Drum to brake modification / conversion question
Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 10:34 am
Hi,
I'm wondering what makes the Volvo C300 series drum brake to disc brake conversion so difficult?
Is it the weight (~5300lbs) of vehicle or the metric fittings if the European portal axle? Or just the fact it's a portal axel?
The conversion seems pretty straight forward in the sense that switching drum for disc is a common practice and a simple google search brings up 100's of aftermarket kits for mass production cars. In the very least these kits give a designer the basic parts to design for.
I know portaltek made a kit until they were bought out and from what I've read in researching had/have serious financial and supply issues. I've found several kits based on Mercedes parts and brembo calipers. As well as several dozen DIY'ers most using Chevrolet 2500HD calipers and a hodge podge of misc parts. However I have yet to read about the follow up after the install... We're they successful or an epic fail?
The portaltek seem to have a happy customer base for those who received product, but at over $4000 for brakes I'm not sure if its actually that the brakes are better or they spent so much they just assume they are...?
I'm currently in the design phase of making an affordable, reliable, easy to find parts locally, drum to brake conversion.
Can anyone give me feed back of success or failure they have had?
I'm wondering what makes the Volvo C300 series drum brake to disc brake conversion so difficult?
Is it the weight (~5300lbs) of vehicle or the metric fittings if the European portal axle? Or just the fact it's a portal axel?
The conversion seems pretty straight forward in the sense that switching drum for disc is a common practice and a simple google search brings up 100's of aftermarket kits for mass production cars. In the very least these kits give a designer the basic parts to design for.
I know portaltek made a kit until they were bought out and from what I've read in researching had/have serious financial and supply issues. I've found several kits based on Mercedes parts and brembo calipers. As well as several dozen DIY'ers most using Chevrolet 2500HD calipers and a hodge podge of misc parts. However I have yet to read about the follow up after the install... We're they successful or an epic fail?
The portaltek seem to have a happy customer base for those who received product, but at over $4000 for brakes I'm not sure if its actually that the brakes are better or they spent so much they just assume they are...?
I'm currently in the design phase of making an affordable, reliable, easy to find parts locally, drum to brake conversion.
Can anyone give me feed back of success or failure they have had?