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Brake conversion
marcjagman - 13/1/11 at 01:20 PM

Not tried this before so thought I would ask as I feel sure someone will have done it already. Got a Dutton Melos with drum brakes on the front and I want to convert to discs, seems a good idea. Can anyone tell me what bits will fit with minimum fuss? Pics would be great if anyone has them. Originaly Escort Mk1 or 2 don't know which. Looking for cheapest options (tight arse)

[Edited on 13/1/11 by marcjagman]

blakep82 - 13/1/11 at 01:30 PM

do you know what the front brakes are off of? a disc braked version of that car would be the first option. i'm sure you know that already though lol, if you say what the brakes are off of, i'm sure someone wil know better

marcjagman - 13/1/11 at 01:32 PM

OOOpps, Escort Mk1 or 2.

britishtrident - 13/1/11 at 01:35 PM

ISTR you will need to get hold of Escort font struts hubs and brakes, which then have be adapted.
You will need to identify if your car is based on a MK1 or MK2 Escort I suspect it will be MK1 as only a few MK2 Escort Populars & Vans had drum brakes.


Way to tell between MK1 and Mk2 Escort is the track rod ends, Where the track rod from the sterring rack screws into the track rod end the MK1 Escort track rod end has 1/2" UNF threads which is quite a fine thread, the MK2 Escort is metric M14 x 2 which is a very coarse thread. The taper on the MK2 Escort track rod end is also a much more heavy duty size.

marcjagman - 13/1/11 at 04:11 PM

quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
ISTR you will need to get hold of Escort font struts hubs and brakes, which then have be adapted.
You will need to identify if your car is based on a MK1 or MK2 Escort I suspect it will be MK1 as only a few MK2 Escort Populars & Vans had drum brakes.


Way to tell between MK1 and Mk2 Escort is the track rod ends, Where the track rod from the sterring rack screws into the track rod end the MK1 Escort track rod end has 1/2" UNF threads which is quite a fine thread, the MK2 Escort is metric M14 x 2 which is a very coarse thread. The taper on the MK2 Escort track rod end is also a much more heavy duty size.

So if it's Mk1 what can I use and if it's Mk2 what can I use?

britishtrident - 13/1/11 at 04:28 PM

Mk1 for Mk1

Mk2 for Mk2

Unless you also change the steering rack to match.

marcjagman - 13/1/11 at 04:39 PM

So things like sierra, mondeo, fiesta etc brake parts are no good then?

MikeRJ - 13/1/11 at 04:53 PM

quote:
Originally posted by marcjagman
So things like sierra, mondeo, fiesta etc brake parts are no good then?


The problem is the upright which is different between the drum and disc braked cars. This starts life as a McPherson strut in the Mk1/2 Escort and is chopped down and converted into a more traditional "upright" for double wishbones in the Dutton (and some Sylva cars).

You might be able to use Cortina/Sierra uprights and brakes, but it will be far from a bolt on job as you will need to modify/re-design the wishbones to suit.

Have you read this guide?