I would like to remove the drum brakes on a mk2 escort rear axle to disc brakes is this possible and how would you do it

Can all be done with willwood kit looks great but will not improve your brakes and your hand brake will be crap with out some simple mods
but if your like me you will do it anyways
Cheers ALI

There are a number of kits out there using OEM parts - have a look at Mk2mania, they gave me great service when I was looking. Others are Caprisport (need to check these as they did not fit my Anglia English axle), Milton (Anglia specialists), old ford autos to name but a few.

Most are based on Sierra/Granada rear calipers (both vented and solid are vailable, most use solid) with the hand brake integrated into them. Most use a Fiesta disc but there are those out there that use a Sierra one, the Fiesta ones need the rear hub machining down I think but the Sierra ones don't.

If you are upgrading to rear discs make sure that your fronts are up to the job to balance the system or at least put a brake proportioning valve (or inertia valve) in the rear brake line to stop them locking before the fronts.

You may need to check clearances with your wheels if running 13" ones but should not be a problem.

That said, most lightweight cars do not see much benefit from rear discs as the Drums are more than adequate, you may want to look at upgrading the 8" drums to 9" as an option (if you have 8" already).

As for how - pull off the drum, remove the drum parts from the backing plate, remove the four drive shaft retaining bolts, remove the drive shaft (use a slide hammer or I used the reverse drum and loose bolts way), get rid of the backing plate and replace with either the caliper holder or the replacement blanking plate, bolt it all back together. Add ithe calipers and discs, handbrake cable and brake lines. If the caliper bracket goes on the rear of the (3 or two holes) bolt this onto with longer bolts acting as studs. Note, you will also need longer wheel studs as you are adding the disc thickness.

Hope this helps.

[Edited on 23/10/14 by Ugg10]

75+ percent of the braking is done by the front wheels, only justification for fitting discs on the back is the feel of the pedal.