Rear disc brakes

[rruddfan21]

How easy is it to convert the rear drum brakes to disc? Do you simply remove the drum assembly/backing plate and then replace it with rotors? Also, what is the benefits of this? Thanks in advance.

[chembrad]

If you do it the way I did it, then the job is simple.

Just go to the boneyard and find a Suzuki Swift. Drop the rear strut assembly and disconnect the brake line. It is only two nuts to drop the strut, one nut/bolt hold the vertical pin in the axle and one nut holding on the rear arm.

You also have to pop off the clips that hold the brake line on. Next unscrew the handbrake housing and unhook the cables.

Under the car gently pry off the rubber seals that attach to the body where the cables enter into the compartment.

Once you take them off, you can see exactly how they will go on.

Two things to consider:
The wheelstuds are not the same on the Swift (they are 12mm as opposed to 10mm on the Metro).
The Metro wheel will not fit on the rear disc brake.

I picked up a set of 16" rims with Yokohama ES100s 205/45 ZR14 87w. HAHAHA! They look awesome.

[mik13usa]

To help with Chembrads answer, It is pretty easy... if you have all the pieces. No it is not just remove drum and back plate, you need a new knuckle and bracket for the caliper. The only benefit that I see is the ease of maintenence. They do NOT drastically improve braking, but like Chembrad said they do put you into a different wheel stud size. ALso a good upgrade at the time ( if you decide to do this) is a stainless braided line kit. They DO make a difference in pedal feel and responsiveness.

[chembrad]

Originally Posted by chembrad

I picked up a set of 16" rims with Yokohama ES100s 205/45 ZR14 87w. HAHAHA! They look awesome.

OOPS! my tires are 205/45 ZR16 87w

I'm not sure if they rub yet on a tight turn or bumps, but they look good!

[chembrad]

Also my friend shagpal came over and had the strut/brake assembly and showed me how to do it. THAT made the job extra simple.