rear brake conversion

[mykel78]

OK, I did a search on this subject since I've been considering it for awhile. Rear GS discs on an RS. Doesn't seem too hard if all parts are available. It's been discussed before, I've read it. What I'm curious about is satisfaction. Have those who've done this mod been happy with the results?? Does it stop better? and how is the e-brake working for ya?

[rukick]

Can you post what you have found about switching the rear brakes? Especially I am interested in the list of parts that need to be replaced. I do not really care about stopping as much as looks. Drums just do not look as cool.

[BuGS]

I know Josh has them and Loves them! He says they help out a lot. He says if you got more power you are going to need them. I need s GS parts car close so I can steal some parts...

[torpedan]

If one of you guys uses the search feature on the fourm you can find old posts about comprehensive lists of what you need.

[mykel78]

Yes, I recommend a search, I found everything already listed, a few times over, in fact. I'm just curious about the outcome of the swap, as there wasn't much feedback included in the other posts. I may have a GS with a bad auto tranny (likely valve body is faulty, but tranny forum question has yielded no results) coming my way, and though I would like to fix it-i'd HAVE to swap in a manual. But I've too many projects on my table at the moment, just exploring my options....

[rayrrod]

Pro i also did some homework and this is what i found:

Rear Disc Brakes:

It would be possible to swap to the disc brake from a GS in place of the drums on RS.

You will need the complete rear spindle assembly, wheel bearing assembly, rear calipers, rotors, flexible brake lines and park brake cable.

In addition you will also need the bigger bore master brake cylinder and front because four wheel disc brakes requires more fluid pressure and volume to operate rear calipers than it does to operate drum brakes.

Unless you are racing on a tight circuit course where you are on the brakes often there is little advantage to swapping to discs.

The disc brake assembly add a lot of additional unsprung weight and do require much more maintenance as the park brake actuator level has a tendency to stick in the engaged position.

---------------
i do not agree that " unles syou are racng... " i like the looks and its harder to do a brake job on brake shoes, i did mine.

i also found other things/mods to do to ones RS
wanna see those? ie what parts can be swapped from a GS to a RS, from other mazda models, protege and ford escorts

[Josh]

you know i really should have weighed the drums compaired to the disk cause in all actuality after putting them on i would say there is hardly any difference at ALL. by holding one and then the other in complete assembly i would have to say the drums were way heavier. and its not like it really matters in the first place. rear disk is so much better than drum. and unless your going for 1/4 mile times down to the 10th of a sec. WHO THE HECK CARES IF THEY WEIGH MORE.

and Myardor there is plenty of advantages to swapping to rear disk. for one they look a hell of alot sweeter than drum, two your increasing your stopping abilitys by about 1/3, and lastly with my drums i tried several different types of pads/shoes and no matter what if you were going 75 to 80 or higher and tried to slow down you get alot of fade. with the disk NONE. so i would say having done the swap, that it is well worth it for a days time.

it took me a total of about 3 hours from start to finnish. the hardest part about the hole thing is bleeding the braks and installing the new master cylnder, cause you have to swap in the whole power assist portion as well.

[rayrrod]

Josh i agree with u. guess i did not explain correctly. what i wrote is what i found on the net. i did a cut and paste. i posted my comments on the bottom.
but ..my way of thinking..might as well buy a V6 instead of the 4 banger, if one is going to do all that work.

wish i was close to WA, i would pay u to do the conversion on my RS
i like the look of rotors much better than drums.
my drums were a Bitc? to install. they just would not go on. had to have my neighbor help me and even he was surprised how hard they were to install.
BTW..what the parts i wrote that are needed to do a conversion..are those right? since u have done it.