc] soe br ome t s eed, at a mi int uy). i erthn o s, ne mosms w CV jop w ig ar ou en mosw b t ev int th al t al a l th $1000 - $1500 ten h f , bu nmu n w e commo m. Bes ll jo erthn . teer gs of th n ged at thear ha es e ki e s , r ts . Th es s a g n y i nd ne t ew ey ame c s e con t th et u n t p. di d - he d rum em, an k akes e emai l . keep ‘em running