Hi, On the back of my 2003 fabia estate, I have drum brakes. There has been a few issues with them, and scrapped the MOT. I was therefore planning to put in all new drum, cyclinder, wheel hub and shoes. However, how hard or easy is it to upgrade to discs?

24 minutes ago, Sigold83 said:

Hi, On the back of my 2003 fabia estate, I have drum brakes. There has been a few issues with them, and scrapped the MOT. I was therefore planning to put in all new drum, cyclinder, wheel hub and shoes. However, how hard or easy is it to upgrade to discs?

 

It's more trouble than it's worth and will definitely cost a lot more unless you get all the bits from a scrappy. IMO handbrake holds much better with drums anyway.

Not really, I did the conversion. You need discs, callipers, disc guards ( don't know exact name as I am not from english speaking teritory, but the metal part that sits behind the discs and prevent water splash on them ), handbrake cables from rear disc Fabia. Mine set came from Golf Mk4, but then you need to switch the wheel bearings lefto to right and right to left if I remember correctly, I did this 6 years ago

As rear brakes are only there as balancing units drum brakes are often superior to discs as they don't need to work very hard. Just buy a new pair of drums, they are not pricey, and if you need new shoes some kits come ready assembled. Rear discs are renowned for rusting and deteriorating as they don't get enough to do, so I think you would just swap one problem for another. Drums are better in the wet too, as they stay dry inside.

 

I'm interested as to just how bad your drums have become as ours are 16 years old and  I knocked chunks of scale off them with a toffee hammer for the MOT, and cleaned the innards while I did the wheel bearings and they sailed through the MOT.

 

I know I'm an old git these days, but I go right back to the giant twin leading shoe servo assisted FRONT drums on my dad's Peugeot 404. They were already an anachronism in engineering terms, but they didn't half work well. Even Peugeot had to bow to the inevitable and fit front discs from about 1967..but rears...thats a different matter. I'd stick with the drums.

Edited 11 July, 20187 yr by alfalincs