Sorry if this sounds like a n00b question... I checked the FAQ and did a search, but didn't find anything. All the rear brake swap posts seem to be for discs. I have a wrecked 03 Cavalier with 9 inch drum brakes in the rear, and a 98 Cavalier with 8 inch (7.9) drums in the rear. After looking at everything closely, it appears that there are only 3 bolts that hold each hub on to the suspension, and the clip for the wiring for the speed sensor for the abs is identical. If I didn't feel like spending the $$ for a set of rear discs to swap on and wanted to put the 03 hubs on the 98 for the bigger drums and newer wheel cylinders, that should be a pretty straightforward swap, right? Does anybody see any problem with the different wheel cylinders from the 98 to the 03?

Yeah, I know that if I wanted the car to have drastically improved stopping power, I should put discs on, but I just have the bigger drums that would wind up getting junked, so I figured I could just do the swap and maybe learn something along the way...

Any constructive input would be appreciated.

Thanks guys & girls.

seems like a waste of time to me unless u have problems with ur brakes right now..

btw its 4 bolts that hold the hub on

yep. 4 bolts.

depends really... how long has the junker car been sitting? How many miles on both?

If its over 100k on the 98, I'd definitely recommend replacing the cylinders anyhow.

Can't say about the e-brake cable though... rumor has it, it is longer in 03+ cars to accommodate the extra 1" drum

yea dude, waste of time.



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- Sold my beloved J in April 2010 -

The front brakes do most of the stopping in our cars anyway, the drums are mostly for e-brake. They have miniscule street stopping ability at best.

Thanks for the replies. The 98 has 140k on it (but is in surprisingly good shape and has a clear title). It belonged to an older lady who passed a while back, and the car has been mostly sitting for about 2 years. The 03 has been sitting for about a year and has less than 60k on it.

I figured the opinion would be that it really wasn't worth the effort, but another factor that I didn't mention is that when I'm out in the driveway turning wrenches, my wife pretty much leaves me the h311 alone. For that reason, I'll probably wind up doing the swap... I imagine I can probably swap the whole e-brake cable from the 03 to the 98 too?

id rather get a divorce rather than swap drums..

haha jk

The front e-brake cable (that is, the part that goes from the handle to the rear axle) is the same 01-05. I don't know what changed from 00, but it's got a different part number. The rear cables (that go to each wheel) are indeed different for 03-05. They're the same for 95-02 though.

Unless there's something wrong with your rear brakes... that's a lot of dirty work for little gain.

Thanks again for the replies, and for not laughing me off the board...

I was thinking more about the hub assembly and where it attatches to the suspension, and also considering a suggestion I have heard before.

I think we all agree that J-bodies tend to understeer. I have heard from a few people that a way to correct this would be to widen the rear track. Is this sound advice? If so, would it be a decent idea to put a spacer between the hub and the suspension? Feel free to laugh me off the board if this is a dumber idea than swapping drums for drums.. FWIW: I'm already planning on swaybars front and rear and new shocks, struts, and coilovers.

I seem to recall hearing the opinion that spacers between the drums and wheels weren't the best idea, and can cause undue stress on the hubs...

Again, any constructive input would be appreciated.

Thanks guys & girls.