Swapping rear drum backplates
Turbo Mini Forums

Hi, is it a problem to swap backplates side to side, so that the handbrake cable and brake pipes are up out of harms way on a rally car?

It should also make bleeding better as the nipple is on the top of the cylinder instead of underneath- apart from slightly more awkward getting to it behind the shock of course.

Brake adjuster is easier to get to though.

www.topcatcustom.co.uk

You wouldnt need to swap them theyre the same arent they? You would just have to swap the cylinders over?

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I think they are handed- as the cylinders go at the bottom usually on both sides, and the handbrake mech hole is to the rear which means they are a mirror image, unless I am wrong?!!

www.topcatcustom.co.uk

They are Handed

It's ok- I don't think I can as the brake pipe from the slave cylinder is too close to the shock as it comes straight out, and I don't want to kink it by bending it so tight. Might scrub that one!

www.topcatcustom.co.uk

get long braided hoses with a banjo on them.

Doesn't it rely on having a flared soft metal end to seal between the pipe and cylinder?

www.topcatcustom.co.uk

The banjo fitting/bolt is sealed against the cylinder by copper washers.

putting aside the issues of making the brakes work (i'm assuming the shoes would need to be flipped about) what clearance will you have for the handsbrake quadrants off the floor?

I've had issues in the past with the bracket for the brake pipe hitting the floor so can only assume you could have the same clearance issues for the cables and quadrant as well

Edit; looking at Andy's photo, you'll have clearance issues i'd have thought with the cables against the shock as well

Edited by Rob Gavin on 18th Feb, 2013.

The orientation of the back plate makes no difference to brake operation as long as you put the shoes in the correct way.

GTMs and my Nimbus have the backplate at 90 degrees (all be it on the front suspension). Handbrake cable is routed from above, so no quadrants needed.

As it happens, I think it'd be lots of effort for no gain. It's all quite protected behind the wheel. Unless you run a crazy offset.

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I've fabricated tubular radius arms so makes no difference to me, as I have to weld on a couple of brackets to hold the pipework in place anyway. I'll check out the size of a banjo, if it's too tight I'll leave it standard.

www.topcatcustom.co.uk

Wil, are you talking about the nimbus and gtm not needing quadrants? I can't work out how you would get away without it on the mini (or something to route the cable towards the centre of the car)

Yes, it would be a very interesting route the cable would need to take to make it work. In and out of the boot.

Still it's a possible option if it was a sensible mod.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph