MK11 Posted June 4, 2012 Posted June 4, 2012 I would like to borrow some M16 or similar brake calipers to see if they will actually fit under the 13" wire wheels. Probably only take 30 mins! My logic is as follows:- I am assured that a standard upgrade for the Midget is Princess calipers but they weigh almost as much as the car. Princess calipers also fit the Ford M16 bracket so logically an M16 caliper should might just fit and if an M16 caliper fits, the Wilwood Powerlite ought to fit and save me weight! However, most of the people upgrading Midget brakes use alloy wheels not wires so it may all be wishful thinking. Anyone with a spare caliper to lend in the Cambridge/Huntingdon area, condition not important? Thanks, Matthew
stu999 Posted June 4, 2012 Posted June 4, 2012 Hi, I threw three in the scrap bin today...but sadly in North Shropshire I like the theory, but when Powerlites are supplied to fit a 'cortina donor', they also come with larger diameter (than standard) discs. But in so doing, they still manage to fit under most 13" wheels. As far as general layout goes, IIRC the midget caliper is virtually identical in design to the M16, and not that much different in size. What might be worth looking at is brake caliper upgrades for (real) Mini's - because for a time at least, they shared the same caliper...
Geoff101 Posted June 4, 2012 Posted June 4, 2012 Powerlites don't have to use a bigger disc do they? Standard cortina is 247mm disc. Rally design supply a replacement kit with 265mm discs (I have them) but you can also get a kit that uses the original disc (just a different bracket) from lots of people.
stu999 Posted June 4, 2012 Posted June 4, 2012 Powerlites don't have to use a bigger disc do they? Standard cortina is 247mm disc. Rally design supply a replacement kit with 265mm discs (I have them) but you can also get a kit that uses the original disc (just a different bracket) from lots of people. Powerlites can be bought as a stand-alone caliper. I don't personally know of anybody that has fitted them to a standard 247 disc, but I am happy to be corrected. I think they would be lost on the diminutive midget disc... You won't buy Wilwood Powerlites from many other places than Rally Design
Geoff101 Posted June 4, 2012 Posted June 4, 2012 http://www.burtonpower.com/parts-by-fitment-type/parts-by-car-model-ford/ford-cortina/120-8726-m16m.html
stu999 Posted June 4, 2012 Posted June 4, 2012 http://www.burtonpow...-8726-m16m.html Well, you live and learn, thanks for that. Don't know how much help that is to Matthew though...
MK11 Posted June 5, 2012 Author Posted June 5, 2012 What might be worth looking at is brake caliper upgrades for (real) Mini's - because for a time at least, they shared the same caliper... Unfortunately I don't think this is correct, plus most of the alternatives for the Mini are also hewn from solid lumps of cast iron and weigh considerable amounts. KAD do an ally 4 pot for the Mini and also sell an alternative part number for a Midget but those are somewhat expensive! Frontline Spridget sell a rebranded HiSpec caliper with a hefty markup. I'm looking to spend as little as possible!
Evo,s 7SE Posted June 5, 2012 Posted June 5, 2012 if its any help metro calipers were 4 pots on the mg
Evo,s 7SE Posted June 5, 2012 Posted June 5, 2012 also i got a set with discs you can have for free im in west yorkshire
MK11 Posted June 5, 2012 Author Posted June 5, 2012 Unfortunately, the Metro calipers will fit a Mini but not the Midget, otherwise they would be a great idea.
stu999 Posted June 5, 2012 Posted June 5, 2012 Unfortunately I don't think this is correct, plus most of the alternatives for the Mini are also hewn from solid lumps of cast iron and weigh considerable amounts. KAD do an ally 4 pot for the Mini and also sell an alternative part number for a Midget but those are somewhat expensive! Frontline Spridget sell a rebranded HiSpec caliper with a hefty markup. I'm looking to spend as little as possible! Have you contacted HiSpec at all? Silly question, but what are you actually looking to achieve? If you are after reducing weight then you will probably end up spending money. If it is purely better brakes then experimenting with different pad compounds is likely to be far more rewarding, and cheaper (because you will probably end up experimenting if you fit alloy 4pots too!!)
MK11 Posted June 6, 2012 Author Posted June 6, 2012 I'm really just plotting and planning at this stage. The brakes on the XI have never really been great, they are better now I have dumped the Greenstuff and gone 1144, but the thought of a nice light alloy caliper just won't go away. I have spoken to HiSpec as they make the Frontline caliper, however, I have heard mixed reports about HiSpec and obvoiusly they won't sell a Frontline caliper directly. If the M16 or Princess caliper fits then that opens up much broader options in terms of choice plus the calipers are cheaper than Midget specific ones as the market is larger (even if they are the same caliper the suppliers like to charge more!) I would rather pay £200 for some Wilwood or HiSpec ones than £540 KAD or £750 for Frontline.
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