• Registered: 2021-03-15
  • Posts: 4

Topic: Front Disc Brakes on Rear

First time doing Lemons, aiming to enter a 2002 Subaru Forester that we got for free in exchange for the lift kit off of it and tires from my dad. The rear brakes are drum, since its a lower trim, but I have parts car that is the higher spec model with rear disc brakes, so I figured I would switch them. As I was thinking about it though, I figured I could finagle the front brake assembly from that car onto the rear of the Lemons car, so I would be going from a drum brake to a slotted, 2 piston rear disc. The only problem I thought was if the rears lock up first, given the weight transfer. Would y'all think this would be an issue?

  • From: South of Chicago
  • Registered: 2011-11-26
  • Posts: 750

Re: Front Disc Brakes on Rear

Most of your braking is done with the front brakes. If your parts car has rear discs I would use them instead of fitting the front brakes of a vehicle to the rear.  Your fear of brake lockup is very likely. Can you work around this, sure but you'll not gain much with the bigger brakes in the rear verses the stock rear disc set up.

Keep things simple. Since this is your first build simple is always better. Many Lemons racers have raced cars with rear drums successfully but since you have a stock setup available to you go with it.

  • From: WPB Fl.
  • Registered: 2010-10-27
  • Posts: 1,571

Re: Front Disc Brakes on Rear

Like above, simple is best

Fit the upgrade brakes complete as presented from the other car, do not forget the prop valve.

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  • gtopat
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  • From: Langhorne, PA
  • Registered: 2010-06-25
  • Posts: 465

Re: Front Disc Brakes on Rear

Our Tbird has Mazda MPV front discs on the rear. I haven’t changed those brakes since I built the car in 2012. As others have said, the fronts do all the work. Rears just keep the car straight.

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  • Registered: 2009-08-28
  • Posts: 606

Re: Front Disc Brakes on Rear

I tend to agree with the other posters...HOWEVER

One of the last things we did on our Camaro was upgrade the drums to discs and we used a circle track caliper from willwood that was meant for the front of your typical Monte Carlo circle track car.  We installed an adjustable prop valve to make it work right and the car did indeed stop better.   

Then again thats a Camaro with a stick axle. 

First time doing Lemons??

Keep it simple!  Gain some experience and maybe try the disk upgrade at a later race if you think you need it.

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  • chaase
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  • From: East Meadow, NY
  • Registered: 2009-08-06
  • Posts: 1,553

Re: Front Disc Brakes on Rear

jimbbski wrote:

Most of your braking is done with the front brakes. If your parts car has rear discs I would use them instead of fitting the front brakes of a vehicle to the rear.  Your fear of brake lockup is very likely. Can you work around this, sure but you'll not gain much with the bigger brakes in the rear verses the stock rear disc set up.

Keep things simple. Since this is your first build simple is always better. Many Lemons racers have raced cars with rear drums successfully but since you have a stock setup available to you go with it.

/agree

Stick with the stock rear calipers like others have said. If you put front discs on the rear you could also lose your parking brake because the front won't have provisions for it.

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  • Registered: 2021-03-15
  • Posts: 4

Re: Front Disc Brakes on Rear

Thanks to all, for this year at least I will stick with stock rear disc setup.