DIY – GD Rear Disc Brake Conversion

All credit for write-up and photo’s goes to Apexanimal on Fitfreak.net. I have been given permission from him to re-post this.

This is a DIY for you GD owners who want to convert their rear drum to rear disc as honda likely would’ve done it from factory (so no large/upsized discs and calipers here)… effective, oem look, maintains front/rear proportioning, and cheaper than the $800+ kits out there…

as always: #notresponsibleforyouscrewingupordoinganythingstup idtoyourowncarokbye

PARTS LIST

CONVERSION BRACKETS
–Scarebird GD Rear Disc Conversion Brackets

DISC
-any rear disc from a 1997 Acura Integra (NOT the type R)
-the ones I used: Centric rear disc – 12140017 – Rockauto (***5/22/16 Update: now using Centric Premium – 12040017***)

PAD
-any rear pad from a 1997 Acura Integra (NOT the type R)
-the ones I used: Stoptech Street Perf rear pad – 30903740 – Rockauto (***5/22/16 Update: now using Centric Premium Ceramic – 10503740***)

CALIPER
-rear calipers from a 1997 Acura Integra (NOT the type R)
-the ones I used (came with clips, bleeders, banjo, and crush washers): Centric reman rear caliper – 14140532 L; 14140531 R – Rockauto
-you’ll also need the parking brake arms and bolts: 43267-sh3-931 L arm; 43247-sh3-931 R arm; 45240-sc2-003 bolts (4 bolts needed) – Hondapartsnow

PARKING BRAKE CABLES
-87 acura legend coupe: BC94043 rear left; BC94044 rear right – Rockauto
-holding and cotter pin: 43471-SD2-930 holding pin, 90705-SD2-931 cotter pin – Hondapartsnow

BRAKE LINES
-contact Fastbrakes.com and ask for the Honda Fit conversion brake lines – swivel end, good quality/price
OR, make your own
-approximately 36″ in length, female 10x1mm end, 30-45* banjo 10x1mm end

you can do it cheaper than I did, but I spent $540 total… the largest expense being the calipers, then the conversion brackets, then the brake lines, and on down…

TOOLS

metric sockets
ratchets
17mm box wrench (if getting brake lines from fastbrakes)
10mm flare wrench (not absolutely needed but highly recommended)
4 jack stands
dremel with grinding wheel
32mm socket (yes – 32mm)
other basic tools: phillips driver, flat head driver, etc

HOW TO

here’s what i did, your mileage may vary:

putting the discs/calipers on is by far the easiest part of this entire adventure… the parking brake cables, as suspected, are what take quite a while… BUT, with some basic know-how and tools you can do it…

before you start – i preassembled the rear calipers with all the clips, grease, pads, and even the brake line… this helps it go faster when you actually get there…

1. rear wheels off
2. use a screw to get the drum off
3. remove the cover for the hub nut
4. undimple the hub nut, and remove nut
5. remove bearing/hub assembly
6. unclip two brake line clips holding the junctions in place, and unhook from all hardline clips
7. unscrew frame hardline from soft junction, having the new caliper/brake line next to you so you don’t leak too much brake fluid everywhere… unscrew old, screw in the new
8. unscrew 4 bolts that hold the parking brake assembly to the axle – set assembly aside (it will still be attached to the car by the parking brake – i couldn’t for the life of me get the parking cable loose from the drum assembly)

9. install scarebird brackets – tabs going inboard and to the rear, and secure using the 4 bolts you just removed
10. reinstall the bearing/hub/nut and redimple
11. install rotor
12. install caliper
13. bleed the system (do all four corners in order)

at this point you can route the brake lines and secure them as you see fit (you’ll be able to reuse one of the brake clips per side for the new junction, and DO SAVE THE OTHER ONE… you’ll be able to use it for the parking brake attachment at the caliper) – i used a few rubber sections to protect the line as i secured it at a few points

good breaking point (get it)… get lunch, beer, or whatever…

go inside the car

14. lift the rear of the center console and position yourself in the back seat
15. loosen the parking brake adjustment nut, and remove cable ends from the equalizer
16. unscrew cable holding bracket and set aside
17. going underneath the car, you’ll need to remove the bracket that protects the fuel filler where it enters the tank, the plastic undertray, and the mid-frame brace as well as the parking brake bracket nuts

-it helps to have two people here – one inside one underneath

18. push the grommets through from the top, and pull the cables out of the bottom – drivers side first, then passenger side
19. rebend the cable holding bracket to accommodate the larger ends of the new parking brake cables
20. transfer the stock grommets to the new cables (silicone/wd40/lube helps a lot here)
21. remove new and stock cable brackets from each set, and hold onto them – you’ll want to use them, but how and where is up to you
22. you’ll need to dremel the cable slots in the floor to accommodate the larger width of the new cables… keep grinding and testing (about 1/8″ of additional width is needed per slot)
23. put the new cables in from the bottom – passenger side first, then drivers (REALLY helps to have someone helping at this point)
24. reinstall cable holding bracket, and put cable ends back on equalizer
25. using the brake junction clips that you saved from earlier, attach the parking brake to the caliper arm and secure using the brake clip – and use pin and cotter pin to attach cable end to the caliper spring arm
26. creativity time – using all the new/old cable brackets, secure the rest of the parking brake cable taking care to keep the cable close to the axle as it leaves the caliper (you’ll need to check for wheel clearance to be sure)
27. adjust parking brake cable adjustment screw inside
28. profit