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fasttech TOOLED UP REAR DISC CONVERSION FOR CARS: MK4 FIESTA fasttech

BEFORE
STARTING…

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The first rule of working on cars and
using tools of any kind is don’t ever
skimp on decent protection.
Goggles, gloves, ear defenders,
masks and a set of overalls should
be in your garage. Use them.
When using power tools,
protective gear is essential
— grinders and welders can make
a real mess of your soft skin and
bone if you get it wrong.
Never work under a car without
supporting it using axle stands
first. A car falling on you is not
something you’ll be laughing about
down the pub.
When cars catch fire, they
burn fast. If you haven’t got an
extinguisher, think seriously about
getting one.
If you’re not confident in your
own ability to complete a task
safely, don’t even start it. Leave
it to the experts.
The advice and guidelines given in the
Fast Ford tech section are given in
good faith and Fast Ford or Future
Publishing can take no responsibility for
injuries sustained while carrying out the
Words: Dan described tasks and procedures, or any
consequences arising.
With the bolts out, you need to remove the drum. You can be lazy Make sure you support the drum so that you don’t do any damage
Photos: Leon Foster
and use a 32 mm socket on the hub nut to twist the rivets off, to the brake lines.

STOP: HAMMER TIME


instead of dismantling the drum and drilling them out.

BIN YOUR MK4 FIESTA’S TIRED DRUMS IN FAVOUR OF REAR DISC CONVERSION
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FOR STOPPING POWER THAT CAN’T BE TOUCHED...
EVER that the brakes
had the feeling out a few hours later, with the

on your Mk4 Fiesta just aren’t up


conversion sorted.
However, if you fancy having
ESSENTIALS
to the job sometimes? Are you
looking for that bit more from
a crack at doing the job yourself,
the most commonly used set-up
TOOLS YOU’LL NEED!
your stoppers? comes from the Focus. COSTS HOW LONG TO DO?
In most cases where a car has The easiest and cheapest way Expect to pay between £100 and It should only take an hour per side.
drums fitted to the rear, there are to start is with a trip to your local £150 for the hubs and callipers, You’ll need help to bleed the brakes.
always those nagging thoughts scrappers to hunt for parts. You discs and pads are about £40, a
handbrake cable is £37 and braided
HOW HARD TO FIT?
that they could be better, so it’s will also need some new brake
lines are around £60. Pretty easy. We reckon northern
a good idea to go for a rear disc hoses, the best option is to get
monkey Neil could do it, so you
conversion, besides you can some braided items made up as the WHERE FROM? should be able to do it too.
never have a set of brakes that standard Fiesta ones are slightly too For drive in, drive out service:
are too good. short, while the Focus ones won’t fit Pumabuild 0121 3562638 IN THE TOOLKIT
If you don’t want to get your as the connectors are different. www.pumabuild.co.uk 13/15/17 mm sockets, 13/15 mm
own hands dirty there are a few Once you have everything you To source parts: spanners, 32 mm socket and Next, cut off part of the beam so the callipers won’t foul it. Then Offer up the disc backing plate and slide a couple of bolts through
places, such as Pumabuild, where need, follow our guide for the low- UKFN, www.ukfiestanetwork.co.uk breaker bar, mole grips, WD40, paint it with anti-rust paint. to hold it in place. You can rivet it on but the hub will clamp it in
you can just drive in, then drive down on how it all goes together. eBay or your local scrapyard copper grease place nicely.

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Jack the rear of the car up, supporting it on axle stands, with the Remove the four bolts from the rear of the beam using a 17 mm Offer up the hub. Be careful as they are sided — the Ford logo As the rear discs don’t wear as fast as the fronts, slap a load of
rear wheels removed. socket. The drum is riveted to the beam still so it won’t fall off. should go at the top. Then bolt it in place. copper grease on the hub so the discs won’t rust in place.

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fasttech TOOLED UP REAR DISC CONVERSION

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Clean both surfaces of the disc with brake Offer up the calliper carrier and screw Slap some more copper grease on the
cleaner, then fit onto the hub. the bolts into the hubs. Tighten with a backs of the pads; we don’t want any
15 mm socket. squealing now do we...

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You will probably have to push the pistons


back into the callipers, this is easier to do
... then fit the pads to the calliper carrier. with a G-clamp as it rotates the piston nicely. Place the calliper over the pads.

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To tighten the bolt you’ll need to hold Spray some WD40 onto the brake hose
the carrier with a 15 mm spanner, while joiner. It’s a good idea to hold the bracket
Screw in the bolts to the carrier studs. tightening the bolt with a 13 mm socket. with a pair of mole grips, as the joiner will be
tight. Use a 13 mm spanner to undo it.

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To fit the new handbrake cable you will


need to remove the exhaust heatshield
from under the car. Slip the bracket over the Adjust the handbrake cable from in the
Fit the new braided brake lines, and then handbrake cable and hook the rear parts over car with a deep 10 mm socket. That’s it
bleed the brakes. the calliper lever. — job done.

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