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Hello all. It has been a very long time since I last posted here but last time I did i was so nicely welcomed that i figure i should give back.Granted I am still a newbie here but it think I can help a fellow festy owner. When I first came here I was hoping that someone had already posted a how to and what to expect when puttin mini cooper wheels on. I didnt find anything but you all took the time and gave good advise. So enough blabering and to the swap.........
Step 1 Aspire swap- this is needed for the 4x100 bolt pattern. Its not hard to do and i lucked out the day i went to the junk yard it was a 1/2 off weakend. I walked out with newish looking pads, rotors, stock aspire knuckles, tie rod ends, calipers, brake lines, rear axle,and aspire master cylinder all for around $160. I installed new bearings (press required for fronts), seals, wheel cylinders, shoes, and brake hardware. I recomend installing aspire master clyinder due to correct piston bore and its easy just bend the top line very slowly with a tubing bender to make fit. Bleed and flush system. Make sure pedal is hard!!!! note stud and nut conversion is not required Stock lug bolts fit and work just fine.
Step 2 Remove old mini tires- if not alread done and mount and balance 195/45r15 tires. I Bought mine off ebay. I have done research and found that it is not recommended for 195/45's to be mounted to 5.5 inch rim but it fits (PITA). I chose this size because it was cheeper and is only .7% smaller than stock so fairly accurate speedo.
Step 3 Roll rear fenders- This may not be nessicary or it may be more nessicary with FMS lowering spring. Mine onn stock blown junk springs and shocks will touch the fender over large bumps but im going to roll the fenders and go from there.
Step 4 keep them clean- "They might be 15's but I keep them clean." Mine are not clean at the moment but I try as it is a slight head turner. I get thumbs up sometimes but laught at other times. Hey its a festy but its mine and i wouldnt have it any other way. You can turn lock to lock with no problems. Aspire upgrade stiffens the rear and helps with understeer. The aspire brakes are awsome I havent tested the limits but I almost go through the windshield if I stand on the brake. The wheels and tires are pretty light weight 15.2 lbs for 15" is light, and make road feel so much better. Next up is FMS lowering spring and KYB struts unless someone knows of a better set up.
Step 1 Aspire swap- this is needed for the 4x100 bolt pattern. Its not hard to do and i lucked out the day i went to the junk yard it was a 1/2 off weakend. I walked out with newish looking pads, rotors, stock aspire knuckles, tie rod ends, calipers, brake lines, rear axle,and aspire master cylinder all for around $160. I installed new bearings (press required for fronts), seals, wheel cylinders, shoes, and brake hardware. I recomend installing aspire master clyinder due to correct piston bore and its easy just bend the top line very slowly with a tubing bender to make fit. Bleed and flush system. Make sure pedal is hard!!!! note stud and nut conversion is not required Stock lug bolts fit and work just fine.
Step 2 Remove old mini tires- if not alread done and mount and balance 195/45r15 tires. I Bought mine off ebay. I have done research and found that it is not recommended for 195/45's to be mounted to 5.5 inch rim but it fits (PITA). I chose this size because it was cheeper and is only .7% smaller than stock so fairly accurate speedo.
Step 3 Roll rear fenders- This may not be nessicary or it may be more nessicary with FMS lowering spring. Mine onn stock blown junk springs and shocks will touch the fender over large bumps but im going to roll the fenders and go from there.
Step 4 keep them clean- "They might be 15's but I keep them clean." Mine are not clean at the moment but I try as it is a slight head turner. I get thumbs up sometimes but laught at other times. Hey its a festy but its mine and i wouldnt have it any other way. You can turn lock to lock with no problems. Aspire upgrade stiffens the rear and helps with understeer. The aspire brakes are awsome I havent tested the limits but I almost go through the windshield if I stand on the brake. The wheels and tires are pretty light weight 15.2 lbs for 15" is light, and make road feel so much better. Next up is FMS lowering spring and KYB struts unless someone knows of a better set up.
Steve GT
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