the only logical solution is to do a big brake kit
SW20 OEM Brake Calipers and the 93+ Turbo myth
I created this post over in the New Zealand MR2 Owners Club website but thought it might help here too. I understand most users here are from the USA and the information about the brakes confusion does not apply but we have people from all over the world as users and people browsing this site for information.
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Yes but that's not the point of this write up. It's to explain the difference between brakes of different models and markers. Not everyone can afford a big brake kit.the only logical solution is to do a big brake kit
Since you brought it up, I've been slowly reading your build thread over there over the last few weeks as I get down time at the office. I've really enjoyed it thus far and your pictures are truly awesome. Your car is currently my desktop....we have people from all over the world as users and people browsing this site for information...
I know this is covered elsewhere, but this seems to be the new go-to place for OEM brake information. I have a 1990 SW21 swapped to turbo. I am about to replace my front struts and tops as well as the front brake calipers anyway. What else would I need to convert to the 92+ Turbo calipers? Would I need to have the revised suspension (Which I won't be doing as I've already upgraded)? I'm aware of the differences in the MC, etc. but I'm just wondering if I order struts, calipers, pads, rotors and braided lines for 93+ Turbo will everything bolt up? Sorry to ask you a USDM question but, it seems you're the man to ask.
Thanks for all the information.
I have a 91na->turbo swap and did this upgrade a couple years ago refreshing all the brake components. You'll need the pads, rotors, calipers, and mounting brackets and it should all bolt up to the spindle. Since it's off the car, now would be a good time to rebuild the calipers if you haven't already or if they are used (for that peace of mind but that's just my thinking). I didn't need to change any of the suspension components from the 91 and like you said, it shouldn't matter since you are upgrading the struts. AFAIK the only difference with the struts are the top hats which the 91's have an off-center hole for more caster compared to the 93+Since you brought it up, I've been slowly reading your build thread over there over the last few weeks as I get down time at the office. I've really enjoyed it thus far and your pictures are truly awesome. Your car is currently my desktop.
I know this is covered elsewhere, but this seems to be the new go-to place for OEM brake information. I have a 1990 SW21 swapped to turbo. I am about to replace my front struts and tops as well as the front brake calipers anyway. What else would I need to convert to the 92+ Turbo calipers? Would I need to have the revised suspension (Which I won't be doing as I've already upgraded)? I'm aware of the differences in the MC, etc. but I'm just wondering if I order struts, calipers, pads, rotors and braided lines for 93+ Turbo will everything bolt up? Sorry to ask you a USDM question but, it seems you're the man to ask.
Thanks for all the information.
Thanks for the reply. I'm just planning to buy new rebuilt units on everything I can anyway. So, let me see if I can make this plain and simple;I have a 91na->turbo swap and did this upgrade a couple years ago refreshing all the brake components. You'll need the pads, rotors, calipers, and mounting brackets and it should all bolt up to the spindle. Since it's off the car, now would be a good time to rebuild the calipers if you haven't already or if they are used (for that peace of mind but that's just my thinking). I didn't need to change any of the suspension components from the 91 and like you said, it shouldn't matter since you are upgrading the struts. AFAIK the only difference with the struts are the top hats which the 91's have an off-center hole for more caster compared to the 93+
1991 NA to 1993 Turbo Front Brake Conversion:
1991 Struts (Or should these be 1993+?)
1991 Top Hats (new)
1993 Turbo Brake Pads (new)
1993 Turbo Brake Calipers (new)
1993 Turbo Brake Rotors (new)
1993 Turbo Braided SS Lines (new)
1993 Turbo Brackets (used)
That should be everything to mount the brakes.
The under-hood mods are:
1993 Turbo 15/16" Brake Master Cylinder
1993 Turbo Brake Proportioning Valve
Looks to me like the hardest part will be finding the brackets since these cars are long gone from any junkyard. Thanks again for the help. I hope this helps any of the new guys going forward to have this within eyesight of GDII's info above.
Looks good to me. I'm not sure the difference between 91 and 93+ struts, I'm planning to do Koni struts so I haven't looked into oem struts. Brackets might not be too hard, just post a wtb or try to find someone paring out a set. The hardest part to find for me has been the Proportioning valve (I still haven't found one but trying to find a non-abs turbo one). I didn't change out the prop valve but read it isn't completely necessary for the swapThanks for the reply. I'm just planning to buy new rebuilt units on everything I can anyway. So, let me see if I can make this plain and simple;
1991 NA to 1993 Turbo Front Brake Conversion:
1991 Struts (Or should these be 1993+?)
1991 Top Hats (new)
1993 Turbo Brake Pads (new)
1993 Turbo Brake Calipers (new)
1993 Turbo Brake Rotors (new)
1993 Turbo Braided SS Lines (new)
1993 Turbo Brackets (used)
That should be everything to mount the brakes.
The under-hood mods are:
1993 Turbo 15/16" Brake Master Cylinder
1993 Turbo Brake Proportioning Valve
Looks to me like the hardest part will be finding the brackets since these cars are long gone from any junkyard. Thanks again for the help. I hope this helps any of the new guys going forward to have this within eyesight of GDII's info above.
Should just be able to buy the prop valve new/rebuilt from a parts house, I would think. It's not going to make much difference anyway except to the very purest of the purists. Thanks for the help!Looks good to me. I'm not sure the difference between 91 and 93+ struts, I'm planning to do Koni struts so I haven't looked into oem struts. Brackets might not be too hard, just post a wtb or try to find someone paring out a set. The hardest part to find for me has been the Proportioning valve (I still haven't found one but trying to find a non-abs turbo one). I didn't change out the prop valve but read it isn't completely necessary for the swap
Thank you. Quite an honour to have my car on your desktop. It's been quite a journey and documenting most of what I have done. You'll notice at one point I have a few write ups on when I did my brakes swap to 94 G-LIMITED or 93+ turbo brakes as the USA market has.Since you brought it up, I've been slowly reading your build thread over there over the last few weeks as I get down time at the office. I've really enjoyed it thus far and your pictures are truly awesome. Your car is currently my desktop.
I see a few people have provided answers but I thought I'd add my answer in there too.I know this is covered elsewhere, but this seems to be the new go-to place for OEM brake information. I have a 1990 SW21 swapped to turbo. I am about to replace my front struts and tops as well as the front brake calipers anyway. What else would I need to convert to the 92+ Turbo calipers? Would I need to have the revised suspension (Which I won't be doing as I've already upgraded)? I'm aware of the differences in the MC, etc. but I'm just wondering if I order struts, calipers, pads, rotors and braided lines for 93+ Turbo will everything bolt up? Sorry to ask you a USDM question but, it seems you're the man to ask.
Thanks for all the information.
There are many different strut part numbers for many different models and years of the SW20 but it appears that all OEM struts will bolt up to any hub and top hat as well as any OEM spring. Springs carry many part numbers in the form of paint markings and different heights and spring rates. I'm yet to gather much information on these as it's very hard to come by every type.
For brakes, as long as you have the correct bracket for the matching caliper all OEM brakes bolt up the knuckle.
Here is when I did my swap. GDII's 1990 G-Limited - Page 45 - The MR2 Owner's Club of New Zealand. I do have some more information further back in there.
You do not need to change your suspension for brakes. In your case being in the USA 93+ Turbo brakes still applies. 92+ is for the rest of the world. I have learnt a lot from the USA guys from this forum so I feel I know a fair amount about your car's now.
So in summary
Struts: Your choice from OEM to full on coilovers, all fit.
Capilers: You will need the brackets and the fitting kits too. See my project too.
Pads: You need the correct pad size for the fro t but the rear is the same like my list of information here.
Rotors: To suit the calipers and brackets.
Braided lines: They all fit although you'll see in my project the HEL do not have a bracket on the rear holding it to the chassis like OEM or other manufactures.
These should all bolt up without having to change major or minor suspension parts on the car. If your car has ABS you need ABS struts as these have the bracket to hold the ABS wire to them.
Thank you all for that. GDII, any chance you guys still have these cars in junkyards over in NZ? I know NZ was a rich source of parts for me when I was building my ST-204->ST-205 [WRC] conversion, but that was twelve years ago. I could really use a set of those brackets put on a very slow ship.
We don't have much anymore and most use the 91 Turbo brakes.Thank you all for that. GDII, any chance you guys still have these cars in junkyards over in NZ? I know NZ was a rich source of parts for me when I was building my ST-204->ST-205 [WRC] conversion, but that was twelve years ago. I could really use a set of those brackets put on a very slow ship.
Hi everyone, I'm new to this car and I don't know where I can get breaks, I just bought my dad this car because it's his favorite car it's a 1991 NA, but it has no brake calipers or rotors may someone please help me i have 18s on the car what break set up can I get and use please someone help me thank you.
What DO You have? Lines? Master cylinder etc?Hi everyone, I'm new to this car and I don't know where I can get breaks, I just bought my dad this car because it's his favorite car it's a 1991 NA, but it has no brake calipers or rotors may someone please help me i have 18s on the car what break set up can I get and use please someone help me thank you.
Honestly, Id be on MR2ChopShop or ebay etc looking for a good used set just to get going.
OR, see AlexW about a BBK and thatll fill up that wheel area on the 18s
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