Drum in Disc Conversion

[hq114]

Has anyone ever considered converting the rear brakes to a drum in disc setup (picture attached), where the tiny drum takes care of the handbrake function? I don't actually know if they're any good, but it cannot be as bad as the current handbrake setup. Some initial internet research shows that the Rav4 has them. This will likely mean smaller discs at the rear, but the front discs do most of the work anyway when you use the brakes. I'd love to explore the option as I fear I'll one day come to my car and it isn't where I parked it!

[Carolyn]

Oh yes they can be worse!  Had them on two cars.  Even with all new bits, barely worked on an incline.

[hq114]

Worse?!? Oh good. I might start taking wheel chocks and a rubber mallet around with me, the constant adjustment is barely worth the hassle! I wonder if anyone has done a complete disc to drum conversion before...

Nope. I like my red calipers too much.

[tricky1138]

I'd love to explore the option as I fear I'll one day come to my car and it isn't where I parked it!

Dead simple - leave the car in gear!

[dan944]

I thought braking was equal, if anything rear dominant on these?  That's what disc size would suggest anyway.

[hq114]

I'd love to explore the option as I fear I'll one day come to my car and it isn't where I parked it!

Dead simple - leave the car in gear!

I know there's ways around it, but it would be nice to have an actual solution. I don't think I've encountered any owner that doesn't start sweating at the thought of an MOT.

[shnazzle]

I don't get it. I've had 3 mr2s in the household now and always done they brakes on them. One of them being a horribly maintained (by previous owner!) 120k mile pre-fl and ive never had handbrake issues.
I know eventually the cables will stretch but I really don't get the problem. They're self-adjusting.
I think they're alright

[tricky1138]

I don't get it. I've had 3 mr2s in the household now and always done they brakes on them. One of them being a horribly maintained (by previous owner!) 120k mile pre-fl and ive never had handbrake issues.
I know eventually the cables will stretch but I really don't get the problem. They're self-adjusting.
I think they're alright

My old 2 wasnt too bad but still needed adjustment before each MOT, this one has been worse, but I do think it is the cables at fault - hopefully a new set will fix it! 

[dan944]

I don't get it. I've had 3 mr2s in the household now and always done they brakes on them. One of them being a horribly maintained (by previous owner!) 120k mile pre-fl and ive never had handbrake issues.
I know eventually the cables will stretch but I really don't get the problem. They're self-adjusting.
I think they're alright

I've had mine 8 years and it has never batted an eye lid at MOT time.
I adjusted it recently just to bring it down a little and it's worse than ever. They are naturally very high I think. Just like they naturally have no idea how much coolant that have. Lol

[Joesson]

Shnazzle mentioned that the brakes are self adjusting, as I understand are all disc brakes. However, I do "encourage" my cars brakes to self adjust by occasionally giving the brake pedal a good workout while stationary with engine running.

[Alex Knight]

the front discs do most of the work anyway when you use the brakes

I think you'll find that the rears do more than the fronts...

[james_ly]

Italian tuneup, get those brakes exercised regularly..

[Carolyn]

the front discs do most of the work anyway when you use the brakes

I think you'll find that the rears do more than the fronts...

I think you'll find that they don't.

[Smcknighty]

Depends which direction you are going.

How does the self adjuster actually work? That might help figure why they are so bad.

Putting it in gear only works if your engine has enough compression or a strong enough clutch to not start rolling mine rolls off with a tail wind


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[cptspaulding]

I don't get it. I've had 3 mr2s in the household now and always done they brakes on them. One of them being a horribly maintained (by previous owner!) 120k mile pre-fl and ive never had handbrake issues.
I know eventually the cables will stretch but I really don't get the problem. They're self-adjusting.
I think they're alright

You know you just jinxed them, don't you? Now that you've fixed the turbo...

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[shnazzle]

I don't get it. I've had 3 mr2s in the household now and always done they brakes on them. One of them being a horribly maintained (by previous owner!) 120k mile pre-fl and ive never had handbrake issues.
I know eventually the cables will stretch but I really don't get the problem. They're self-adjusting.
I think they're alright

You know you just jinxed them, don't you? Now that you've fixed the turbo...

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Damn... You're right. Best strip my brakes soon as well haha

[Alex Knight]

the front discs do most of the work anyway when you use the brakes

I think you'll find that the rears do more than the fronts...

I think you'll find that they don't.

Can you please explain why am I getting through 3 sets of rear pads to every one set of fronts then?
And yes, my brakes are functioning correctly.

[McMr2]

the front discs do most of the work anyway when you use the brakes

I think you'll find that the rears do more than the fronts...

I think you'll find that they don't.

Can you please explain why am I getting through 3 sets of rear pads to every one set of fronts then?
And yes, my brakes are functioning correctly.

That doesn't sound normal, assuming that the pads are being replaced as a result of wear.

[james_ly]

the front discs do most of the work anyway when you use the brakes

I think you'll find that the rears do more than the fronts...

I think you'll find that they don't.

Can you please explain why am I getting through 3 sets of rear pads to every one set of fronts then?
And yes, my brakes are functioning correctly.

That doesn't sound normal, assuming that the pads are being replaced as a result of wear.

I've done one track day on a set of unknown pads. Fronts have some left on them, rears are completely worn. I doubt it's rear biased, but it's probably not far off 50:50. Perhaps the cooling is worse on the rear.

[Alex Knight]

the front discs do most of the work anyway when you use the brakes

I think you'll find that the rears do more than the fronts...

I think you'll find that they don't.

Can you please explain why am I getting through 3 sets of rear pads to every one set of fronts then?
And yes, my brakes are functioning correctly.

That doesn't sound normal, assuming that the pads are being replaced as a result of wear.

It's been consistent since I've owned the car ~ 5 years or so.

I believe that hard track work amplifies brake characteristics, and I believe those characteristics to be rear biased. I stand by this.

I am pretty tough on brakes on track, much more than most from what I've seen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPXMi0vkTe0&t=2s

[jonbill]

I can just about believe a 2 has a higher rear brake load than the majority of cars, but more load on the back would defy physics I think.
There's more traction at the front because of the weight transfer under braking and if the brakes weren't biased to the front then the ABS would be firing at the rear under max braking.
Why would the rear pads wear 3x quicker in those circumstances? As someone already observed, they will be hotter because of less airflow, the pads have 25% less area than the front, maybe the pads have different material that wears faster.
We can be sure that pad wearing out rate doesn't necessarily correspond to brake load/work.

[shnazzle]

Do you trail-brake a lot on track?

[Alex Knight]

Do you trail-brake a lot on track?

Not really, that leads to turn in oversteer for me. I tend to get it all done in a straight line whenever possible.

[smarty72]

Toyota mustn't agree that the rear does more work under braking, as they fitted the bigger, thicker discs to the front.

If the rear does more braking, they would have beefed up the rear brakes...

[Alex Knight]

Toyota mustn't agree that the rear does more work under braking, as they fitted the bigger, thicker discs to the front.

If the rear does more braking, they would have beefed up the rear brakes...

Erm, no.

Front discs are 255mm diameter.
Rear discs are 263mm diameter.