Brake upgrades range from simple pad and hose improvements fitted during routine maintenance, to comprehensive disc and servo upgrades that transform stopping power. Most upgrades are direct replacements for the original components and can be combined progressively, starting with pads and hoses, then adding performance discs and stainless pistons as budget allows.
Uprated Brake Pads
EBC Green Stuff brake pads offer increased initial bite, improved fade resistance under repeated hard braking, and reduced dust compared to standard compounds. They are a direct replacement for standard pads, suitable for both road and light competition use. Standard Mintex pads are also available for owners preferring OE-equivalent specification, and are the correct choice for cars maintained to original factory standard.
Performance Brake Discs
Grooved and cross-drilled brake discs provide improved heat dissipation and wet-weather performance over the standard solid disc. The grooves and drilling channel water, gas, and brake dust away from the pad surface, maintaining consistent braking under repeated hard use. Performance discs are available for both steel wheel and wire wheel hub configurations, and complete disc kits combining performance discs with EBC Green Stuff pads are available as a matched package for owners upgrading both at the same time.
Stainless Steel Braided Hoses
Three stainless steel braided hoses (two front, one rear) replace the standard rubber flexible hoses. Braided hoses eliminate the expansion that occurs in ageing rubber under hydraulic pressure, providing a firmer and more consistent pedal feel. This is one of the most cost-effective brake upgrades available, and the improvement is particularly noticeable on cars still running original rubber hoses where the expansion under pressure robs the system of effective pedal travel.
Stainless Calliper Pistons
Stainless pistons replace the standard steel items, offering vastly improved corrosion resistance. Standard pistons are prone to pitting, particularly on cars stored for extended periods in damp conditions. A corroded piston can seize in the calliper bore, causing uneven braking and potential brake binding or failure. Stainless pistons are a sensible preventative upgrade during any calliper overhaul, the cost difference is small relative to the labour involved in stripping the calliper, and they effectively eliminate the seized-piston failure mode.
Copper Brake Pipe Kits
Complete copper brake pipe kits provide all rigid pipe sections for a full system renewal. Copper is significantly easier to form than original steel pipe and provides superior corrosion resistance, making it the preferred material for a complete brake pipe renewal. Kits are available pre-formed to the correct bends and lengths for each model specification, reducing installation time and ensuring correct routing first time.
Brake Drum Covers
Polished brake drum covers in silver and gold finishes provide a decorative treatment for the rear drums, visible through wire wheel spokes where the drum face would otherwise be plain cast iron. These are a visual accessory rather than a functional upgrade, but they are a popular finishing touch on concours and show cars where every visible component is expected to be presented to a high standard.
Servo Kit
A brake servo kit provides vacuum-assisted braking, reducing the pedal effort required for a given braking force. No servo was fitted as original equipment to the Midget, so this is an aftermarket addition. The reduced pedal effort is particularly appreciated in traffic driving and by owners accustomed to modern servo-assisted cars, where the unassisted Midget pedal can feel heavy by comparison. The servo mounts between the master cylinder and the bulkhead and draws vacuum from the inlet manifold.