Hi!

I own a Skoda Octavia SLX 1,6i kombi - 2000 mod, with drum-brakes at the rear.

With a small vibration building up, I am considering changing the drums. I thougt that I could just replace them with the disc-brakes used on the 1,8, but got a big NO from Skoda in Norway. I needed the Skoda factorys approval or TÜV og DECRA approval.

Is there anybody who has done this job before?

JAN - Norway

PS! My garage says by the way, that if i get an approval, I should get at "new" rear axel with the disc-brakes on - from a Octavia or a VW Golf mk IV. Any comments?

DS.

I've no idea about the legalities of doing this in Norway, but IMO you'd be spending out a lot of money for no real gain.

You'd need a new are of rear wishbones and hub carriers, if not a beam, and I think a new handbrake linkage.

After that, you'd need new rear line limiters or the anti-lock recalibrating (if fitted) I think, and you might get about 2% better braking performance, but a poorer handbrake.

Frankly, if if was me, I'd just get new drums, and Pagit Fast Road or Mintex M1144 or Ferodo DS2500 pads for the front, get more like 10% better braking, then spend the money I'd saved on a holiday.

I agree with Ken. I don't rate rear disc brakes that highly. They hardly ever give a totally satisfactory handbrake and are very prone to sticking/siezing too. Stick with your drums, they are more than up to the job.

Thank you for your thoughtful advice.

I was thinking about changing the whole rear beam (a used one - with brakes), but had not taken into consideration the rest of the brake-system.

I have by the way already changed my front discs. It is now a Brembo/Pagid combination. Only 256mm, but still a HUGE improvement.

With 130`km on the odo, and the suspension beginning to feel a bit weak, i will now rather use my money on Powerflex, and possibly some new shocks/springs.

Thank you again! :-)

No problem. I don't know about now, but it used to be possible to get uprated linings for drum brake shoes as well as uprated disc pads.