p5 brake swap

[Justin2129]

If p-brake cables are a problem try flipping brakets and everything from left to right. Maybe some pictures could help figure out those p-brake cables.

we tried to switch the brackets but they wont fit on the opposite calipers

Getting the bleeders up temporarily will fix your problem, but u will have same issue next time u service the brakes.

I doubt I'll need to do this anytime soon...or ever haha. since you dont have to bleed them to replace the pads, swapping calipers is the only reason ive ever had to need to bleed the brakes

[Damkid]

Maybe the brackets won't switch sides but the calipers will? Just yet another thought lol

[Justin2129]

Maybe the brackets won't switch sides but the calipers will? Just yet another thought lol

the brackets dont fit on the opposite side's caliper, so either way it wont work. and if we switch the entire assembly, then the e-brake becomes an issue again. it wasnt hard to take the caliper of and bleed it right side up


only had time to bleed each of the rears once today. tons of small air bubbles came out the MC when we pumped the brakes. it gave me a little more pedal, but when i started the car it was still too soft to drive

[Damkid]

Sounds like you made a bit of progress at least, hopefully it keeps getting better

[Justin2129]

good news! ...pedal is still soft..BUT if you pump it, and stomp it, it stops REALLYYYYY well.. i was even able to lock them up at will. I'm sick of bleeding them myself, so im gonna have firestone finish it off tomorrow

[neanderpaul]

So Justin has (pretty much) completed this swap. He took it to a garage that refused to bleed them because the calipers were on the "wrong side". The calipers on the left side are embossed with an L and the right side are embossed with an R but .... yeah, whatever

Another garage told him to remove and rotate the rear calipers and bleed the brakes would be $200. Whatever.
Justin removed and rotated the rear calipers putting the bleeders parallel to the ground and did a 4 wheel gravity bleed by himself. The brakes are at full usage now. They still feel weird (spongy I guess) but they are safe. I drove it a couple of miles. They work every time. This was a long drawn out process. But Justin stuck with it. I'm proud of him. He did the whole swap essentially by himself.

Just a few months ago I taught him to change his oil

Way to go Justin!!

[Damkid]

Thats great to hear!!!!

[neanderpaul]

Poor guy was so hatin it to be pimpin the 13 year old minivan around lol!! :lol:

[neanderpaul]

And as far as I know he is the first to complete a FOUR WHEEL Mazda 6 brake swap onto a P5.