Rear disc conversion is it worth it? Thoughts on set ups.

[Jay18]

I see scottie has got discs on the rear? whats the brakes like? mine are terrible but i compensate for them so i brake early lol, im thinking of vit calipers up front, 413 servo, discs with 410 calipers on the rear, not sure though, what you think?

[dan_2k_uk]

sounds good mate, i see youve got discs on the rear? whats the brakes like? mine are terrible but i compensate for them so i brake early lol, im thinking of vit calipers up front, 413 servo, discs with 410 calipers on the rear, not sure though, what you think?

He wont know yet. Its still on the workshop floor

The rear disc conversion is awesome though.

[Jay18]

haha what brake setup have you got? i need something better, and as im going to be adding even more weight with the 1.6 soon i will need better brake so that i can actually stop lol, so need to know if vitara calipers will be a straight swap and give me more braking force without locking up the wheels, need a 60/40 braking ratio right? so i was thinking vit calipers up front and 410 calipers on the rear...

[dan_2k_uk]

Save Confusing Scotts build thread go have a look through the brake stickies and start a new thread with any questions.

[ScottieJ]

I've always ran drums on the rear until this axle is fitted, to be honest I think SJs have really good brakes considering, they stop my 33s well. never had an issue stopping fast, it's the handling of leaf springs under heavy breaking that makes it interesting

On that note I'm driving my fathers 410 everywhere at the moment and that has rear discs, servo assisted brakes and Sj callipers a front and rear. Stops really well but under really heavy braking the back has a tendency to lock up, however I've had this with drums on the back anyway, you get a lot of brake dive with leaf springs and theres not much weight on the back of an SJ so it does go light.

With Vit calipers you need to get Spanish ones if I remember correctly as the jap ones actually have smaller pistons than Sj ones. I'll measure up my vit callipers on the front to check the piston size for you, gotta change a warped disc anyway but as said I've still locked up the rear drums a few times with Vit calipers up front.

[Jay18]

very good idea, expecially with the amount of comments he already has on it

cheers scottie, might just fit a 413 servo then, dont want to be locking up my brakes lol, think id need some new underwear then.. haha mine do work great when braking hard and havent locked up yet lol, they do pull to the left when i brake really hard but thats very rarely that i do brake really hard, but that could just be part of my steering wander that i still have to fix once im back on my feet again..

[ScottieJ]

I split out the thread for you now everyone can chime in thoughts without clogging up my build thread

[turbo-tom]

Ive only had experience with Discs on the rear and there not to bad from my experience only on the mud though!

[dan_2k_uk]

I've locked the rears many times. Usually if you are turning at the same time on a bumpy country lane that the new pants are needed.

I just run spanish SJ calipers all round. Seems stable enough. You have to be a hooligan for any trouble to be caused.

Never had any problems with Helens 410 with no servo and drums on the rear. Think as long as they are well adjusted and maintained they are all good.

I fitted the discs purely because the drums were filling with mud and getting ruined real quick. (Helps with the constant need for rear wheel bearing changes too!)

[donkeychomp]

I always thought brakes are 70/30 biased to the front discs (could be wrong, have been many times). If the rear drums work ok why bother changing to discs? OK they are easier to maintain but I'd rather spend the dosh on something else...a front winch bumper springs to mind!