9th Gen Rear Disc Brake Conversion PICS

Dr Tweak · Nov 18, 2006

9th Gen Rear Disc Brake Conversion *PICS*

This information applies only to the 9th Gen Corolla.

Peforming a rear disc conversion on this generation Corolla is a straightforward project thanks to available parts from the Matrix and Corolla XRS. You will need the entire rear disc brake setup from one of these cars, including the backing plate, calipers, parking brake parts, and new pads and rotors. You will also make life MUCH easier for yourself if you can get the uncut parking brake cables.

This conversion was made by reusing the Corolla parking brake cables. If I had it to do over again, I would have located the ones from an XRS since it would have made this a totally bolt-on process.

First you remove the rear drum brake parts. Here I have bolt the parking brake cable to the backing plate.

The bolts you used to attach the hub, and therefore the backing plate, from the drum setup are a little bit too short for the disc setup. You will need some a little longer (the ones on the left are the ones I used).

We see here that the cable stop on the stock parking brake cable is too large to fit into the hole it needs to go in:

A few minutes with a drill fixed the problem.

Now it fits just right.

Hub bolted back on...

New pads installed...

There we have it! Don't forget that the brakes need to be bled now.

With the wheel installed (opposite side)

Now we find that the parking brake cable must be tightened up (adjustment is under the center console inside), but even tightened all the way up it's not tight enough. The simplest solution that I could think of was to shorten the cables about an inch where they meet with new cable stops. The method worked well, but using XRS cables would have made it a lot easier. Either way, to access the cables you will need to remove the aluminum heat shield above the exhaust. I did it with the exhaust in place but dropping the exhaust would have made it a lot easier.

There you have it! 100% functional rear disc brakes, and the customer reports no problems with the rear brakes locking up or anything of the sort. I can do this conversion to your car for $695 including all parts and labor.