Swap rear drum brakes to disc brakes?

[RadoX]

Hello everyone!

Is anyone did such a change? Do you have any guide for this conversion?

Best regards!

[iichel]

i did it already a few times. i don't have a guide, but it is possible and quite straight-forward.

[CNK]

i did it already a few times. i don't have a guide, but it is possible and quite straight-forward.

Wow, You've done a lot of modifications
Did you changed the entire rear beam axle or only brakes? Theoretically, replacing the entire rear beam axle is simpler and cheaper (if you buy used parts)



On drive2 I found this:
https://www.drive2.ru/l/2548655/
https://www.drive2.ru/l/1170791/
https://www.drive2.ru/l/5773731/
https://www.drive2.ru/l/7658591/
https://www.drive2.ru/l/454976813135824876/
https://www.drive2.ru/l/9007050/

I think it might be useful for you It seems to me that in the Polo Sedan brakes are similar to the Hatchback.

[iichel]

well you could opt to replace the entire rear axle but i think it's more work.

you need to do some (relatively) simple steps:
- remove the wheel
- remove the drum
- remove the drum brake mechanism (incl brake lines)
- remove the hub
- remove the handbrake wires

then you mount:
- the dust tins
- the axle
- the handbrake wires
- the brake caliper
- the brake disc

the final step is to bleed the system. this is very important.
and of course, you'll need to update the ABS unit coding with vcds.

it's about three or four hours work, but this way you will not need to remove the entire rear axle. this way it's a job that you can simply do on your own.

you'll be needing some specialist tools:
a brake bleeding device
a 30mm spline (12-tooth nut)

[ciclo]

Drum brakes should no longer exist, has no sense. Even my bicycle has disc brakes.

Thank you both for the info!

[CNK]

Drum brakes should no longer exist, has no sense. Even my bicycle has disc brakes.

So I'm a hipster, I still have rear drum brakes

[RUM4MO]

I think that the horrible truth is. that on these cars, rear drum brakes are okay! I rather having rear disc brakes, have had them for years on all my cars, even my wife's old and new Polo, but they brakes, while looker better and being easier to service, are not given enough work to do so fowl up and cause trouble! For instance at 12 months old and 8.5K miles the rear discs look rough/grooved/rusty and terrible!

Edit:- anyway I am too old to be a hipster, maybe I am a version of what the original hipsters were based on?

[gpeixoto109]

well you could opt to replace the entire rear axle but i think it's more work.

you need to do some (relatively) simple steps:
- remove the wheel
- remove the drum
- remove the drum brake mechanism (incl brake lines)
- remove the hub
- remove the handbrake wires

then you mount:
- the dust tins
- the axle
- the handbrake wires
- the brake caliper
- the brake disc

the final step is to bleed the system. this is very important.
and of course, you'll need to update the ABS unit coding with vcds.

it's about three or four hours work, but this way you will not need to remove the entire rear axle. this way it's a job that you can simply do on your own.

you'll be needing some specialist tools:
a brake bleeding device
a 30mm spline (12-tooth nut)

What coding do you need to do in the ABS unit?

[iichel]

Depends on your abs system and current brake configuration

[DanGro]

Depends on your abs system and current brake configuration

Today I tried to change that code because swapped the drums for brakes, but I keep getting error 22 on VCDS when trying to apply the code.(changing byte 02. 24->28)

so my question: How did you guys code it? and is there a special procedure for it?


many Thanks!

[Luigid]

Depends on your abs system and current brake configuration

Today I tried to change that code because swapped the drums for brakes, but I keep getting error 22 on VCDS when trying to apply the code.(changing byte 02. 24->28)

so my question: How did you guys code it? and is there a special procedure for it?


many Thanks!

byte 02 -> original 24 insert 28
byte 10 -> original 24 insert 14

[iichel]

Yes the post above is correct. If you adapt the brake size, you'll need to adapt byte 2 to 24 and byte 10 to the inverse of byte 2. That should give an accepted coding.

[DanGro]

Thanks Guys! the Byte 10 did the trick, I must have overread it in the DIY manual.

[Gee40]

As RUM4MO has said (and again with no disrespect) they really aren't needed on the 1.4 unless you are planning track days?
Bearing in mind expense and hassle can I ask why you want to do it or what benefit you are looking for?

[Luigid]

As RUM4MO has said (and again with no disrespect) they really aren't needed on the 1.4 unless you are planning track days?
Bearing in mind expense and hassle can I ask why you want to do it or what benefit you are looking for?

1.4 gasoline - diesel / how many hp? Surely it is nice to have them especially for the handbrake that does not creak when used but we are talking about spending at least 300 euros if the car has less than 90 hp and you don't always push it to maximum drums are enough