Hi all,

Does anyone here swap the entire R56 brake systems into R53? Both front & rear?

I know most peoples do the R56 front calipers swap, but how about the rear caliper, are they fit?

I just got a full set of R56 calipers front and rear. so far no problem with the front, but not sure about the rear. I searched over the internet. Seems like no one does the rear caliper swap.

Since my R53 brakes are worn out, mind as well just upgrade everything.

Helpful response will be appreciated.

Thanks

 

R56 Rear Brakes are identical to the R53 rear brakes, its not an upgrade.

 

Not exactly. The parking brake cable connection is different and I think there is one more think. I helped a friend replace his rotors on his R56 at the same time I did work on my R53's and noticed them.
Some one recently posted a more detailed explanation of the differences.

 

I did this swap on an R52. The parking brake bracket has to be rounded out a little as it is a rectangular slot on the R56 versus a round hole on the R53/52. The greater work has to be done on the lower control arm as the brake line interferes with it, so you have to notch it a bit to get it to fit. Get yourself a big *** drill bit or a very small hole saw. It's not that difficult if you have the right tools.

 

Parking brake is different. Unless you’re doing the full R56 rear trailing arm and you’re doing the fJCW R56 rear calipers it’s pretty pointless.

 

I tend to agree. I was doing the JCW upgrade.

 

is this all it takes? I have R56 arms already and want to put r56 rear calipers (purely for cosmetic reasons)

 

I may be talking out of my butt, butt if the rear calipers are the same for R56 and R53, except for the parking cable attachment, couldn't you just get the R56 JCW rear brackets, and call it a day?
https://www.waymotorworks.com/wmw-bi...7-r58-r59.html

 

For me I don’t like the finned look calipers that’s why I want the R56 design.

 

If you have the R56 arms already then you should be good to go. You will need to modify the parking brake but once you see the calipers side by side it will be obvious and easy.

 

I don't know why people are saying that the rear are the same. The R53 has the crappy euro design with a half caliper support and the stupid wire, while the R56S has the "normal" setup like a Toyota with a full support, pad clips and pins. I've seen a bunch of people do the trailing arms swap while keeping their stock brakes, so if the R53 rear brakes fits on the arms, the R56S brakes fits on the R53.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...onversion.html



R53



R56S


I've ordered Powerstop reman'd R56S rear calipers as I am tired of that silly euro design. I already have reman'd Powerstop R56S up front and the R56 lines for all four corners should be here soon after the package got lost for 3 months...

 

Yeah I read up before getting the upgrade kit from Way and a lot of people were saying don't bother with the rears. I think I'm one of only like two people that put the R56 upgrade on the rear. It's a little bit of work but it's worth it in my personal opinion. The calipers are a better construction, the pad shape is different and beefier, and they are powder coated red instead of the flat metal.

 

Looking at them side by side . If they do apply the same amount of bearing force and everything. By design. I'd say the r53 are better because of the fins for better cooling rather than a stream line body.
looks like less material too. Which are stronger ? Which weigh less ? I'm curious about this now...

 

Pretty sure the R53 ones are metal while the R56S is some kind of cast aluminium. The original design allows for more movement as the pads aren't fully held in place. You can buy brass bushings for the R53 to remove some of that, but the pads aren't captive in the support.

Also something negative about the R53 stock brakes... as there's no clips between the pads and the support, they'll rub into the support and wear it. My car has 206,000 km and there's a notch in them, so the pads are even more loose in there. It's part of the reason why I decide to do the swap as the clips will wear instead of the support.