G40 brakes......and tyres.....and rear shoes

minis84 · Post by **minis84** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 10:54 am

Hey,

After thinking about it for a while, I'm going to stick with the standard steelies for the time being. Have got some G40 brakes on the way, the standard 13x5.5 steels will fit over the calipers won't they?

Secondly, my current tyre size is 165/65x13. Will I be ok to run 165/70x13? If so then I can get some Yoko A539's in that size and actually have some grip. I know they'll be a slightly lower profile, but they won't affect anything else will they? (I can't imagine what they might affect, but knowing my luck there'll be something!

)

Thirdly, rear brake shoes....easy job? Will be doing it tonight, Haynes looks pretty straightforward, slightly more complicated than my Mini, the Polo has things like wedge keys and stuff, but doesn't look hard. Whats this about when refitting the drum, you tension the bearings then slacken the nut off until you can just move the washer? Why is that - as usual Haynes just tells you to do it, it doesn't actually say why.

Thats it, thanks in advance for any help!

Tom

Karl_CLCoupe · Post by **Karl_CLCoupe** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 10:35 pm

The complete G40 set-up WILL go under GT steels (I'm running that exact same brake and wheel combo (winter wheels)).

Tyres, only issue will be your speedo. You could get 175/60s (which was the tyre size offered on the G40), little wider, and lower profile, and the Yokos are available in that size too (I've been looking for some tyres for my BBS).

3rdly, brake shoes, I'll hand you over to Tahrey for that...

*Cue Tahrey*

Karl.

minis84 · Post by **minis84** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 10:44 pm

Thanks Karl, helpful as ever!

Well I don't actually use the analogue speedo really, I have a Road Angel so its kinda defunct now, unless the Road Angel packs up. But I do know that as standard the analogue speedo on my GT over-reads by 5mph

So I think I'll be purchasing some A539's soon, they're great tyres, if a bit soft and fast wearing, but I don't drive like I stole it (not all the time anyway

)

I got the drums and outer races off (how easy was it?! Why does HBOL always make it out to be complicated!?), and the shoes were still in fine fettle. I cleaned all the brake dust off and re-greased the wheel bearings etc, seems much better now.

Oh, and I finally got the central locking sorted! Turned out 2 of the solenoids were knackered, so I ordered some new ones, and hey presto, fully functional central locking, on the bootlid as well!

(will be the first time the CL has worked since I've had the bloody car too)

Karl_CLCoupe · Post by **Karl_CLCoupe** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 11:00 pm

Glad to be of service and that things are coming together bit by bit for the GT

.

Oh, and heres the proof of the wheels anyway (though you can't see the brakes lol).

Karl.

minis84 · Post by **minis84** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 11:09 pm

Brilliant, cheers dude! Now I know they'll fit I'm looking forward to getting the G40 stoppers on - I nearly went mad on ebay a second ago and bought some drilled/grooved discs, then decided against it, I think standard ones will do for the time being

Krupa · Post by **Krupa** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 10:43 am

Grooves do absolutely bugger all to help braking, all they do is wear pads down faster.

I have completely unfettled Brembo discs on mine, and they're actually better than the EBC pad/disc setup I had before.

Drilled discs do help cooling, but they're overkill on a GT and probably even on a G40.

minis84 · Post by **minis84** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 11:31 am

aye, my mate has a 1030cc Mini (so about 60bhp at full race tune - read slow, 0-60 in 13 seconds!), and has got some 4 pot alloy calipers with drilled, grooved and vented discs. They look great, but the pads last about 1000 miles - and at Â£50 a set thats a lot of wastage. He wont' fit standard vented discs though, says they won't be as good

My local GSF have some standard G40 brembo discs in at about Â£25 at the moment, they should do the trick

hardhitter · Post by **hardhitter** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 9:48 pm

The Yoko A539 that come in 175 60 13 (stock G40 size) will fit on the GT steels.

Don't forget raicam pads from PSD, they are excellent

Braided hoses and motul brake fluid help too.

Theres a trick to adjusting the rears up well. With the rear drum on, shine a torch through a bolt hole and find the wedge adjuster key. Push or pull this in the direction it makes the shoes touch and open them up close to the drum. Not too much so it doesn't stick on.

That gives a good pedal

SpikeyG40 · Post by **SpikeyG40** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 4:12 pm

proof G40 brakes fit under 13" steelies!

these steelies were off my bro's mk5 1ltr! i had bugger all grip, which was interesting!