Swapping rear Xsara drums for discs

[bbrucez]

Anyone tried this? Mine are so knackered it could be worth it.
It should be easy getting the bits from a Scrappie.
Is it worth the effort or a non-starter?
Details of success or failure stories welcome.

[jeremy]

I wouldn't have thought it was worth the bother unless you have a specific problem that requires better rear brakes. Unless the car is fully laden the cahnces are that the rear brakes hardly operate due to load compensation mechanisms etc and so discs won't make any difference at all! (I've seen advice for some Vectra's to run for 100 yds every week with the handbrake on to clean the discs!)
If you do convert you should ensure that you do the job fully with the appropriate load sensing valve, check the master cylinder is the correct size and that you front callipers are the correct ones for the disc setup. Try looking at the GSF spares sales site and see what goes with what - this will give you some idea. I think for a ZX all is different - ie different front calllipers etc.
What's so difficult about sorting out the rear drums? Discs suffer from old age too!
jeremy

[bbrucez]

Thanks Jeremy for taking the time to answer a relatively stupid question. It's just that everyting needs replacing and I prefer working on discs and you can check the wear easily.
I'll redo the drums - after all 6 years and 80k miles is not a bad innings.

[np]

Disks look better on rear if you have alloy wheels though!As Jeremy said,you wouldn`t feel any difference with them.Unless of course your planing a 200bhp turbo engine...

[Dave Burns]

There is a heap of difference to the feel of the brakes when you have discs on the rear, and the pedal position never alters, you don't get that bit of give as the shoes expand towards the drum, if the adjusters aren't up to scratch (and they never are) that distance increases as the shoes wear making the drum setup feel even worse.
The only downside to it is that the handbrake will be less powerful, the levers on the calipers are quite short, unlike the xantia, bx and so on where the disc handbrake is extremely powerful.
Dave

[np]

I went from a Rover 200 vi which had rear disks,to a 200 td which didn`t.Couldn`t feel any difference,although yes,the handbrake was better on the td with drums.Both these cars were brand new when i got them.