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Sourcing local parts for front brakes

Discussion in 'Suzuki Carry' started by t_g_farrell, Jan 9, 2023.

  1. t_g_farrell

    t_g_farrell Active Member

    This writeup is about a complete brake overhaul of the front brakes and some odds and ends that can be sourced for the rear brakes as well. What I found applies to Carry/Every trucks/vans 1994-1998 with the 4 x 100 PCD wheels. I know it works for my van, a 96 DE51V and it should work for the trucks as well. I do know it will save you a ton of money if you can do this.

    Disclaimer Warning: Do this at your own risk and I'm not responsible if the parts or processes describe below do no work for you.

    Things I did not try to source locally yet; the master cylinder, master cylinder reservoir or the brake booster.

    Note that the Carry/Every from 94-98 uses the 4x100 PCD for the wheels which is one of the key factors in finding the right parts. So this probably doesn't apply to the earlier trucks or vans unless they happen to be 4x100 but you would be advised to carefully measure all the things to make sure.

    I'll start with hoses for all the brakes. The front hoses are NLA from Japan just so you know. I did get a rear hose from Megazip in Japan. There is only one hose for the rear due to the typical JDM drum brake line routing that runs a hardline to the drivers side wheel and then routes a hardline from that side to the passenger side with a single bleeder on that side. My RX-7 is setup the same way but in reverse cause its left hand drive.

    The hoses I found that would fit are from the 96 Suzuki Swift. The parts are listed all together below. Note the hoses are slightly longer that the OEM ones and would actually be useful on a lift because they add some extra reach for the lines. Below is a picture of the Swift new hose with the OEM hose I removed.

    brake_front_hoses.jpg

    The new front hoses are a bit longer by about an inch otherwise complete bolt on.

    I sourced new rotors, calipers, caliper mounts and brake pads from the 1999-2000 Suzuki Esteem. Its a basically a bolt on upgrade to vented rotors that are 1/2" large in diameter. You have to modify the backing plate by bending it back all around to clear the slightly larger rotors. Also when mounting the calipers you need to add ~2mm thick washers between the caliper mount so that it centers the calipers on the rotors properly. Other than that, its all just a caliper and rotor swap. Easy peasy. I used the front hoses from the Swift which fit perfectly but did have some extra length. See pics below for details.

    Note that the calipers are reversed as labeled left for right so the bleeders are at the top of the caliper to bleed completely. Thanks to @InkAndPistons for catching this on his install.

    brake_front_install.jpg

    I also source some rear brake parts as well. The drums are also from the same year Esteem. The wheel cylinder was from a 89-96 Swift and the shoes from the Esteem. The wheel cylinder and shoes will not work which is ok because on pulling the drums it looked like the shoes and hardware were all brand new. The new drums worked fine and dropped on with slight adjustment to the self adjuster. The key thing here is the way the parking brake attaches to the rear shoe and also the same pivot is used for the auto adjuster which appears to be unique to the van in its design. The wheel cylinder don't have the right geometry to bolt up to the backing plate, otherwise with some brake line fabrication I could have made them work. I think I did find the right shoes and I'll post an update when I get those in to verify. I also swapped in the rear brake hose.

    brake_oem_condition.jpg

    brake_rear_line.jpg

    brake_rear_drum.jpg

    Parts that I used and that worked for me. Sourced from RockAuto.
    2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM 1.6L L-4
    Brake pads CENTRIC 10306770 $14.03
    Rotors (2) CENTRIC 12148007 2x$16.29 $32.58
    Caliper (left) RAYBESTOS FRC11155 $46.69 (with core $16.80)
    Caliper (right)RAYBESTOS FRC11156 $46.69 (with core $16.80)
    Drum (2) CENTRIC 12348010 2x$20.79 $41.58

    1996 SUZUKI SWIFT 1.3L L4
    Front Brake Hose SUNSONG 2203626 2x$8.44 $16.88
    Rear Brake Hose SUNSONG 2203105 2x$7.84 $15.68

    Total: $214.13 (plus shipping)

    Parts I tried that didn't work.

    2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM 1.6L L-4
    Rear Brake Shoes CENTRIC 11106300 $12.43

    1996 SUZUKI SWIFT 1.3L L4

    Rear Wheel Cylinder(2) CENTRIC 13448101 2x6.65 $13.30

    So for ~$200.00 I have all new upgraded vented front brakes, calipers, lines and pads and new drums on the rear. I'm out ~$27.00 on the parts I didn't use. I have $32.00 in core money coming back (I hope).

    I think it was a success. I hope others try this and verify what I've found and save some money as well.

    NOTE: I have 13 in rims and this may not work with OEM 12 inch rims.
     
    Last edited: Mar 20, 2024
  2. cop on my back

    cop on my back Active Member

    That is all awesome! Thanks for sharing.
     
  3. t_g_farrell

    t_g_farrell Active Member

    Your welcome.

    It is beyond me why no one has figured this out.

    I'm working on the tierod ends as well as the remaining drum brake parts. The tierods for the van are not the same length as the trucks but share the same specs for the attachment points. New thread on that when I get it verified.
     
  4. Liberty4Ever

    Liberty4Ever Active Member

    This forum was made for info like this. We need more people sourcing North American parts for JDM trucks and posting their success stories. I've already found that local sourcing for JDM vehicles is trial and error, with parts purchased that won't work before finding what does work. It would be great if we could all spend an hour sharing what works to save countless others several hours of searching for compatible parts and the hassle and expense of buying parts that don't work. Thank you (even though I have a Diahatsu truck instead of a Suzuki van)!

    The NAPA of yesteryear was good about looking at your worn out or broken parts and finding something that would work. I doubt that's the case at most NAPA stores now. It's all computerized, and the computer doesn't know about weird stuff like mini trucks. I know the clerks at my local Advanced Auto Parts and particularly AutoZone are minimally trained keyboard chimps. If that's the service they provide, I'd prefer to plug in the make and model myself at Rock Auto, Amazon or eBay.
     
    Limestone and t_g_farrell like this.
  5. t_g_farrell

    t_g_farrell Active Member

    So true. Maybe I should post a thread about how to match these up with rockauto. Its a very trial and error process. I'm gettin the hang of it tho.
     
    Limestone and Liberty4Ever like this.
  6. Liberty4Ever

    Liberty4Ever Active Member

    Generalized tips on how to source Rock Auto parts that fit JDM cars would be very useful.

    Providing the Suzuki Every brake part numbers is useful in the "give a man a fish" sense. Tips on how to find parts for JDM vehicles on Rock Auto (or elsewhere) is more like "teach a man to fish" information. :)
     
    t_g_farrell likes this.
  7. Temuba

    Temuba New Member

    This thread is awesome and timely. I've been racking my brain sourcing parts for upgrading the front disk brakes. Thanks a million, will look into your working list for the fronts and look forward to conclusion with the rear brakes.:)
     
    t_g_farrell likes this.
  8. t_g_farrell

    t_g_farrell Active Member

    Thanks, thats why I'm doing this.

    The rears will probably require a complete new set of hardware and shoes that have the same emergency brake lever. Suzuki has some that may work but my rear brakes have new hardware and shoes so I just replaced the drums for now. The issue is the van shoes have a slightly different hole and mounting for the auto adjuster. I couldn't find an exact shoe match.
     
  9. Temuba

    Temuba New Member

    After searching other sites, found Rockauto to have the best pricing. Will order what worked for you soon and post result here. Again thanks a million
     
  10. Temuba

    Temuba New Member

    I watched a video of a guy with a Honda Acty doing the same front brake upgrades. He had to install a spacer between the wheel hub and inside of the front disk rotor because of interference. Did you have such an issue or was it "plug and play"?

    Currently waiting on delivery for your working parts list. Again thanks.
     
  11. t_g_farrell

    t_g_farrell Active Member

    If you read my earlier posts in here, I added a washer to the mount of the caliper mount flange to move the caliper out a couple of mm to center on the rotor. That guy with the Honda is a fellow minitrucker in Charlotte, in fact he and I discussed what he did at one of the earlier C&C events here. It inspired me to relook at how I was going to do it. I may have a pic of the washer from overhead. I'll have to look and see.
     
  12. Temuba

    Temuba New Member

    No, I understand the 2mm washer to center the caliper to the rotor. What I was asking about, the fellow here in NJ with the Acty had to put a wheel spacer between the wheel hub and the inside of the new disk rotor. Apparently, the inside of disk rotor boss was too deep and the disk portion of it was interfering with the shield (not the diameter, but face of shield). He had an aluminum spacer made through SendCutSend out of aluminum, about 4mm if I recall to clear the shield.

    Was wondering if your setup cleared everything, plug and play?
     
  13. t_g_farrell

    t_g_farrell Active Member

    Yeah, other than the extra washers its all just a bolt up. Easy peasy. Make sure to post back on how it works for ya.
     
  14. t_g_farrell

    t_g_farrell Active Member

    Oh, did I mention it may not work with OEM 12 inch rims. Sorry if this is too late. I just realized I have 13 in rims and the calipers just clear them.
     
  15. Temuba

    Temuba New Member

    From the guy here in NJ with the Honda Acty he went up to R14 rims because of clearance. No big deal, I had planned ahead and purchased a while back new R15 rims with larger 23" diameter by 7"wide tires. Currently still have the original 21" by R12 rims (145R12) installed because I get the Death Wobble when I installed the newer tires. Took one strut off and it was shot, would not return back up. Have new ones from Canada coming in today. Going to install them this weekend with new progressive (250-300#) springs and new rear shocks. Hoping that's what's causing the Death Wobble, I should have the new tires installed and then ready to do the brake upgrade.


    Got delivery confirmation from RockAuto for three separate delivery dates for today, tomorrow and next week. According to email, the Centric parts got delivered today.

    :)Will definitely be posting the results with photos here. This thread should be pinned. You're the man! :)
     
  16. Temuba

    Temuba New Member

    Another quick question, forgot to ask earlier. Still need to source the 2mm spacer washers, would the inside diameter be an M10?
     
  17. t_g_farrell

    t_g_farrell Active Member

    The ones I used were M12. Easy to find the right size at LoDepot once you have the bolts out.
     
  18. Temuba

    Temuba New Member

    Today, I was able to verify the fitment for the front disk rotor, caliper and pads. Still waiting on the lines. Going to powder coat the calipers, and rotors before install, same with rear rotor.

    I'm in the process of order suspension parts from rytParts in Indonesia. I notice they have all the rear brake components for replacements: springs, pads, wheel cylinder, etc.

    They have for certain parts cross reference to other Suzuki vehicles. For the springs the state Cultus, Forsa, Swift and Sprint. Seems Swift and Sprint complete rear brake replacement are available on ebay.

    Any thoughts to these other models for referencing the missing components for the rear brakes?
     
  19. t_g_farrell

    t_g_farrell Active Member

    Could be accurate. Thats one of the ways I've found to get cross reference numbers by looking at the ebay or other for sale listings. So you have rear rotors, maybe you meant drums I expect.
     
  20. Temuba

    Temuba New Member

    Yes drums. Last night found what looks like compatible drum brake hardware kits and pads. I'll need to take a look at the entire rear brake assembly to visually check the springs and pad geometry are the same.

    I'll most likely order one wheel cylinder in the next few weeks and compare it to what on there now.
     
  21. t_g_farrell

    t_g_farrell Active Member

    Cool, I haven't cracked that nut yet.
     
  22. Wickedawesome

    Wickedawesome New Member

    t_g_farrell,
    This is really awesome content you've got.

    What is this method you used?

    I'd like to attempt this for my DD51T that's 4x114.3.
     
  23. t_g_farrell

    t_g_farrell Active Member

    Small correction up above to note that the front calipers get swapped as labeled from left to right so the bleeders are at the top.
     

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