318 rear disc brake converstion

[scottfly1]

hi there looking to convert my rear drums to discs as i am converting my car to a road/track car, what is the best way if i cant get a hold of 323 rear trailing arms..or is that the only way...thanks

[nas80]

if you take the drum assembly off. You will see that all you need is a simple flat piece of metal that bolts in the mounting holes for the drum and extends outward to allow you to fit vw or Renault rear calipers. You may need a custom 2 piece brake disk or adapt something off another 4x100 car by looking through apec braking's website.

[drjim]

Use standard 323i rear discs and some VAG rear calipers with integrated handbrake. I think mine on the slug are off an A3 technically, new off ebay with Audi branded pads in for about 50 quid as I recall. You will need some steel cut to a suitable shape and drilled to connect them to the hub, but it's a lot easier/cheaper than converting to a 323i rear end.

Jim

[polov8]

What do you do for handbrake cables if you go this route? I'll be disc baking the rear of mine eventualy, and given the crazy price of crusty 323i parts, this is the route I'll most likely take.

[nas80]

The calipers come with a handbrake function built in. No need for that handbrake shoe stuff.

[polov8]

Yeah I realise that, I've had a good few VW's with these calipers. What I meant was the actual cables to the calipers, I presume you need to adapt something, or have them custom made?

[drjim]

I think I just used the standard BMW ones. Bought golf ones but they were to short. Still have them somewhere!

[scottfly1]

thanks for your help i think i might go down that route for my e21, i have however been offered 323 rear disc swing arms etc do they bolt straight on to my car or can they be different to my ones on my 318. thanks

[nas80]

Rear arms are interchangeable between all e21s

[Microang]

I'm thinking of doing this soon as the rear brakes on the 323i weren't great anyway and I have wilwood 4 pots up front, so was just wondering if anyone knows if there's any setups that could be used with the drum arms that use vented discs instead of solid discs? Otherwise which VW and Audi calipers work?

Thanks.

[polov8]

As Nas mentioned, discs in 4x100 can be had from other cars, from VW I know vented discs come in 239mm, 256mm and 280mm flavours. Whether the centre bore will need machining is another matter. Rear calipers to suit can be found on higher spec golfs/A3/Skoda/seats, as they run vented discs on the back. Regular rear calipers for non vented discs won't work on vented discs.

Like these:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-GOLF-MK4-R ... 417d045aab

You'd need caliper carriers to match.

[Microang]

As Nas mentioned, discs in 4x100 can be had from other cars, from VW I know vented discs come in 239mm, 256mm and 280mm flavours. Whether the centre bore will need machining is another matter. Rear calipers to suit can be found on higher spec golfs/A3/Skoda/seats, as they run vented discs on the back. Regular rear calipers for non vented discs won't work on vented discs.

Like these:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-GOLF-MK4-R ... 417d045aab

You'd need caliper carriers to match.

In which case I'm guessing you could use 323i front discs on the rear as they are 255mm I believe? I'm aware of that, but thanks for the heads up. That link is useful, ebay can be a sea of crap sometimes. So all of these have the handbrake built in?

And the caliper carriers would have to be custom made? Or are there ones that can fit with minor modification?

[polov8]

the cars fitted with these calipers should be able to donate the carriers, it's just that when you buy new or recon calipers the carrier is never usually provided, the breakers is probably your best bet for that, or again, ebay.

[mcjjordan]

What about 316 front discs or e30 rear discs?
Vag rear calipers

[Jason_323i]

Why would want vented rear calipers, wast of money just stock 323i or e30 rear disk brakes but if you do want vented just use 325ix touring rear ones then find calipers wide enough to fit.

e21 front disk will not fit on the rear as the overall depth of the disk is a lot deeper.

If you want rear disks just use the VAG rear calipers and e30 disks then make a bracket.