Has any one done a rear disc brake upgrade on their GE?
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 135
From: san jose, ca.
Motortrend Comparison: 2011 Ford Fiesta SES vs 2010 Honda Fit Sport vs 2010 Toyota Yaris vs 2010 Nissan Versa 1.8 SL comparsion test:
2011 Ford Fiesta SES vs. 2010 Honda Fit Sport vs. 2010 Toyota Yaris vs. 2010 Nissan Versa Specifications - Motor Trend
Fit had the WORST braking from 60-0 MPH
fiesta: 116 ft
fit: 139 ft
versa: 136 ft
yaris: 126 ft
The Fit is the best car in the test because it was great in the other categories of the test but it had the longest braking distance.
Fit brakes are shit.
2011 Ford Fiesta SES vs. 2010 Honda Fit Sport vs. 2010 Toyota Yaris vs. 2010 Nissan Versa Specifications - Motor Trend
Fit had the WORST braking from 60-0 MPH
fiesta: 116 ft
fit: 139 ft
versa: 136 ft
yaris: 126 ft
The Fit is the best car in the test because it was great in the other categories of the test but it had the longest braking distance.
Fit brakes are shit.
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Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 135
From: san jose, ca.
bmxman, how do you know the used RSX rear calipers on ebay are bad. The fact is you don't know. ebay rating on the sell is good.
fitisbamf, if you say rear rotors will get rusty, then why don't you swap your front rotors for drums because your front rotors will get rusty. Another weak argument.
fitisbamf, if you say rear rotors will get rusty, then why don't you swap your front rotors for drums because your front rotors will get rusty. Another weak argument.
Last edited by xm8; Nov 1, 2010 at 02:09 AM.
The test measures brakes, but the best thing for comparisons of this nature is to fit all cars with the same tires and then test. Really the tires on the Fit and almost every Honda are really the weak point in braking distances. Change tires to a bit stickier compound and watch braking performance increase a good margin.
XM8, you may have wanted to look more into the data of that comparison, because guess what, every car in that test has rear drums, so not sure exactly what you want to prove because the argument you are presenting of the Fit's North American brake set-up is garbage was just thrown out by posting that test as evidence by chance.
XM8, you may have wanted to look more into the data of that comparison, because guess what, every car in that test has rear drums, so not sure exactly what you want to prove because the argument you are presenting of the Fit's North American brake set-up is garbage was just thrown out by posting that test as evidence by chance.
Last edited by 555sexydrive; Nov 1, 2010 at 03:03 AM.
The test measures brakes, but the best thing for comparisons of this nature is to fit all cars with the same tires and then test. Really the tires on the Fit and almost every Honda are really the weak point in braking distances. Change tires to a bit stickier compound and watch braking performance increase a good margin.
All great points! I hated the OE Dunlops.. They were off in less than ~10k
Last edited by DiamondStarMonsters; Nov 1, 2010 at 03:18 AM.
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Posts: 4,371
From: NC USA
Let's face it, drums have their advantage and so do disc brakes.
Name one for drums.
If you don't change your tires, or the weight distribution of the car (and it would have to be A LOT)... a disc conversion ISN'T going to help. All the disc would do, lock up sooner. Like posted earlier, braking is all about friction and traction. You'd rather have tires with traction slow you down, than to skid, right?
I've had 5 different tires on my Fit with rear discs, including the stock Dunslops, and every single one stops better with rear discs, wet, dry, track, or street. Same suspension and weight distributiuon. Yes some stop quicker than others based on the tires but discs are better, period,
BTW... unless you drive through a pond of water, you're not all that likely to have water on the braking surfaces to begin with. The drums face in and the sheer spinning would create a slight air "surface" that repels smaller water droplets. You obviously haven't driven VIR, MidOhio or Charlotte in the rain.
And if you do drive through a pond... you shouldn't be going all that fast for a while anyway. Fast as that little car will go, before, during, and after the pond.
Are disc brakes superior to drums? Yes.
Are they absolutely necessary in the Fit? No.
Probably not for you.
How would a disc conversion affect the fit? Negatively, if it's the only change. Horsefeathers. Test them before pronoucements.
I'll say it again... without the right tires, a rear disc conversion could be worse. Only if you screw up the installation big time.
Its the same thing going with bigger brakes... without the tires (and a host of other changes), it'll only make things worse. Nonsense.
Its one thing when the car comes from the factory with discs, and a WHOLE other thing when doing the conversion. The factory would've factored in the braking bias and guess what? Reduced the amount of brake line pressure in the rears.... that's so the brake force stays the same.
Does your Fit have a proportioning valve? Thought so. The same reduction in rear brake line pressure applies equally well to rear discs as rear drums. Its the weight transfer that matters.
Go, grab a car (or specifically, a Fit) with factory discs... get a pressure test of the brake lines (when the brakes are pressed, of course)... compare them to a Fit with factory drums.
Well, we haven't done that but on my car I guarantee the rear pressure is the same for drums as discs with the only difference being better braking with discs.
Personally, I like the looks of disc brakes, and if I were to do such a conversion, I'd put disc in rears, BIGGER disc in fronts and GRIPPER tires all around (and of course, have ABS, ECU and anything else adjusted accordingly). Short of that, forget it.
Last edited by mahout; Nov 1, 2010 at 07:52 AM.
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 39
From: Merlion City
not here to argue, just to share some pictures after reading all the posts here 
here's a JDM GE converted from rear drum. discs size 285mm with a 2pot caliper. i'm not sure what is the make of the caliper, if anyone has any info, do advise !
both the conversion was done mainly for aesthetic purpose, primarily. and occasional casual tracking being secondary. But ONE thing for sure, acceleration from stand still felt a little retard when floored the gas pedal. FC increased too
require a 15" rim minimum to clear the rear caliper due to larger 285mm discs. this JDM Fit also has upgraded front to 285mm, retaining stock caliper. i think stock GE Jazz is 230mm rear & 262mm front.
here's a side view.
here's a JDM GE converted from rear drum. discs size 285mm with a 2pot caliper. i'm not sure what is the make of the caliper, if anyone has any info, do advise !
both the conversion was done mainly for aesthetic purpose, primarily. and occasional casual tracking being secondary. But ONE thing for sure, acceleration from stand still felt a little retard when floored the gas pedal. FC increased too
require a 15" rim minimum to clear the rear caliper due to larger 285mm discs. this JDM Fit also has upgraded front to 285mm, retaining stock caliper. i think stock GE Jazz is 230mm rear & 262mm front.
here's a side view.
Motortrend Comparison: 2011 Ford Fiesta SES vs 2010 Honda Fit Sport vs 2010 Toyota Yaris vs 2010 Nissan Versa 1.8 SL comparsion test:
2011 Ford Fiesta SES vs. 2010 Honda Fit Sport vs. 2010 Toyota Yaris vs. 2010 Nissan Versa Specifications - Motor Trend
Fit had the WORST braking from 60-0 MPH
fiesta: 116 ft
fit: 139 ft
versa: 136 ft
yaris: 126 ft
The Fit is the best car in the test because it was great in the other categories of the test but it had the longest braking distance.
Fit brakes are shit.
2011 Ford Fiesta SES vs. 2010 Honda Fit Sport vs. 2010 Toyota Yaris vs. 2010 Nissan Versa Specifications - Motor Trend
Fit had the WORST braking from 60-0 MPH
fiesta: 116 ft
fit: 139 ft
versa: 136 ft
yaris: 126 ft
The Fit is the best car in the test because it was great in the other categories of the test but it had the longest braking distance.
Fit brakes are shit.
Please quit making generalizations there area lot of factors to consider when doing braking tests. IT'S NOT JUST BRAKES ALONE. Every single car in that test had drums so what exactly are you trying to prove???
For those who serious brakes without going broke:
Yes I know the picture shows 5-lug, but this was under the results for a brakes query under 2008 Honda Fit Sport. Brembo Cross-drilled front discs, $145/pair @ TireRack.com.
Hawk HPS Street front pads, $80/pair @ TireRack.com
Motul DOT4, $12-16/bottle where ever you find it, doesn't even have to be Motul specifically
Combine the above with some decent rubber like a V-rated all season and you will see a huge change in braking feel and consistency. Fuzion VRi's are like ~$70/each, so for like ~$500 you have a great DD set up and a competent track setup.
Now to go one step further I am planning on replacing all brake lines with braided SS lines, like the Goodrich kits. While that's in progress I intend to install a brake proportioning valve.
I run this setup on all my cars, the Fit has been left alone this long only for warranty purposes.
Though I would convert the GD3 to rear disc if it was remotely affordable, and everything else I own currently has discs at all 4 corners..
Yes I know the picture shows 5-lug, but this was under the results for a brakes query under 2008 Honda Fit Sport. Brembo Cross-drilled front discs, $145/pair @ TireRack.com.
Hawk HPS Street front pads, $80/pair @ TireRack.com
Motul DOT4, $12-16/bottle where ever you find it, doesn't even have to be Motul specifically
Combine the above with some decent rubber like a V-rated all season and you will see a huge change in braking feel and consistency. Fuzion VRi's are like ~$70/each, so for like ~$500 you have a great DD set up and a competent track setup.
Now to go one step further I am planning on replacing all brake lines with braided SS lines, like the Goodrich kits. While that's in progress I intend to install a brake proportioning valve.
I run this setup on all my cars, the Fit has been left alone this long only for warranty purposes.
Though I would convert the GD3 to rear disc if it was remotely affordable, and everything else I own currently has discs at all 4 corners..
Last edited by DiamondStarMonsters; Nov 1, 2010 at 07:44 PM.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jan 2010
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From: san jose, ca.
Call fastbrakes.com at 602 323 2110 9am-5pm Mountain Time Monday-Friday if you think rear disc brakes are not better than the shit drums.
The motortrend comparison shows that the braking distance is the worst. Yes you can just get larger front disc brakes but none of you ever changed out brake shoes so you don't know how much more work it is. A huge advantage of rear disc brakes is the no headache and fast change of rear disc brake pads.
S2K, NSX, RSX, Integra, Civic Si, Prelude owners do not wish they had rear drums on their cars.
The motortrend comparison shows that the braking distance is the worst. Yes you can just get larger front disc brakes but none of you ever changed out brake shoes so you don't know how much more work it is. A huge advantage of rear disc brakes is the no headache and fast change of rear disc brake pads.
S2K, NSX, RSX, Integra, Civic Si, Prelude owners do not wish they had rear drums on their cars.
Last edited by xm8; Nov 2, 2010 at 02:09 AM.
Another option....
http://www.powerslot.com/partsapp/de...categories=25#
or
http://www.autoanything.com/brakes/61A3865A0A0.aspx
Add Green Stuff Pads and this will help greatly.
I had powerslots and green stuff set up on my CL-S and made a big difference.
Last edited by Committobefit08; Nov 2, 2010 at 07:37 AM.
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,371
From: NC USA
We did 2. first using parts from Thailand; not recommended due to extensive machine work required as US and Thai models have differences in axle and hubs.
Second we used a kit from AJ. Kit was about $750 and we cost out installation here at $250. If you go back to ancient posts (early 2008) you can find photos of ours and others. Installation was straightforward. Have yet to have a problem of any kind and track handling gives no quarter. Once brakes were bled there is hard petal.
PS theres no diff GD to GE as far as I can tell.
Last edited by mahout; Nov 2, 2010 at 12:07 PM.
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 39
From: Brazil
And we do not have Sport model here in Brazil.
For sure disks are better than drums.
If not, why cars do have disks in front? Because front wheels are responsible for 70-80% (i really dont know) of the braking efficiency and disks do not fade as easy as drums.
Well, if disks are better than drums, why Honda do not use it in USA? Because the Fit is not a race car and drums do it's work for what the car is supposed to be used. And because disks are more expensive and Honda needs to make the Fit cost effective or it would loose market in USA, a country with so many car options and where profit margins are small.
Just to compare, my 1.4 Fit with only 2 air bags, without maintenance minder, without TPMS, without fog lights and many other items you have in USA, had a final cost of about 32.000 Dollars. The top Fit here, without maintenance minder, without TPMS, but 1.5 litter and real leather interior, digital air conditioner and double din radio, costs about 44.000 Dollars.
Well, as you can see, Honda can install expensive rear disks here and still have a very big profit.
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 238
From: Houston, TX
Wow this thread has been going since Jan? @ Manout you did a GE? So as much as I'd love to believe there is no difference between the 08 and 09-11 I have read somewhere on this site that the rear is different and JDM even has a different P/N for the rear disc suspension. That tells me complete swap or major mod not any type of bolt on. I would like to hear if anyone HAS done this on a USDM 09-11 Fit. I just want it for the looks. I know with modded parts it will likely be unattainable for me. But I have to ask to see if anyone has done anything close without replacing the entire rear suspension for the JDM stuff. What parts and what had to be modified or fabricated.
Last edited by Ray731; Nov 13, 2010 at 12:15 AM.
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 449
From: Bay Area CA
Stop this madness!! Why not bigger drums? ;)
In the rear, drums can be far superior to disks for normal use. Go look at consumer report ratings for the last ~5 year model Accords and you'll find rear disk brakes have been troublesome for Honda, with increased maintenance cost and lower reliability/safety. Though they'll likely go the way of the dinosaur, drums work well and suit the rear of a car like the fit for reasonable use. Brake shoes often go beyond 100k miles before needing replacement, which is far beyond the service life of brake pads.
Has anyone considered running a bigger drum? Might a ~2005 VP/LX accord rear drum work?
Sure it won't stroke your ego to see a nice rotor and caliper back there, but we are talking about performance, right?
Has anyone considered running a bigger drum? Might a ~2005 VP/LX accord rear drum work?
Sure it won't stroke your ego to see a nice rotor and caliper back there, but we are talking about performance, right?