It all depends on how and where you drive. For most drivers they wouldn't notice much difference. If you drive under more adverse or extreme conditions then you will notice it.
I've tossed around the rear disc idea for my Mav. I've decided to keep the rear drum. I honestly dont think the rear disc would be worth it for every day street use. The deciding factor would be if I had open wheels on the car or not. Then I might be swayed for the aesthetics. Being a tech the rear drum brakes are always in top cond and adjusted. I guess if I got the parts for free I would do it. Nothing against doing the swap I just have many other things that take priority on the car. If you plan on driving it hard and its set up to handle well then I would say yes do the disc swap.
I agree with what has been said above. I wonder if ABS conversions are economically possible on these older cars?
an abs system is designed for the vehical its on. it would not be a good idea to try to make one work on the mav. im sure it possible, just not a simple task.
Bryant; this is probably true, but I have heard of some of the Mustang guys putting the '90's Taurus rear-only antilocks, and the Ranger rear anti-locks on their cars. Might be something to look at, as they are stand alone units, not controlled by a computer. I might look into it later on. Just a thought! Later,
For me, a lot. My car already stopped well with disc+drum and 235's all around, but who would say no to anything that can decrease stopping distance? With a drum+drum car, you just have to accept and know while you're in traffic that you can't stop as well as the driver in front of you. The one in that new Civic who's using the mirrors to check her makeup while texting with her BFF about what Lady Gaga wore last night. Your life is in that person's hands. Usually you can maintain distance, usually the road's not wet, usually there's no reason for the car in front of you to stop abruptly and usually it doesn't occur right when you happen to be changing the radio station... You'll probably be okay. If "probably" is good enough and you live in the country, don't drive your car much in traffic or weather, maybe it's an acceptable risk for your situation. With disc+drum, you can stop your car about as fast as Gaga Chick's Civic. You have a fighting chance, at least, with most of the other cars on the road. If you're going to make a daily or even a frequent driver out of an old car, I think this configuration should be considered a minimum requirement. But with disc+disc, you have more than a fighting chance, you have an advantage. With decent tires and strong brakes, these light cars can stop as well or better than 99% of the traffic around you. And that's good because you don't have airbags and crumple zones, your 33-40 year old metal is not what it used to be, and your bumpers are worthless ornaments. You guys who run skinny tires up front especially should consider four discs. It really is a big difference. I admit I did it partially for aesthetics, but I've had a few near-misses that made me a strong believer. I'm about to do the same conversion on my wife's car, an '04 Stratus, because her brakes are nowhere near as good as mine and it bothers me every time I drive it. Just this past weekend I was on the interstate, boxed in with a funeral procession on my left doing 45 mph, and a guard rail on my right. Traffic in front of me was doing the same. Then a cop pulled out and stopped my lane so the procession could get over and take the next exit. Nobody expected that. Everybody stood hard on their brakes. I have no doubt at all that my previous disc+drum brakes would have put me into the back of a Grand Marquis last Saturday, and I would either be writing from a hospital right now about buying a Maverick body, or somebody else would be posting details about where and when to visit my body and put it in the ground. (That would be a Drew style death, wouldn't it? Cut off in traffic by a funeral procession... I'm tellin' you, it nearly freakin' happened.)
Well said!! Brake fade, wet brake fade, constant adjustment (dang self-adjusters have a mind of their own and remember to back up hitting the brakes) DISC BRAKES FOR SURE!!!!
If you have trouble stopping for the person in front of you then you are not leaving the 2 seconds between you and the car in front of you. Stop tailgating. I almost always keep 2 - 3 seconds between me and the car in front of me - no matter what I am driving. And yes, I had to get used to those who cut in front of me. I try to gat my safety margin back as quickly as I can without slowing traffic too much. Most people will notice that you are keeping your speed the same as the guy in front so they go completely around - not all though.
I "almost" always do that also... But circumstances don't always allow for that margin, and you know that or you wouldn't have said "almost." I'm going to take every advantage I can get, especially in a car that's not going to offer much protection in a crash. "Safe" drivers paint the highways red with their blood every day too, sometimes things just happen.
That's about the only advantage on a street only car. But fortunately you don't have to do the rear drums as often as the fronts. It's about 2-3 jobs on the front to one on the rear.
To see how much braking effect the rears do on a lonely road get up to about 35 mpg and pull out the parking brake and see how fast the car stops. Doesn't do much at all. I have always heard and read that the front does 90% of the stopping and I believe that. I think that rear discs are mainly put on new cars so they CAN put on the Anti lock brakes and I am sure it saves money by not casting and machining those large brake drums. They do look nice and they are a lot easier to change the pads instead of the shoes. Unless you have trouble turning the parking brake type piston back in like I always have trouble doing clint
