Drum To Disc Rear Beam

[daz.e.t.a 1]

hi

is it possible to change a drum rear beam to disc and what's involved?

[Tom Fenton 1,541]

Simple answer yes, either swap complete or to be honest easier method swap the disc stub axles and caliper brackets over to a drum rear beam.

 

However have a search and read through the forums buddy as most things you will wish to do have been done before by plenty of folk.

[Slo 283 1 Cars]

Are the trailing arms the same Tom?

[allanallen 528 2 Cars]

Are the trailing arms the same Tom?

Pretty much, there's lots of tiny differences in all arms but nothing you'd notice.

[Slo 283 1 Cars]

That's good to know then as it opens up some options for me as my rear end is all over the place but no camber that i can see and no play but i have another base model disc beam in good nick and a spare set of disc arms off a 306

Edited May 1, 2014 by Slo

[allanallen 528 2 Cars]

Watch what you're doing with 306/xsara/zx arms as you can end up with more toe than you'd expect due to arm angle/ride height

[welshpug 1,656]

I've found that 306 ABS brackets wont fit drum trailing arms, they could be taken out a bit on the bore to fit though.

[jord294 92]

205/309 caliper brackets can still be bought from main dealer. I've bought a few recently, and are same part number as used on phase 1 306

Edited May 1, 2014 by jord294

[daz.e.t.a 1]

hi

are the drum and disc rear hubs different?

[welshpug 1,656]

Yes, drum is a small separate bearing.

[daz.e.t.a 1]

hi

ok thanks so need to find a pair of hubs too.

thanks

Darren

[Henry Yorke 269 3 Cars]

Any particular reason you want to go from drum to disk? In my experience having done this conversion the advantage is that it is easier to change rear brake pads. The disadvantage is that your handbrake is not sharp (so not very good for a handbrake turn).

[dcc 855]

I went from Disk to Drum, great decision!

[daz.e.t.a 1]

Hi

I'm hoping to turn car in to a basic rally car next and get it logbooked. So I'm doing a few mods now on the bits that are knackered\falling off. The reason for disc rear is they lose the heat better than drums and the choice of uprated pads and disc is far greater the for drums! If I just keeping it for the road I'd stay with the drums.

Thanks

Darren

[welshpug 1,656]

The rear brakes dont do a great deal and the handbrake works much better on a drum.

[Henry Yorke 269 3 Cars]

I agree. If you want this as a rally car, then you will need a handbrake, so I would stick with drums or invest in a proper pedal box, bias system and fly off handbrake set up. Almost all the 205 braking is done up front.

[rallyeash 155]

Is rather have discs on a circuit car.

[dcc 855]

Any reason Ash? or just a bold statement!?

[Tom Fenton 1,541]

Depends on the discipline. If gravel stage rallying then a good driver will be left foot braking almost constantly and will require rear discs and an uprated pad such as an 1155.

Road rallying then the handbrake is arguably more important, upright hydraulic handbrake not allowed and so drums are a valid choice.

Circuit car you don't need a handbrake at all and so discs are arguably easier to maintain, and availability of good friction material is easier.

[rallyeash 155]

Easier to maintain, can do a visual check to make sure all is good, easier to clean, you say they hardly get used but I can still get my rear wheels pretty hot from brake heat on the rear after a decent session so they clearly do work!

I run a bias valve so have got it setup so the rear doesn't quite lock up on hard braking.