97 IMP Wagon. With drums - but I have access to a set of rear discs on a JY 94/95 IMP.

 

Not ABS (I think the JY IMP isn't anyway) - Anybody try just a straight installation of discs for drums? Pitfalls? (I know the hubs/struts fit and will need to swap everything from the flex hose connection "out") If anything, I'm expecting that IF there is a "problem" it will be with the parking brake.

 

I'd do the entire rears including struts (just to save time) because I'm pretty sure I'm losing a rear wheel bearing (I have another wheel bearing, but prefer the discs even without ABS IF it will work - it will be "easier" to just swap them out and not have to deal with switching bearings - which I can also do - I have all the equipment)

yep, swap them over. get the parking brake cable with it and go to town. keep any extra bolts and what not you can just in case.

 

guess you don't have the rust issues we have out here so that should make it easier. the swap has been documented and talked about, check out the USRM and try the search joker for a bit i think you'll find some good info.

by hub, do you mean the actual hub the wheel bolts to, or the whole spindle assembly?

 

Because the drum and disc backing plates, which press onto the spindle, are different. If you don't swap the entire spindles with backing plates and the e-brake it's a whole lot of work.

1. disconnect all suspension linkage to the housing and other "stuff"

2. pull axles out

3. disconnect brake lines at the tube to flex hose junction

4. disconnect struts at the top

 

remove housing - strut assembly with brakes "intact"

 

you wind up with a strut/housing/brake assembly.

 

On the Forester I was pulling some parts from last time, the backing plate was "removable" (bolted to the housing) I haven't looked at these much yet (not the IMP I have - I KNOW what I'm getting into there since I just did a rear wheel bearing by swapping the housing off the JY Forester)

 

My concern is mostly whether or not I need the ABS with disc rears (because this one doesn't HAVE ABS)

ABS and non-ABS rear "hub assemblies", spindles, knuckles, whatever you want to call them - they are different but interchangeable. i would guess they are only different in that the non-ABS units don't have a tone ring or boss for the ABS sensor.

 

i've seen earlier imps with rear discs and ABS i think, so check that parts car.

 

sounds like you don't care to keep it ABS anyway, if that's the case then just swap away and disconnect your ABS system entirely.

 

hey -AE - this is really funny. i just picked up a forester rear assembly last week. i figured it would...but i'll ask to be sure, it sounds like it'll swap right into my Impreza OBS? i'm going to use it for a rear disc swap?

 

if you just swapped in forester rear bits...shouldn't it have rear discs already? i'm confused, foresters all have rear discs don't they?

MY Imp doesn't have rear discs. The Forester rear I used had the rotor and backing plate - pressed out the hub, pulled the backing plate, installed the DRUM backing plate, lubed the bearing (fresh grease), installed the new outer grease seal, pressed the hub in, installed the brake pieces and was done. no ABS not on mine either

yours doesn't have ABS? and the one you're buying from isn't ABS...what's the question? the entire rear assemblies will definitely swap, if that's all you're asking.

maybe the discers come from an ABS car - I think I need to go TAKE A LOOK AT IT AGAIN. don't remem.

while you have the rear suspension apart and since you mentioned swapping struts too, you could install 2002 WRX rear springs. there's a thread on here about it titled "sagging rump roast end" or something like that for OBS's like yours. they typically have weak springs and the 2002 WRX (i think that's it) rear springs are a great fix for that.

 

i have a set myself, my imp OBS does the rear sag as well, about an inch or two lower. just noticeable.

Sorry Gary - it's "just" an L - a well equipped L but still an L date of MFR - 2/97 so it's one of the last Phase 1's