| Disc Doctorin'
Inline Four shows us how to set up Fastbrakes' front big brake and rear drum-to-disc conversion kits on an '95 Civic CX hatchback. Editor Bob oversees the surgery.
Nothing inspires more confidence in your ride's racing prowess than calipers and big rotors at all four corners. Knowing you can run hot deep into a turn and brake late safely can sometimes make the difference between winning and losing a race. It can also make the difference between slamming into what's in front of you and stopping just short.
So we know four-wheel disc brakes are desirable, but why? Quite simply, it's the way disc brakes are designed. Drum brakes tend to build up heat inside the drum during heavy braking and this can cause overheating and fading. Disc brakes, however, utilize a rotor that's typically exposed to outside air, which keeps the rotor much cooler and reduces the tendency of the brakes to overheat. Plus, they look way more bitchin' than drums.
Jeff Drew from Energy Suspension wanted these features for his '95 Civic hatchback, so he contacted Fastbrakes and purchased a pair of kits: one that up-sizes the front rotors and relocates the calipers; and another that converts the rear stock drums to discs. He then gave us a shout to see if we were interested, and since we're always down for a good brake story we lined up O.C. Honda/Acura tuners Inline Four to do the work for our camera. In the end the entire job took roughly six hours, although depending on your skill level and whether or not you have a lift it could take a little longer.
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