2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

For a while I've wanted to upgrade my brake system by changing over to all disk's brakes. As long as I can remember, all high performance cars have come equiped with all disk brake system. Disk brake out perform drums any day, plus they look sweet with a nice set of rims and tires. Well lets begin shall we, below is a list of what you need for this swap, including tools and parts.

*keep in mind that if you have those 13" Honda OEM rims will not clear the brake caliper assembly, therfore will not work. You need at least 14" SI rims*

TOOLS
10mm,12mm,14mm,17mm sockets as well as wrenches
3/8 drive wrachet
jack stands and jack
that's all I used, that I can remember.

BRAKES from a 90-93 Integra non ABS
http://www.civicland.com/diy/diyimag...armdiagram.jpg
Heres the swap.
http://www.newbieforces.com/files/the%20swap.JPG
First start by removing your seats and the small tool box in the back. Then remove the plastic underneath the e-brake. Remove the e-brake assembly until you only have the cables visible.
http://www.newbieforces.com/files/crx%20cables.JPG
Pull the carpet and carefully remove the cable gromets with a flat head screw driver.
http://www.newbieforces.com/files/cr...e%20gromet.JPG
Now that your cables are free up front, jack the car up, support it with some jack stands. Remove the tires, notice the how rusted my drums were, I should have painted them.
http://www.newbieforces.com/files/drum%20pic.JPG
Now its time to remove the rest of the e-brake cable supports, two per a cable total of four. You'll have to crawl underneath the car, locate them and use a 12mm socket to remove them, You'll have to use a 12mm wrench on the ones closer to the gas tank.
http://www.newbieforces.com/files/cable%20support4.JPG
http://www.newbieforces.com/files/cr...20support2.JPG
Now the cables are free to be pulled out completely, once they are out, its time to remove the trailing arm completely. You should remove it in this order, to avoid it falling on you when done.
First disconect the brake fluid line, be very carefull, as the can strip easily, I recomend spraying them down with a penetrating lubricant (pb blaster) first. Then you'll have to remove a small flat key hoding the brake line up still, use a flat head and knock it out slowly.
http://www.newbieforces.com/files/br...%20removal.JPG
http://www.newbieforces.com/files/sh...%20support.JPG
http://www.newbieforces.com/files/shock%20mount.JPG
I dont have a pic of the next bolt removal, but you should figure out whats next. Just make shure you dont remove the one thats in red on the illustration above. Finally these are the last two bolts to be removed, then simply tap the tralinng arm assembly out of its place, pice of cake.
http://www.newbieforces.com/files/in...eel%20well.JPG
Heres a comparisson pic, notice how much bigger the disk surface is than the drum.
http://www.newbieforces.com/files/comparison.JPG
Why 13" rims dont work, the 14" barely clear.
http://www.newbieforces.com/files/test%20fit.JPG
Instalation is the oppasite of removal, except that now you have some extra cable slack. You will still use the CRX cable support mounting points with the Teg cables. As for the extra slack, which isn't much, its up to you how you want to hold them in place. At the moment I'm using zip ties until I get something else worked out. Use the jack to raise the brakes in place, if your working alone.
http://www.newbieforces.com/files/ja...g%20brakes.JPG
Assuming you all ready routed the Teg cables into the cabin.
http://www.newbieforces.com/files/teg%20cables%20in.JPG
start re-assembling the e-brake and all of its components. *be carefull how you put it back together, at first I had put them on backwards, heres what I mean* Those small metal tabs sticking out of the sides, should be at the front not the rear.
http://www.newbieforces.com/files/te...es%20right.JPG
Now is a good time to change your brakes if you need to, I used new rotors when I did this swap, you may want to do the same.
http://www.newbieforces.com/files/new%20disks.JPG
Dont cover the e-brake just yet, you still need to bleed the brake system for air. I don' have this procedure documented, so hopefully you all ready know how. After a good bleeding, adjust the sensetivity of your e-brake engagement and put everything back together, your done.
http://www.newbieforces.com/files/done%20mounted.JPG
Check ou the JDM armrest, minus the armrest :P
http://www.newbieforces.com/files/jdm%20armrest.JPG

RESULTS
I'll admit that at first I experianced really poor results. My freak'n brake pedal went through the floor before my brakes grabed. So I decided to go in search of a Teg Prop Valve (4040) I didn't think I would need this but oh well. If you experiance the same, you may just have air in your brake line, bleed them and then bleed them again. I just wanted to go the extra mile with the Prop Valve, and I would highly recomend you do the same. After installing the new Prop Valve and after three more bleedings my brakes felt freak'n awsome. Although I didn't swap out My Master Cylinder, they still feel great, which leads me belive you dont need it. You might consider it if you go to a larger disk size though. Well I'm very pleased with the results, the brakes feel very responsive and they look good too, that is after take that blue paint off, my car is red 8)

Here's a pic of the Prop Valve for those who may otherwise not know what it looks like.
http://www.civicland.com/diy/diyimag...apropvalve.jpg

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

just awsome!

great work man!

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

Nice write-up. Does the teg front brakes clear the stock 14'' Si wheels ?

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

I'm not sure but I think they do, after all some Teg's (RS,LS) came with 14" stock rims, except the GSR wich I belive came with 15's.

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

i dont think you can use the teg front brakes because of the knuckle being longer. but a 90-91 civic 4dr EX has same rotor / caliper but w/ crx knuckle lengths ;)

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

Nah, the honda-tech boys are all over this, you use all the 90-93 teg stuff with the crx-civic A-arms.

Its been debated, but like 5-10 people have the teg front brakes without any of the romoered camber problems.

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

good to know ;)

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

yes, they will. a buddy of mine sold his 90 teg with 89 sawblades on it. he didn't want to give up his nice wheels and all we could find was the sawblades.

ben

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

I've done the teg front brake swap myself and by sight, you could not see any extreme camber. The back on the other hand with the h&r race :-X

BTW, on the front brakes with crx si rims, the caliper JUST clears the wheels. Looks wicked though ;)

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

i put the EX brakes on my HF....the calipers didnt want to clear the 89 Si rims i have. so i took a file and hit the casting marks and its been fine sence...

i also have a set of DA rear disc and 40/40 that i will be putting on soon along with some SS braided line all around...and i have a 15/16" MC on there now, made the braking feel sooo much better...

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

if I get these things:
http://www.adrianteo.com/ebay/eglca/eglca-Images/8.jpg
what else do I need besides rotors, calipers, and e-brake lines?

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

those are control arms and have nothing to do with rear disc brakes...

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

don't you need the rear disk lca? is that not a lower control arm?

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

i just put rear disc on my car with the STOCK 88 HF rear LCA....

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

yah you can leave all the control arms on the car, just unbolt the large trailing arm w/ the drum on it and bolt on the disk brake one.

you will need the disk brake brake lines and ebrake cables.

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

so the green things in this picture are the trailing arms?

http://uploads.quik.mtxis.com.ve/hatchreart.jpg

by the way, that is professional art done by myself, and if I wasn't learning from this I would charge all of you to look at it.

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

thats a sexy pic ::) yeah the green things would be the LCA's you do NOT need to swap them when doing rear disc swap...---- i didnt even unbolt them or the shocks when doing the swap...

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

ok, so the rear trailing arm is this thing?:
http://uploads.quik.mtxis.com.ve/hatchside.jpg

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

wow another one! are you an art major?

haha...yeah thats the trailing arm...but where are the brakes?


is that your Civic HB?

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

no, I'm not majoring in art, I've decided I don't need to waste my time since I'm already at the professional skill level they'll probably just hold me back.

ya, that's my civic hatch, it's hard to tell, but I can't find my digi cam so I just draw the pictures.

you know where the breaks are, I just didn't know which arm was the correct arm, I thought that aluminum arm I posted up was that arm in the last drawing, but I was wrong. I've been saved by turbohf.

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

you know kyle, you could have just read the post ;)

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

you have to remember that I'm 17, so if it's not porn my attention span is about 5 seconds per paragraph.

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

lmao, so true.

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

How do you masturbate?! j/k also if he read it we wouldn't a got to preview his beatuiful artwork.

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

looks like my hatchback except mine is painted Camo.. :-X

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

ya, I could probably do a camo one, but not a camero one because those are slow.

red91sit is a freak for thinking about me masturbating. If you read closely it says if it's NOT porn the attention span=5 seconds per paragraph, and paragraphs are not pictures. I haven't masturbated in 15 days, that's a long ------- time. I stopped because I was very interested in this girl and wanted to be dedicated as a mutha fucka, but then she just wants to be friends.

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

DUMBASS you gotta keep on that, clean the pipes, every seen "There's something about Mary"

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

Haha, this thread is comical. Kyle, your art is fantastic.

Oh yeah, very informative too. ;)

Where is the front brake swap?

Also, did you do a weight comparison between the drum and the disk setup? I'm thinking about doing the rear disks, but not if it's going to add weight. :-\
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Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

the front brake swap isn't ----, just put on a new disc and caliper.

and I know my art is great, women don't throw themselves at me just based on my good looks, the art is part of that.

who the hell cares if the discs are heavier if they let you stop quicker.

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

I don't give a ---- about stopping faster. I just want to get going faster. :P I was even thinking about that Brembo brake reduction deal, but I'm not sure how safe that would be on the streets. :-\

There is more to the front brakes than just swapping the disk and caliper. I thought that since we have a rear brake write-up we should have a front brake write-up also.


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Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

alright, I'll do one, but you can't make fun of my hair and how skinny I am and how ghetto I do it like everybody else does.

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

The rear disk's where significantly heavier than the drums, maybe 5-10lbs heavier, well worth it though.

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

5 or 10 lbs, isn't ---- for what you get out of it......

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

so how many people agree that you don't need the master cylinder for this swap? getting ready to do it, and if you dont have to change it my fatass isn't getting under the steering wheel ;D

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

umm, the master cylinder is under the hood next to the intake manifold and strut tower ::)

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

You don't need a larger master cylinder for this swap, the prop valve is highly recomended.

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

;D ;D
Im running '90 to '93 Integra rotors and calipers
front and back on my '99 civic 4dr. with my stock
prop. valve and MC.
Ractive cross drilled/slotted rotors(cause their cheap
and look good)
EBC greens
new Teg brake lines from Honda
KYB agx with Eibach's and 205/40/17 prada spech-2
(I listed these because suspension and tires affect
braking performance)
I dont get any rear lock up like some people told me
My braking distance is shorter(somepeople told me it
wouldnt be with out changing prop.valve)
My pedal feel is at least as good as before.
my pedal travel is a little longer than before
(but i like it that way for heel/toe and threshold braking)
I have a 4040 prop valve but inever put it on
and dont need it and i use this car on the track at club
days(but i use 15" weels with toyo's 205/50/15

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

i meant brake booster.......

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

the brake booster is the big round black thing the master cyl bolts onto.

Re:2gen/4gen Civic CRX brake upgrade
 

good write up.

this will help with my crx brake upgrade. i have heard the e brake cable is the biggest bitch of the project.

question: my 91 std hatch i am bumping up to si hubs and brakes. will my brake lines work or do i need to replace those as well?

thanx.