How hard can this be?

[Chadwick]

I been thinking about doing this project for awhile about changing my rear drum brakes to disk brake. I found a web site that show how to do the step by step for the conversion. Here check out this web site http://wac.addr.com/auto/obs/disc/disc.html

Does it look easy?

[Kurt_W]

Looks pretty easy to me. Depends on how much trouble you have getting the bolts out.

Why do you want the rear discs?

[Chadwick]

Would there be better stopping distance? It look nicer!

[Davis Silver Sti]

Would there be better stopping distance? It look nicer!
Depends on how hard you press the brake peddle, heh

Actually, for better braking, I'd look more toward a better quality tire and perhaps some good brake pads for overall better performance. The rear brakes just don't do a whole lot.
Of course, going with a big brake kit is even better but that gets into a different $ ballpark.

[InterceptorXR7]

well, if your getting aftermarket wheels, go for it. Theres this grand am that runs around here on 18's with painted stock calipers and painted drums :roll:

[Kurt_W]

I’m inclined to agree with Davis. In terms of better handling and stopping ability a better quality of tire would best.

That being said, I’m currently in the process of accumulating the parts for a rear disc swap for the CRX. The primary reason I’m doing this is because my rear drums are shot and discs are easier to maintain. I do not anticipate any improvement in braking ability…I’m looking at it more as an ease of maintenance thing.

[chaoseg6]

thats one of the pluses of having a civic or a crx they are so light that you dont need big brakes to make them stop better ....

but as for the swap i have to agree with kurt and davis..... your rear brakes dont do much work ... you can get a pair of EBC brake pads that will dramaticly cut your stopping distance.... for probably 1/10 of the cost...

[Chaos_cb7]

Just do it you obviously want to. It cant be that hard and so what if you don't get any better stopping power at least you wont have gay ass drums. You can always go to cc and impress the kiddys lol.

[RobbieNelson]

Watch Michael Schumacher during practice or qualifying and you may note a reason not to screw with a factory braking system.... Brake Bias. The factory hydraulic system most likely has some form of brake biasing front-to-rear. It'll give just the right amount of pressure to lock the fronts and rears up at the same time. The system may use the same pressures for drums and discs, if so, great! You may be close enough that you can't tell a difference. But odds are, that the car will have a longer braking distance.

Note: I didn't RTFA... It may discuss this.

[Kurt_W]

Watch Michael Schumacher during practice or qualifying and you may note a reason not to screw with a factory braking system.... Brake Bias. The factory hydraulic system most likely has some form of brake biasing front-to-rear. It'll give just the right amount of pressure to lock the fronts and rears up at the same time. The system may use the same pressures for drums and discs, if so, great! You may be close enough that you can't tell a difference. But odds are, that the car will have a longer braking distance.

Note: I didn't RTFA... It may discuss this.

A valid point Robbie. I did a rear disc conversion to my 89 CRX Si...but I did not change the brake proportioning valve. That was a big mistake. Less then 500 miles later I locked the rear brakes in an off-camber turn and spun the car off into a very stout fence. The fence survived with minor scraps but the car was destroyed. Everything from the passenger front fender to the driver's side taillight got mangled...smashed the radiator core support and radiator, ripped the driver’s side lower control arm mount off the rear engine crossmember and crushed the front and driver’s side sheet metal. All in the course of about what I figure was 1 second.

I would never do a disc swap again if the proper proportioning valve was not available.

[RallyEX]

I agree with Robbie and Kurt, the brake bias set by the engineers maximizes braking safety and efficiency.

While I've never done a rear drum swap (always weighed this option when I considered a brake conversion), I've heard / read horror stories of these swaps and not having the correct brake bias.

I haven't read rhe attached article yet as I'm at work, so I hope they cover this aspect in there as any tutorial on this matter should.

[Chadwick]

Would there be better stopping distance? It look nicer!
Depends on how hard you press the brake peddle, heh

Actually, for better braking, I'd look more toward a better quality tire and perhaps some good brake pads for overall better performance. The rear brakes just don't do a whole lot.
Of course, going with a big brake kit is even better but that gets into a different $ ballpark.

I didn't know the quality of tire is an important factor that help to brake better. The reason I been thinking about doing this conversion is when I change from a 15in to 16in rim I have to brake early in order to stop. It not the brakes that the factor but the size of rims that change brake system?