Forester disc brake retrofit possible?

[Greg Smith]

I have a 2000 Forester L, which came equipped with rear drum brakes. I
hate rear drum brakes. I hate working on them and I don't think they
are worth squat in braking power. The whole drum setup reminds me of
something you'd see on a horse-drawn wagon.

Still, I couldn't justify the added cost for the Forester S with
4-wheel discs so I am now faced with this dilemma...

At 90,000-some miles, my brakes need work. The front brakes are fine
having been service regularly. The rear need replaced (shoes and drums
probably). How practical/costly would it be to retrofit my Forester
with rear disc brakes? I don't need performance/racing parts. Just
OEM-grade.

Are the chassis/suspension parts common enough between the S/L to swap
out assemblies without having to reengineer the whole undercarriage?

Has anyone done it? Any online resources you could point me to?

I love this car but I hate drum brakes. (Oh, I guess I already said
that.)

Thanks.

Greg in Kettering OH

 

[johninKY]

The Forestor I believe and the Impreza use the same platform. WRX or RS
brakes should be an easy upgrade. Several years ago I replaced the brakes
on my 95 Legacy with larger brakes from a 2002 WRX. I would think you
would need everything for the rear swap and maybe the 4WD MC and
proportining valve.

 

[Edward Hayes]

Good idea if you can do it yourself but many $$$ if you pay a dealer.
Drum brakes are NOT bad. Braking distance is the same for 4 wheel disk
vs Disk + drum.

 

[Al Luminium]

IIRC, the braking distance between 2002 m.y. Foresters with 4 disks is
about 20 or 30 feet less at 60-0 mph. I would think that the ABS calibration
would be a big issue for adapting a set of rear calipers to the system.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

I agree with Ed, drums MAY be a little harder to work on, but the rear
brakes only carry maybe 70% of the work load and probably only get
worked half as much as fronts - plus more 'traditional/straightforward'
parking brake arrangement.

Carl
1 Lucky Texan

 

[Rob Munach]

IIRC, the braking distance between 2002 m.y. Foresters with 4 disks is
about 20 or 30 feet less at 60-0 mph. I would think that the ABS calibration
would be a big issue for adapting a set of rear calipers to the system.

That probably has more to do with the tires than the brakes.