Rear disc brake conversion, possible?

[andrewdingemans]

Hi everyone,

Been looking around and researching for almost a month now and am wondering if anyone around here has done, or know anyone who has converted their rear drum brakes to disc brakes. Found a few kits, but am a student and don't have too much cash to drop on it. I have a few wrecking yards here in Markham and prob shouldn't have any problem finding a protege with a rear disc setup. I am assuming it's just a matter of unbolting all the parts from the wreck along with the proportioning valve. I have heard it is needed as disc brakes require a higher pressure than the drums, and if not changed I'll be eating through brake pads. My 2000 Mazda Protege doesn't have ABS so no problem should arise from that. The hand-brake is an easy component that can be removed from the wreck just in-case I need it.
I in no way am a mechanic, but am very 'car savvy' and do all my own maintenance and fixing so I think it is doable with my level of learning.

If anyone has done this, I would like any advice or warnings. Going later this week to check 3 wrecking yards to create an inventory list before I start to drop money and figure out it's not 100% do-able.

-Andrew-

 

[cougar10agREDUX]

scroll down to 3rd gen.

http://www.protegefaq.net/mods_brakes.html#drumtodisc

 

[_ERIC]

it would be easier to also do a 4 to 5 lug swap. that way you can pretty much transfer everything over and not worry about importing rotors and hubs. also you have better wheel options.

 

[cougar10agREDUX]

it wouldn't be easier to swap to 5 lug, it would be the smarter choice. if he does the 5 lug swap he would have to do the fronts as well. which would add more money onto the price.

but yes, it would be easier to find a wrecked 5 lug protege than importing

 

[wildcard26]

5 Lug conversion is the better option. More option for Rotors as well apart from the rim options. The 4 hole rotors are a bit harder to find as well. I have 4 wheel discs with 4 lugs and recently swapped to a 5 hole setup. Be wary though that you traing arms may need to be shortened as the 5 lug set up use a shorter training arm than the 4 lug disc and drum. In my opinion go all the way and convert the fron and the back to 5 lug.