For more than 3 decades, AP Racing has been a leader in the quest for applied friction. AP hardware has been used on cars from the fabulous Auto Union racers to the latest F1 bullets and at venues such as Le Mans, where Panoz, Corvette and Lola depend on AP's expertise. In fact, during the 1999 Le Mans 24 Heures, an AP-equipped car (a class winner) went the entire race with no change of discs or pads.
Though AP has made its bones via racing, it is also used by exotic, limited-production street cars such as TVR and Lotus. And now, thanks to the folks at Stillen, the new MINI is recipient of an AP brake upgrade.
"It's often difficult to improve on an already good product, such as the MINI," said Stillen's Don Weberg, "but it looks as though AP Racing has done just that."
Stillen's Alex Cates explained, "What got our attention, besides AP's reputation, was that this package was developed specifically for one application, the MINI. This is a direct bolt-on replacement system for the new MINI--no auxiliary brackets. Just remove the factory units and put the bigger AP brakes on."
AP's lightweight aluminum calipers are larger than stock and feature four sequentially siz
Therein lies the goodness of the AP big brake kit. While it is possible to retrofit almost any caliper beneath a wheel, the extra adaptation bracketry can compromise performance. It's like using a pair of pliers to swing a hammer--you can do it, but it's better to simply grip the handle.
The AP Racing Big Brake kit for the MINI is comprised of two lightweight aluminum calipers with four sequentially sized pistons, said to minimize pad taper and optimize surface compression. They feature inner wiper and dust seals (like all street brakes should) and include anti-rattle clips for firm pad placement and noise reduction. Aerospace-grade 8-10.9 mounting hardware is included. Pads are Jurid, an OEM supplier for Mercedes, VW, Audi and Porsche, designed for high-performance street use and light track activity. The AP Racing one-piece rotors measure 304mm x 24mm (12 in. x 0.95 in.) and are cast with 40 directional vents and then crossdrilled. The kit also includes Goodridge braided stainless-steel lines.
Installing the AP brakes is a simple remove-and-replace procedure. If you can change your own brake pads, chances are you can install the AP Racing brakes on the MINI. However, it's always a good idea to have a professional do any brake work if you're at all unsure about your skills.
In comparison to the stock brakes, the AP system offers a 28mm gain in rotor diameter and 3mm gain in thickness. Piston size is increased from 28.4mm to 48mm, and leverage length goes from 131mm to 115mm. Because of the larger caliper size, Stillen recommends the use of 17-in. wheels. Stillen's Web site has a specifcation sheet with a brake profile diagram to help you determine whether a particular wheel will accept the brakes.
The replacement rotors are 28mm larger in diameter and 3mm thicker than stock. Because of
After "bedding in" the pads, we took this Cooper S on a test drive and were very impressed with the performance of the AP Racing system. The improvement is evident with noticeably shorter stopping distances, and whereas the factory brakes are good, they will fade with spirited use. The AP brakes, however, continued to perform even after the rotors began to glow from the heat.
The AP Racing Big Brakes for the MINI are not cheap; the price is approximately $1,700, but they are exceptional performers. The adage "you get what you pay for" is clearly evident, here and we can think of no better place to invest serious bucks than in secure braking performance.
Stillen
3176 Airway Ave.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
714-540-5566
www.stillen.com