User Tag List

+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 14 of 14

Thread: Talk to me about mk2 rear disc conversions

  1. #1
    Pit Crew Decade Plus User onecamohv's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    ireland
    Age
    38
    Posts
    1,155
    Thanks
    37
    Thanked 88 Times in 78 Posts

    Talk to me about mk2 rear disc conversions

    Hi Folks,
    I’m hoping for some opinions and guidance on this. I’m currently running 9” drums on my mk2, which I use for autotests and lanes rally type events etc, so as you can imagine the handbrake is extremely important and must lock instantly with minimum effort.
    The drums have been ‘ok’ to date, but somewhat unreliable. When they get very hot, the efficiency of the handbrake drops off considerably, and the weekend just gone after I fitted new shoes the self-adjusters kept over adjusting by themselves and binding on the drums leading me to having to strip the rear brakes twice mid event. So, im getting pretty sick of drums.

    So, rear disc conversions for English axle –

    I’ve done as much research as I can, but as usual you get so much conflicting information it’s hard to know what to believe.
    Ive heard sierra Cosworth calipers, mk3 fiesta front calipers, vw golf calipers (?) etc etc.
    I was looking at the kit that motorsport tools has with the willwood powerlite calipers but forking out over 500 quid is just not an option at the moment.
    So what’s my options with what’s available today ?

  2. #2
    Spanner Monkey Ianbavs's Avatar

    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Location
    Essex
    Age
    53
    Posts
    347
    Thanks
    33
    Thanked 29 Times in 29 Posts

    Talk to me about mk2 rear disc conversions

    Discs with a hydraulic hand brake may work but cosy calipers n fiesta discs aren't the best 😳on my atlas the brakes work well as I've got a cosy hydraulic booster but the cable hand brake is just ok


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  3. #3
    Racer Decade Plus User

    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Edinburgh
    Age
    46
    Posts
    3,641
    Thanks
    68
    Thanked 234 Times in 230 Posts

    Re: Talk to me about mk2 rear disc conversions

    The mechanical handbrake on rear disc calipers is crap, drums are better unless you fit a hydraulic handbrake as mentioned above. You need more pressure to grip the disc than can be pulled with a cable, drum shoes have a mechanical advantage due to the rotational force of the drum pushing the leading shoe.

  4. #4
    Pit Crew Decade Plus User onecamohv's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    ireland
    Age
    38
    Posts
    1,155
    Thanks
    37
    Thanked 88 Times in 78 Posts

    Re: Talk to me about mk2 rear disc conversions

    sorry i just re-read my post, and i may have mislead everyone - i have a perfectly good vertical hydraulic handbrake fitted with AP cylinder.
    i dont even need the cable handbrake at all as my car is MOT exempt here in ireland, sorry i shoul have made that clear.
    when i used the hydraulic handbrake in anger on the first test, the handbrake over-adjusted itself and binded to the drum

  5. #5
    Racer Decade Plus User Forest_rallying's Avatar

    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Derbyshire
    Posts
    2,438
    Thanks
    92
    Thanked 393 Times in 348 Posts

    Re: Talk to me about mk2 rear disc conversions

    In the good old days it was Mk3 Escort discs and calipers, however they required a bias pedal box and pressure reduction valve to prevent them from locking when driven in anger. Before they became available we fitted Chrysler 180 rears, they even had a cable mechanism to comply with road traffic law.

  6. #6
    Spanner Monkey

    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Ireland
    Posts
    354
    Thanks
    18
    Thanked 24 Times in 23 Posts

    Re: Talk to me about mk2 rear disc conversions

    i have a couple of sets of xr3i calipers,if your interested in a pair.

  7. #7
    Pit Crew Decade Plus User onecamohv's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    ireland
    Age
    38
    Posts
    1,155
    Thanks
    37
    Thanked 88 Times in 78 Posts

    Re: Talk to me about mk2 rear disc conversions

    might be intersted mick, do you have disks to suit?

  8. #8
    Racer Decade Plus User Forest_rallying's Avatar

    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Derbyshire
    Posts
    2,438
    Thanks
    92
    Thanked 393 Times in 348 Posts

    Re: Talk to me about mk2 rear disc conversions

    I bought a new pair of XR3I discs from my local motor factors a couple of years ago.

  9. #9
    Spanner Monkey

    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Ireland
    Posts
    354
    Thanks
    18
    Thanked 24 Times in 23 Posts

    Re: Talk to me about mk2 rear disc conversions

    yes i have discs as well but new ones are not expensive proably be better in the long run to use new.pm me and i,l send you my number.

  10. #10
    Mechanic

    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Leeds
    Posts
    767
    Thanks
    34
    Thanked 27 Times in 27 Posts

    Re: Talk to me about mk2 rear disc conversions

    An axle I bought had xr3i calipers and some discs, didn't look used, think they were fit to make a complete axle. Just in the corner of the garage now, I went with cossie rear calipers and a solid disc cause I needed a Machanical handbrake, and there good, handbrake is abit naff, but I have a hydraulic one aswell, I was running type 16 2 pot fronts and never had a problem with bias I run a bias pedal box tho, I've now gone to 4 pots on the front, not been on track since I'm going to Croft next Tuesday.

  11. #11
    World Champion Decade Plus User meXEco's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    My 2nd Project
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    TRURO
    Age
    52
    Posts
    5,250
    Thanks
    246
    Thanked 155 Times in 148 Posts

    Re: Talk to me about mk2 rear disc conversions

    Also worth noting fitting rear discs will add an extra 10mm at least to the overall axle width so watch your tyre clearances.


    '68 1100 Deluxe-bog stock soon to be a twincam rep.


  12. #12
    Mechanic

    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Plymouth
    Posts
    899
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 42 Times in 40 Posts

    Re: Talk to me about mk2 rear disc conversions

    10mm each side

  13. #13
    Racer Decade Plus User wildo105e's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    My 2nd Project
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Manchester
    Age
    53
    Posts
    3,150
    Thanks
    131
    Thanked 237 Times in 230 Posts

    Re: Talk to me about mk2 rear disc conversions

    Quote Originally Posted by Warrior View Post
    An axle I bought had xr3i calipers and some discs, didn't look used, think they were fit to make a complete axle. Just in the corner of the garage now, I went with cossie rear calipers and a solid disc cause I needed a Machanical handbrake, and there good, handbrake is abit naff.
    I think cossie 4x4 rear callipers will take the vented disk, whether you need rear vents it is a different story.

  14. #14
    Mechanic

    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Leeds
    Posts
    767
    Thanks
    34
    Thanked 27 Times in 27 Posts

    Re: Talk to me about mk2 rear disc conversions

    Interesting to know, next time it's in bits I'll have alook got a few vented discs lying round

+ Reply to Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts