1st-gen Hyundai Creta: Rear drum to disc brake conversion

At the end of the 10 kms TD, I was happy thanks to the good braking and couldn't replicate the hard pedal issue or the spongy pedal-feel in the Seltos.

BHPian a4anurag recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

2017 Hyundai Creta (1st Gen): Rear Drum to Disc Conversion

The Hyundai Creta (1st generation) was notorious for braking related issues along with a few other niggles that Hyundai India never addressed in public even after complaints that fell on deaf ears. Issues concerning braking I feel were:

• An over-sensitive ABS set-up
• The hard pedal condition during emergency braking,
• The spongy pedal feel (initial pedal travel)

These are some issues that I have observed in these 1,00,000+ kms and also other Creta owner's on FB groups too have complained about but no solution from the manufacturer's side even after 6 years of the launch of the 1st generation Creta (from 2015). Since Hyundai India was doing nothing about it, I decided to look for a solution where I can find peace with these brakes.

By the end of 2019, Kia had launched the Seltos in India. My eyes were lit when I saw that the car sported discs on all 4 wheels. During the 2nd week of January 2020, I got a chance to TD the Seltos diesel for 10 kms. My motto for the TD was only to check how the braking feel is and what feedback I got from the car's braking system in different situations on the road (be it the city or highway like speeds). Since the Seltos had its underpinnings similar to the 1st generation Creta, I was worried if the braking issues would repeat here also or if Kia had learnt from Hyundai’s mistake and rectified it before launching the Seltos in India. At the end of the 10 kms TD, I was happy thanks to the good braking and couldn't replicate the hard pedal issue or the spongy pedal-feel in the Seltos. I sincerely appreciate Kia for giving discs all-round in the Seltos since the launch from mid-variants and not like Hyundai where they skipped it completely even during the facelift in 2018.

In November 2020, I had got to TD the 2nd generation Creta with all 4 discs: Here's what I commented in one thread of similar discussion.

After driving almost 87,700 kms with disc + drum combination in the Creta, recently got a chance to drive the 2020 Creta Diesel SX(O) equipped with discs all around.

The difference that I could notice was day and night. I was in love with how the car responded to brake pedal inputs and also tried emergency braking a couple of times from 60 kmph, 80 kmph and 100 kmph. The 2020 Creta just stopped with the least drama!

I wish Hyundai had given discs all around from Day 1 of Hyundai Creta in India.

One day when both of us (BHPian interc00led and me) had visited our FNG for some work on our cars, we see a Seltos that had come in for denting and painting job. Luckily, that car was with the disc brake at the rear. Immediately we took some pictures to assess what we would need to make the conversion successful.

Seltos - Caliper close-up view:

Disc setup - LH side:

Disc setup - RH side:

To a layman, they looked identical and when we were closing looking at the setup, it felt pretty identical, even the torsion beam and mounting points which made us happy since the job of swapping would not be difficult and the conversion process should go on smoothly.

Items Required for this MOD (adding in no particular order)

• 1/4" Socket set
• 1/2" Socket set
• Torque Wrench
• DOT 4 brake fluid - 1L (minimum)
• Microfibre towel
• Wheel blocks
• Jack stand
• Spanner set
• Flathead screwdriver
• Star Screwdriver
• Sandpaper - For cleaning the rotor and pads
• 100% IPA (Iso Propyl Alcohol) for cleaning
• Screw gauge
• Punch set
• Vernier callipers
• Service manual (for the tightening torque values)
• Cutting pliers
• Trim panel removal tools

Disclaimer & Warning

I and/or Team-BHP are NOT responsible if there is any loss of life or damage to personal or private property if someone tries to replicate this Modification on their respective cars. A lot of thought process and trial has gone in and after weighing in all factors, I have done it. Please do it at your sole discretion.

Rear Disc Setup: Parts list of what we picked up

The list below is the individual items that we procured from the scrapyard:

• Rotors x 2
• Brake caliper LH
• Brake caliper RH
• Caliper mounting bracket LH
• Caliper mounting bracket RH
• Rear Pads set x 1 (i.e. 4 pads)
• Parking brake cable LH
• Parking brake cable RH
• Dust shield LH
• Dust shield RH
• Pad Return spring x 4
• ABS Sensor wiring
• Caliper mounting bolts x 4
• Torsion beam bolts x 8

Details of the Braking Setup used (OEM)

• Type: Solid Disc
• Disc OD: 262mm
• Disc Thickness: 10mm
• Cylinder Type: Single Piston
• Brake Pad Thickness: 10mm

Disc Set - LH & RH Side

ABS Sensor wiring

Mando Caliper Set with brake fluid pipe

Caliper Set

Brake Pad Set (Fresh and hardly used). Was cleaned before put to use.

The Rotor (262mm solid disc)

The Hub (Not compatible with the Creta's torsion beam)

The Dust Shield and Caliper mounting bracket

Caliper mounting bracket separated

AFAIK and as per Hyundai parts search, if all of the above would have been bought from the ASC against any compatible VIN, I would surely be spending somewhere near ₹75,000+. Since the hubs from the set we picked up were not compatible, we returned them to the scrapyard dealer and have asked him to procure two rear hubs of the Creta model I drive that would be exchanged once he procures them.

Continue reading a4anurag's experience for more insights, information and BHPian comments.