Not sure if i am posting this in the correct location.

Was at the local pick'n pull this weekend, and my buddy pointed out that some some 91 and earlier Subarus had the parking brake(emergency brake) on the front disc calipers.



I know other folks have done the Eldorado disc conversion (or some other non-metric) but i really want to keep the truck as metric as possible.

I looked at many brakes this weekend, but i believe most of the Japanese rear discs calipers are for solid rotors and they are too narrow.

Unless some one can explain a reason not to use this caliper, 'its one piston, underpowered....' this maybe how i convert my rig to rear discs. Not to mention i have a buddy that owes me, so fabbing a bracket on the water jet shouldn't be an issue.

Any thoughts, opinions?


I couldn't find anywhere on this site that mentions using a Subaru caliper, please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

It's an interesting idea... Go for it. I don't think its been done.

 

What is the disc diameter for that rotor on the front of a Subaru? Also, what is the piston diameter?

I know Ford 9" rear disc calipers had the e-brake integrated into the caliper like that. Those came in the rear of Lincoln Mark VII and the like back in the seventies.

If the rotor was on the smaller side and if the piston was undersized, it might be underpowered, even in the rear. But, definitely worth looking into.

 

I think i just may, Rock Auto has remanned ones for as low as $34, not that cheaper is better. while on the site I noticed that the Subaru Loyale was made until 94 with these front parking brakes, so at least its a newer style brake.
I think next weekend i am going to pick up a pair and get some test fitting. I really want to know if the caliper has enough power....that reminds me i need to pick up a large bore MC.

Good point about the rotor diameter, i will look into that. Piston diameter...is there a size/number i should look for? They are definitely single pistons.

thanks
RB

 

I like your idea. I have thought about using Honda Accord rear calipers. They are pretty heavy cars so I imagine they could stop a 4Runner okay, but I think they are solid rotors...

 

Supras had the ebrake built in, and they are bolt on (right diameter, right bolt spacing, etc)

 

^^

takes a true gear-head to figure out stuff like that


that's intersting TC, never knew that!

 

FROR full float kit has been using them for years

 

Yup, Id have bought that kit too if Id have waited...

 

They are solid Rotors, I had an Integra, and thought about the same thing, but the rotors are a smaller diameter, and solid(thin) rotors. And they are plentiful at the junkyard. The Subaru rotors are vented, but i am not sure the diameter. The ebrake connection will need to be modified on the Subaru calipers, but the Honda/Acura calipers will pill in the correct direction out of the box.

The Supra discs were the ones i wanted to use, but pick'ns be slim at the JY, i haven't seen a Supra there yet. I could get remanned or aftermarkets for $80 a piece, just trying to save a few bucks were i can. Too much cool to do to this truck, and i need to prioritize. I usually justify cost with safety, well at least that is what 'the girl' is used to hearing when i tell her about something new i have to do to the bike....it's been working.


RB

 

is there a write-up for this?

 

Search for the Front Range Offroad full floater kit. I don't recall seeing anyone do it just as a disc conversion.

(IMHO, if you wheel hard, you need a FF rear axle)

 

Linky to supra conversion from FROR
After some research, so far the Supra conversion is the best choice because the Diameter and thickness the caliper was designed for, is closest to the solid front disc you will use for the rear disc conversion. Obviously i am late to the party cuz someone has already done their homework....i still like researching alternatives.

 

I wonder why people don't ever use MR2 rear calipers?

Just thinkin out loud

 

cause they only work on circle tracks?

 

Or...
because the rotor diameter is too small.

 

I saw some rear discs on a 97 Honda Prelude. They looked like they might work.
How about the Cadillac Seville? I saw some of them at the wrecker last week.
It's all in the bracket, disc outer and inner diameter. The rest is just fittings and plumbing.

 

Actually, the most interesting solution is ....

FJ Cruiser

 

You want to enlighten us?
Those rear calipers are just calipers with no mechanical brake ability. Atleast this is what i can see from pictures on the interwebs.

Thanks,
RB

 

Oh, they have a drum brake inside the rotor ... still would be the closest thing to truly bolting up I would think.