Front Calipers Upgrade

So I read about this upgrade here : http://www.ae101ownersclub.com/t13-good-cheap-brake-upgrade

I decided to give it a shot!

You will need Brake Calipers, carriers, pads, retaining springs, rubber slide pin bushings & caps and slide pins from a Toyota Avensis T220 (1997-2003) It's a European market model.

This is an easy bolt on mod, only one minor modification is needed (I will explain later)
-Bolts right on the corolla knuckle with the same bolts
-Corolla brake lines bolt right on
-Fits on corolla discs
-Note that the avensis calipers don't use rubber boots to protect the slide pins
-Calipers are roughly the same size as stock corolla ones so it clears everything

I bought my set from a german used parts dealer on ebay and it came with everything I needed. (About 250$, shipped to canada)

Calipers and Carriers (slide pins, bushings and springs removed for cleaning)


Springs and New Pads


So here is the minor modification I had to do:
While test fitting, I noticed this part was slightly rubbing on the disc


I just grinded them off, less than a millimeter was enough to make them clear the discs, it doesn't affect the solidity of the carrier.


After a good clean up and coat of VHT Caliper paint


Avensis and Corolla calipers comparison (Avensis cylinder is bigger of a couple of millimeters in diameter)



Pads Comparison (top is Corolla, bottom is Avensis, about the same size)


New Discs


Before: (note that my disc guards have rusted away so I dont have them, I guess they would clear the new calipers)


After:


Perfect pad position on the discs


All Done!


My feeling about this mod: Braking power increased a little bit (I will have to drive it more to break the pads and discs in to have a better idea). I think my brake pedal might be a tiny bit lower because the master cylinder has to move more fluid into the bigger pistons, but according to hydraulics principles this will give more power to the pistons. Also my brake fluid seemed pretty old and dirty, I will do a complete flush to see if it helps.



Thanks for reading!