okay I know there are tons of pages about this conversion, but I am kinda stuck for a parts question. I opted not to pull the trailing arms at the junkyard when they actually had a 91 integra gs in that i got all the rear brake stuff from... and I was under the impression that those trailing arms were the same as the 88-91 civics... my problem is this... will the calipers bolt directly to the civic trailing arms? or is there a bracket I need still? or was I just an idiot not to grab the trailing arms off the integra? i can get themf rom another junkyard but they charge $60 each. and I have engergy suspension bushings on my civic ones... pain in the butt to install so naturally I would prefer to keep the civic arms if possible. any positive thoughts would be nice. thanks!

ps. I have everything else for the swap, and was going to do it this weekend until I got to really thinking about the trailing arms...

 

It is my understanding that you CAN bolt the disc brake equipment onto the drum trailing arms.

The only problem is getting it all seperated. They're held on by huge Torx bolts that are next to impossible to remove without stripping.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jonathan_ED3 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It is my understanding that you CAN bolt the disc brake equipment onto the drum trailing arms.

The only problem is getting it all seperated. They're held on by huge Torx bolts that are next to impossible to remove without stripping. </TD></TR></TABLE>

so there are bolt holes for the calipers then?

BTW: I have some mudflaps from my 89.... let me know if you are still interested in them lol

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jonathan_ED3 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It is my understanding that you CAN bolt the disc brake equipment onto the drum trailing arms.

The only problem is getting it all seperated. They're held on by huge Torx bolts that are next to impossible to remove without stripping. </TD></TR></TABLE>

thats what i heard also. thats a shame the DA trailing arms are getting harder to find everyday. i think in a few years every ef will have rear discs.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by aaronhume &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

so there are bolt holes for the calipers then?

BTW: I have some mudflaps from my 89.... let me know if you are still interested in them lol</TD></TR></TABLE>

I really don't know for sure.

I remember when I had an EG, there was a write-up about the 92+ rear disc brake swap and about how it was a major misconception that you needed the entire trailing arm. He basically walked through how to swap out just the actual hubs etc.

I just assume the same thing applies to the DA trailing arms.

You've got rear mudflaps from an 88/89 sedan!? I was beginning to think they didn't exist!

PM me bro!

 

lol ya....

how about this... anyone have pictures comparing the two? I have looked at exploded views and they look the same... but where are the bolt holes when all the crap is off the civic arms?

thanks!

 

I don't have any pics, but I do know that the spindles should bolt right up to the arms. Its tough to line up the holes. better to have the car in the air. Mock up the spindle with the caliper bracket on, the bracket should point to the rear.

 

when you say caliper bracket, are you talking about the part that contains the caliper? or something different that goes between the caliper and the trailing arm?

 

the bracket is what holds the caliper to the spindle. The caliper slides back and forth on this bracket.

 

Ahhh.... okay that would make sense then. so I do not need the trailing arm but instead these brackets... is there any possible chance someone has a pic of what exactly they look like or the proper name for the part so I can look it up or inquire at the junkyard? thanks!

 

bump

 

Not sure if this will help, is is the da trailing arm with the hub off and the caliper un bolted.

 

do you possibly have a backside view? or maybe if the mud sheild is off... either way... THANKS!

 

bump... more pics?

 

hmm well I went to some junkyard today and the best deal I can get is for the entire trailing arms with the hubs attatched (no brake discs or calipers) for $60 each... good deal?

also stuff to consider... I have energy bushings on my current trailing arms and don't want to do that conversion again if possible, so I would prefer to keep those... I purchased a new wheel hub/bearing assembly on ebay for $75 shipped as I had one good one from the junkyard, so should I resell it and cut whatever losses? or use that and one used one? and how hard is it to separate the traling arm from that spacer bracket in between the mud guard and the trailing arm (its the bracket I really need) I think its the one with the Torx bolts/screws...

any ideas would be great. thanks!

 

the "bracket" you mentioned with the torx bolts behind it is the spindle. That is what the caliper bolts to. that piece will bolt directly to your current trailing arms. $60 aint that bad each, take him a benny and say youll take both. see if he goes for it.

 

the problem is that they won't separate them for fears of not being able to sell the rest of the trailing arm... thats what both junkyards that actually had them said... same thing with the hubs... but if I do get them are the hubs alone worth anything? or maybe the trailing arms without the bracket?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vegaskurt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
</TD></TR></TABLE>

okay so I have the parts I need, the only trouble now is that I have half of the old bearings stuck onto that shaft like in the picture, but at the base... anyone know a good way to pop them out?

 

Did you end up getting the whole trailing arms?

I just put '98 GSR rear discs w/cables onto my '89 LX. Went on perfectly without a hitch. I opted to swap the arms because the bushings on the GSR arms were in great shape compared to mine.

It may be easier to go ahead and swap the whole arms [if you have them]...I noticed the factory drum e-brake cables from the sedan are a PITA to get off. I had to drop the gas tank on my car to get one of the bolts off that hold the ebrake cable in place.

 

ya I did get the entire trailing arms, but the bushings on them suck nuts, and the bushings on my current trailing arms are energy suspension ones which took a long freakin time for me to change, so theres no way I am getting rid of them
I got that middle bracket out of both trailing arms, just have to try and get the remainder of the old hub bearing off... will try torching it, etc... any recommendations are welcome also.

 

can you not use a standard bearing puller?

 

lol did not know that existed... i'll look into that tomorow if these methods don't work...

 

just stick with the rear drums. they are lighter and you can use the money to upgrade the front rotors which need it more.

 

lol I already spent all i am going to on the swap, minus a bearing puller tool, but I will do front EX brakes whenever I get bigger rims than my 13" steelies so therefore it would cost more to upgrade those ones hehe.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by aaronhume &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ya I did get the entire trailing arms, but the bushings on them suck nuts, and the bushings on my current trailing arms are energy suspension ones which took a long freakin time for me to change, so theres no way I am getting rid of them </TD></TR></TABLE>
Sorry to say, but the big solid ES polyurethane trailing arm bushings are garbage because polyurethane doesn't allow the multiple axis movement that is required of that bushing, so the suspension binds. You want either a rubber bushing or a spherical bearing back there. Your best bet would be to buy new OEM Honda or the slightly stiffer Mugen rubber TA bushings.