Brake Upgrade: Where to start?

[darkwolf]

I've just placed new rims on my car and am now looking at changing brakes. I would like to go to a larger diameter disc and replace the rear drums with discs also. Problem is when I searched I couldn't find any information on what to do first.

Where do I start? What measurements will I need, what things are going to need to be considered before looking at what I'll replace my current brakes with.

I think you all get the general idea. I know jack shit about what I'm doing and seeing as they are brakes, I'd rather I didn't learn by trial and error.

[thegreatestben]

Pay to start with letting everyone know what kind of car you have. Also I'm sure this topic has come up before, try using the search function.

[Adoom]

Here are all the disc dimensions you will ever need. http://www.brembo.com/CatalogoBrembo/Templates/SearchGray.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRORIGINALURL=%2fENG%2fMarket%2fCatalogue%2fSearchCars%2ehtm&NRNODEGUID=%7b17D7BCC8-5414-40CA-9D35-30F3CABF4BA3%7d&NRCACHEHINT=NoModifyGuest
You can even search by dimensions rather than the car.
First look up the discs for your car and save the engineering diagram you get when you select the disc. Then look for something bigger, that will fit with little or no modifications. No mods is better cause if your new discs need replacing eventually who wants to have to modify the replacement discs before putting them on.
Then the harder bit. Find a calliper from the wreckers for the right diameter disc that fits in your wheels and has lugs in the right place to make an adapter bracket for. It cost me $250 to get an engineer to make brackets for my conversion. I supplied the struts and the discs and a wheel(so he doesnt space the calliper out too far and the wheel wont go on) and some callipers but he said the calliper lugs would get in the way and sent me back to the wreckers with instructions on where the lugs should be to make it fit. Sweet as since then.

Rear disc conversion involves more effort. The bearings in drum brake axles are much narrower than disc brake ones and they would allow the disc to move laterally(sideways) and push the brake pads out that gives you longer pedal travel and krappy handbrake. Drums on the back are fine in a light car. They do bugger all braking anyway.

[Bling]

not sure on car, as said above, but if as you say, you don't know much on the matter.... I would...

Buy vented and/or cross drilled front discs, same size as current discs, buy some uprated pads and if you can, install yourself, otherwise take to a brake shop to do it for ya. I wouldn't touch rear drums.

This option would be for someone looking for a cheap option to upgrading their brakes.

If you got money lying around you don't want, then sure, replace rear drums with discs, get new brackets fabricated, find new calipers that fit front get brackets made to suit and fit the larger discs. Then throw more money at it to get it certed as you can't modify brakes like this without cert.

Easier option is to go with top "cheap" option and give me the money you saved to me if you really have the urge to get rid of ya coin

just my 30c tho

[darkwolf]

Thanks for all the tips. I did try searching but couldn't find anything, maybe I was using the wrong key words.

Sorry I forgot to mention the car: 1989 Toyota Corona.

I want to replace the drums because I don't think they are doing anything at the moment and seem to need to continually be repaired i.e new pads, adjustments.

My mate who has a newer model Corona by 1 year has disc brakes front and rear so I figured it wouldn't be such a huge issue. But I didn't realise about the bearings.

As stated I know sweet fa about what I am trying to do.

[Zak]

You can probably fit the disk brakes off the newer one, but you will probably need to swap the complete hubs over.

Don't forget about the bias valve either.

[KinLoud]

Start with new brake fluid and better pads - this will make a good difference for not much money... to be honest my racecar has tiny brakes compared to later toyotas - I have new fluid, good pads and I push really hard on the pedal, it stops really well! I never get fade!

If you would like to go to bigger brakes... look at same year celicas - you might find they have bigger front brakes and they might bolt straight on.
Find a corona with rear disk brakes - you will probably need disk, caliper hub and handbrake cable. ALSO you must get the brake bias valve from the donor car (located on the firewall under the bonnet.
You might need the brake master cylinder if it is bigger?
Put new brake fluid in and bleed it correctly.
Get better brake pads - maybe Bendix Ultimate will suit a sensible budget, or Mintex 1166 for a bigger budget.

Spend some time learning how to brake (I mean maximum braking!) - I can give you some lessons on this if you want.

Ken
Ham
021 408 863

[BigDon]

Take a look and a read here.

viewtopic.php?t=32514

[Mr Revhead]

as kinloud suggests, look at a sillycar.
they rear brakes from one of those will be a good idea too
st182/3 parts will be cheap and easy to find.

[barryogen]

Buy vented and/or cross drilled front discs, same size as current discs

I thought that cross drilled were normally frowned upon due to them being a bit weaker and more prone to warping?

the rest of the supplied info sounds about right... better fluid, better pads, and get back to us if they still suck.


Incidentally, I get an error when trying to grab that doc from the other thread mentioned.

The requested URL /sponsors/Masterpart_Brake_Upgrade_Info.doc was not found on this server.

[darkwolf]

Spend some time learning how to brake (I mean maximum braking!) - I can give you some lessons on this if you want.

That would be awesome. Always keen and willing to improve my driving skills. I assume I can text you?

[Prymal]

89 corona should have interchangable struts with St celicas - on ST celicas you can range from the twin pot vented small JDM gt4 brakes - t Australian spec/turbo A widebody 284 large sinle calipers with minor mods

If your MEGA keen , you can always adapt St205 celica 4 pot's though these may be overkill ..

personally id start as other have said - better pads , better rotors ( vented not crossdrilled ) fresh fluid , then go from there.

Unless your building an absolute rocket , this is all you should need

[postfach]

personally id start as other have said - better pads , better rotors ( vented not crossdrilled ) fresh fluid , then go from there.

Unless your building an absolute rocket , this is all you should need

I assume you mean slotted rotors, as I imagine most cars after 85 would have vented rotors already

As mentioned above, aside from swapping my front discs to the larger supra ones all I did for my first brake upgrade was a decent set of pads (M1155 or M1166, can't quite recall) and some RBF600 fluid.

[Prymal]

yeah slotted - thanks for the correction

[KinLoud]

Yeah - text me.

Ken
Ham
021 408 863

[darkwolf]

Does anyone know then what would be required to make the hubs 4 stud instead of 5. Otherwise I'll be fixing one problem and creating another.