Rear disk conversion for XR

[RAAMaudio]

Since there were no XRS models available and I wanted lower compresion I settled for the XR and figured I would do a conversion later. Well, guess what, it would have been cheaper to pull the motor out of an XRS and swap to low compresion pistons when adding either a supercharger or a turbo setup. With a 10% over dealer cost hookup, without getting the disks, calipers or brake lines, I still spent over $800 for the rest of the parts!
The hubs were $250 or so for the pair, when they arrived the only thing I see different so far, have not done a test fit yet, is the plug in for the ABS sensor and I do not have ABS. My rear hubs may have worked! The backing plates were over $220 each but they do include the mount for the calipers.
The parking brake cables are most likely a must have item but now that I think about it, since I already knew they have the same brakes as a Celica GTS I may have been able to find all the parts from a yard for about 1/3rd.
Dang, hard to be patient though when I have so much to do to build this car. One thing though, I know I will have the right parts, my car is brand new, the parts will be too and no guessing on any damage, though likely easy to spot, on used gear. Brake failure is something I do not prefer to worry about!
Now I need to huntdown a serious sponsor, have one for a really big set of brakes but they still want $3,000!!!! If I go with an AEM big rotor kit, cost would be very reasonable and look decent but still have to buy rear calipers, $279 each, disks at $120 apiece or so and whatever the hoses are, these prices are also at 10% over dealer cost.
Bottom line, if you want rear disks and a boosted motor, get an XRS! You get the 6 speed, anti lock brakes, and a few other things for alot less than I am spending on changing my brakes! Lesson learned but then again, I have already picked up several $k worth of sponsorship just by being one of the very first to have a Matrix so I guess it is all worth it anyway and no need to pull the pistons.
All in all I still love the car, one of the funnest cars I ever owned, getting almost to where my 510 was but will take some history before it gets that big a place in my heart
Check my ad for a mint Momo Race steering wheel!

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: RAAMaudio on 2002-04-18 21:28 ]</font>

[FoOLiO-MatriX]

yeah pretty much dats da way i have on my car its an XR but i have an XRS engine on it
its pretty good cuts da cost down

[lunar916]

ya~ i have a XR too~
bought to save some $$
but just found out.. i should'v bought XRS
mm.. i guess XR is good enough for a newbie like me~

[RAAMaudio]

I got the XR because I could, way back on Valentines day. I knew I wanted to do a turbo or supercharger and the XRS has 11.5 to 1 compresion, hard to boost one. In fact the one used for the Long Beach Grand Prix was rebuilt with lower compresion pistons to get it to handle the supercharger. Mine will be turboed, intercooled, have a few other tricks and have alot more bottem end, what I need since building it into a sound competition car with alot of audio and video gear, will be a bit heavy I am afraid. I have come up with an idea to reduce alot of extra he weight, sure it will work but have not done the testing yet.
Anyway, do not be worried, us XR guys will have what it takes and more. Mine is a prototype for the turbo system and I many even become a dealer for it as well. I am working with a very good company with alot of experience, I expect a fair amount of HP but totally streetable and reliable as the end result.
I may have come up with a less expensive alternative to rear disks as well, more research into it but it seams the Celica parts , i.e. junk yard as long as good condition, may mostly bolt right up. Which means the big rotor kit from AEM will fit, I think, and I know some other big brake kits fit as well.

[nightriderxrs]

[nightriderxrs]

Drop the compresion down is just a bigger head gasket,
That's what you do when you install trd supercharger on xrs