Four piston brake swap
04-02-2002, 02:37 AM
#1
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 946
So its way too late, and I was up thinking about my car. I think to myself "Hey, your swanky new GTU has the puny little single piston brake calipers. But, your wrecked GXL has the four piston calipers..."
From there, I am utterly convinced that I should swap these things over between the cars. But how? I have limited experience in wrenching, and zero experience with the braking system. I DO know that my GXL was in need of pads and a rotor turning/replacement before I put it in the ditch. However, I've never had the wheel off of either car to really examine things. What exactly will I need to swap other than the calipers, rotors, and pads? Will I need to swap the lines and the master cylinder as well? What about bleeding the lines, changing fluid, etc.? How long is this silly scheme going to take to finish?
From there, I am utterly convinced that I should swap these things over between the cars. But how? I have limited experience in wrenching, and zero experience with the braking system. I DO know that my GXL was in need of pads and a rotor turning/replacement before I put it in the ditch. However, I've never had the wheel off of either car to really examine things. What exactly will I need to swap other than the calipers, rotors, and pads? Will I need to swap the lines and the master cylinder as well? What about bleeding the lines, changing fluid, etc.? How long is this silly scheme going to take to finish?
04-02-2002, 11:41 AM
#3
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 295
Do all GXL's have 4 piston brakes? I have a S4 GXL parts car (which by the way if anyone needs anything, blue, blue interior, auto...but I don't know if any of the engine components work cause I got the car and it needs a fuel pump and shifter and I have been lazy) Would S4 brake calipers fit on a S5 GTU? That would make my decision about the slotted rotors easy. I would buy SS brake lines and put on those calipers with all new slotted/cross drilled rotors and pads.
Thanks,
Mike
Thanks,
Mike
04-02-2002, 12:26 PM
#4
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Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 7,316
Originally Posted by 90N/A Rex' date='April 02 2002,12:41
Do all GXL's have 4 piston brakes? I have a S4 GXL parts car (which by the way if anyone needs anything, blue, blue interior, auto...but I don't know if any of the engine components work cause I got the car and it needs a fuel pump and shifter and I have been lazy) Would S4 brake calipers fit on a S5 GTU? That would make my decision about the slotted rotors easy. I would buy SS brake lines and put on those calipers with all new slotted/cross drilled rotors and pads.
Thanks,
Mike
Thanks,
Mike
04-02-2002, 02:23 PM
#5
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 643
In order to do the swap, what do you have to do?
Just remove the 1-piston calipers and bolt-on the 4-pistons calipers? What about the discs? Do they have to be changed?
If yes, by 5bolt discs? I have a GX with 4 bolts + 1 piston calipers....the reason is that I might be able to get them cheap....btw I bought brand new SS brake lines and redone the whole lines from front to rear...
Just remove the 1-piston calipers and bolt-on the 4-pistons calipers? What about the discs? Do they have to be changed?
If yes, by 5bolt discs? I have a GX with 4 bolts + 1 piston calipers....the reason is that I might be able to get them cheap....btw I bought brand new SS brake lines and redone the whole lines from front to rear...
04-02-2002, 02:27 PM
#6
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Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 7,316
Originally Posted by winger' date='April 02 2002,15:23
In order to do the swap, what do you have to do?
Just remove the 1-piston calipers and bolt-on the 4-pistons calipers? What about the discs? Do they have to be changed?
If yes, by 5bolt discs? I have a GX with 4 bolts + 1 piston calipers....the reason is that I might be able to get them cheap....btw I bought brand new SS brake lines and redone the whole lines from front to rear...
Just remove the 1-piston calipers and bolt-on the 4-pistons calipers? What about the discs? Do they have to be changed?
If yes, by 5bolt discs? I have a GX with 4 bolts + 1 piston calipers....the reason is that I might be able to get them cheap....btw I bought brand new SS brake lines and redone the whole lines from front to rear...
04-02-2002, 08:41 PM
#9
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Originally Posted by 90N/A Rex' date='April 02 2002,17:41
Thats good. Looks like I am going to rebuild the calipers, buy the SS hoses and get my rotors and pads.
This sounds as if it will be a lot of work. ???
04-02-2002, 08:54 PM
#10
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 643
you first have to buy the kit (mazdatrix has them for $26). It contains new seals and maybe other parts
then you change all the old parts with the new ones.....if you have the tools, it should be pretty easy to do with a good manual (haynes, factory service manual (I have it in PDF if you want it 86-88)
then you change all the old parts with the new ones.....if you have the tools, it should be pretty easy to do with a good manual (haynes, factory service manual (I have it in PDF if you want it 86-88)