FIAT Adventure 1.6 Sports - Upgrading form Drum to Disc Brakes

hrsraghav · 27th August 2009, 09:46

I have FIAT Adventure 1.6 Sports.
It is quite a heavy car, and on brakes front I have always found it a bit spongy. The change of Disc pads also doesnt help much.
I am thinking to put disc brakes at rear. I tried to search on net, about the upgrade from Drum to Disc brakes, but couldn't find much.
Is it a simple job to upgrade from Drum to Disc brakes, and any workshop can do it?
Please share you knowledge base on this.

ph03n!x · 27th August 2009, 12:45

It is not an advisable mod- more so because of the complications involved. Try alternatives like tarox rotors/ EBC for the front.

And I remember reading about a similar question (not for a Palio, though) in Team BHP earlier...

freewheelburnin · 27th August 2009, 13:50

It's better you tune up the existing brakes.If the workshop is not competent enough change your mechanic.It's better to live with the existing setup rather than upgrading to discs.If not done well,it could prove dangerous if your brake biasing is not proper or the disc brakes lock up or something like that.I am not an expert at this but just my comments...

musicmanaman · 27th August 2009, 13:53

As others have pointed out, it is not advaisable, try to get your existing setup to perform better.

lohithrao · 27th August 2009, 14:01

How about upgrading the disc break setup with the aftermarket once...Brembos or better once ?

swathyd · 27th August 2009, 14:06

It is not an impossible mod , consult some good garage in delhi. And for the front there are other options like a new rotor and brake pads . It costs around 25,000. Go for european make and dont go for thaiwanese . Fiat linea comes with similar brake system as that of adventure . So many performance tuners will be stocking it .

SUV · 27th August 2009, 14:07

You can do a upgrade provided u find a set of rear callipers .... the front callipers can be used but you wouldnt have a hand brake mechanism ... check this link for a detailed explanation and the converstion process.

Rear disc brake conversion II - The FIAT Forum

hrsraghav · 27th August 2009, 14:12

Is it not advisable becuase its not so frequently done or does it really have some serious side effects.
In my limited knowledge i think that the front ones should be more sharper then rear ones, so probably i have to do something for front assembly also, like some grooved rotors with equally good pads.
I suppose there must be a complete solution sort of thing where both front and rear brakes are proposed as a configuration.

hrsraghav · 27th August 2009, 14:16

@ SUB
Thanks for the link.

@ Swathyd
Are the Linea rear drums better then Adventure ones, and are both of them compatible for installation?

swathyd · 27th August 2009, 14:57

Lineas have identical front brakes with that of adventure , i dont know about its rear braking system .

pramodkumar · 27th August 2009, 16:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by hrsraghav

Is it not advisable becuase its not so frequently done or does it really have some serious side effects.

It is not as bad as most of the people have put here. Fast and powerful cars need better braking os anyplace doing up good engine mods can handle this as well, this is not a mod which any workshop can handle. This has to be done perfectly with great aftersales support. There are many competent places in Delhi/NCR who can handle this, question is finding the right place. Any ways first you have to decide what kind of breaking power you need, its not always better to go to a modifier and tell him that you need 4 disks because you breaks sucks, they will try fleecing money, so first decide do you want.

Better than the stock?
You need better pads and a bigger roter

Much better than the stock?
you need cross drilled rotors and performance pads

Need to stop a really fast car ?
Put rear discs and performance pads

Need to stop really really fast car ?
Put 4 cross drilled rotors

I hope i made some sense

GTO · 27th August 2009, 18:05

Quote:

There are many competent places in Delhi/NCR who can handle this, question is finding the right place.

I'm sorry, but I simply don't buy that. The braking system, we will agree, is MOST integral to the safety of the car's occupants (and others on the road). Converting a braking system from drum to disc is a MASSIVE complication and involves sourcing the right parts, plumbing, calibration, balance and reliability. It is beyond the scope of most Indian shops to do a reliable job. Good luck with finding the right shop, though when you consider less than 0.01% of the garages out there could do a satisfactory job, your probability of ending up with a reliable drum -> disc conversion is just as miniscule.

Or maybe I'm just one of those types who would trust a factory fit, more than an after-market, for a device which my life is dependent on.

IIRC, Viper's OHC (search forum) was converted to rear disc. He switched back within a short while due to problems.

@ hrsraghav : Please refer to this thread for more information on improving your cars brakes.

maven · 27th August 2009, 18:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by hrsraghav

I have FIAT Adventure 1.6 Sports.
It is quite a heavy car, and on brakes front I have always found it a bit spongy. The change of Disc pads also doesnt help much.
I am thinking to put disc brakes at rear. I tried to search on net, about the upgrade from Drum to Disc brakes, but couldn't find much.
Is it a simple job to upgrade from Drum to Disc brakes, and any workshop can do it?
Please share you knowledge base on this.

Not advisable. I doubt even fiat service will be able to do the job which means the chances of getting this done from "outside" are next to none. if you see risk-reward ratio you are better off staying away from doing the mod.

pramodkumar · 28th August 2009, 09:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO

I'm sorry, but I simply don't buy that. The braking system, we will agree, is MOST integral to the safety of the car's occupants (and others on the road). Converting a braking system from drum to disc is a MASSIVE complication and involves sourcing the right parts, plumbing, calibration, balance and reliability. It is beyond the scope of most Indian shops to do a reliable job.

I totally agree with you on this. The only problem is getting the right parts and getting the right place which knows what they are doing. The mod scene in india is improving leaps and bounds and one bad experiance that viper might have due to faulty installation cannot deem this mod not worth trying. The actual question is does he actually need that kind of breaks to stop a stock car(he has not mentioned any mods). I agree that even authorised service centers dont take this up, not only because of the complications involved but how many actually get this done. Any ways my intention is to let harsha know that he might not need what he is looking for.

Pramod

CrackedHead · 28th August 2009, 09:52

In almost all the brake upgrade threads that I've seen on the forum - there was one common thing that stands out.

Most people get satisfactory braking just by making sure that the stock setup is in top shape. So please get your brakes overhauled, replace the brake fluid, pads and (maybe the front disks too) then post your feedback. Stock brakes are almost always adequate for a stock car.

27th August 2009, 09:46	#1
hrsraghav BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 292 Thanked: 24 Times	FIAT Adventure 1.6 Sports - Upgrading form Drum to Disc Brakes I have FIAT Adventure 1.6 Sports. It is quite a heavy car, and on brakes front I have always found it a bit spongy. The change of Disc pads also doesnt help much. I am thinking to put disc brakes at rear. I tried to search on net, about the upgrade from Drum to Disc brakes, but couldn't find much. Is it a simple job to upgrade from Drum to Disc brakes, and any workshop can do it? Please share you knowledge base on this.
	() Thanks

27th August 2009, 12:45	#2
ph03n!x Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coimbatore Posts: 2,566 Thanked: 5,961 Times	It is not an advisable mod- more so because of the complications involved. Try alternatives like tarox rotors/ EBC for the front. And I remember reading about a similar question (not for a Palio, though) in Team BHP earlier...
	() Thanks

27th August 2009, 13:50	#3
freewheelburnin BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: bangalore Posts: 277 Thanked: 33 Times View My Garage	It's better you tune up the existing brakes.If the workshop is not competent enough change your mechanic.It's better to live with the existing setup rather than upgrading to discs.If not done well,it could prove dangerous if your brake biasing is not proper or the disc brakes lock up or something like that.I am not an expert at this but just my comments...
	() Thanks

27th August 2009, 13:53	#4
musicmanaman BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: kolkata Posts: 927 Thanked: 25 Times	As others have pointed out, it is not advaisable, try to get your existing setup to perform better.
	() Thanks

27th August 2009, 14:01	#5
lohithrao Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kudla/Mangaluru Posts: 3,204 Thanked: 225 Times View My Garage	How about upgrading the disc break setup with the aftermarket once...Brembos or better once ?
	() Thanks

27th August 2009, 14:06	#6
swathyd BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: thiruvananthapuram Posts: 774 Thanked: 25 Times	It is not an impossible mod , consult some good garage in delhi. And for the front there are other options like a new rotor and brake pads . It costs around 25,000. Go for european make and dont go for thaiwanese . Fiat linea comes with similar brake system as that of adventure . So many performance tuners will be stocking it .
	() Thanks

27th August 2009, 14:07	#7
SUV BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: BLR Posts: 256 Thanked: 3 Times	You can do a upgrade provided u find a set of rear callipers .... the front callipers can be used but you wouldnt have a hand brake mechanism ... check this link for a detailed explanation and the converstion process. Rear disc brake conversion II - The FIAT Forum
	() Thanks

27th August 2009, 14:12	#8
hrsraghav BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 292 Thanked: 24 Times	Is it not advisable becuase its not so frequently done or does it really have some serious side effects. In my limited knowledge i think that the front ones should be more sharper then rear ones, so probably i have to do something for front assembly also, like some grooved rotors with equally good pads. I suppose there must be a complete solution sort of thing where both front and rear brakes are proposed as a configuration.
	() Thanks

27th August 2009, 14:16	#9
hrsraghav BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 292 Thanked: 24 Times	@ SUB Thanks for the link. @ Swathyd Are the Linea rear drums better then Adventure ones, and are both of them compatible for installation?
	() Thanks

27th August 2009, 14:57	#10
swathyd BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: thiruvananthapuram Posts: 774 Thanked: 25 Times	Lineas have identical front brakes with that of adventure , i dont know about its rear braking system .
	() Thanks

28th August 2009, 09:52	#15
CrackedHead BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Seattle Posts: 585 Thanked: 81 Times	In almost all the brake upgrade threads that I've seen on the forum - there was one common thing that stands out. Most people get satisfactory braking just by making sure that the stock setup is in top shape. So please get your brakes overhauled, replace the brake fluid, pads and (maybe the front disks too) then post your feedback. Stock brakes are almost always adequate for a stock car.
	() Thanks