Lateral Link Differences?
 

Anyone know what the differences are in the lateral links between disc and drum cars? Mazda lists two different part numbers.

Drum brake: B30K-28-620A
Disc brake: B30P-28-620A

The only difference is the "K" and the "P" so does anyone know what the real difference is?

Thanks.

Even if you don't know the exact answer I'd still greatly appreciate it if you might be able to send me somewhere where I might be able to find out. Thanks.

Anyone have any ideas?

im not sure what you are asking... are you asking whats the difference between drum and disk brakes? If thats your question then disk brakes are brakes that you have on the front of your car: its a disk that is squesed from both sides by brake shoes; Drum brakes on the other hand is a round closed drum that is squeesed by brake shoes from the inside, those brakes are usually installed on the rear since they are cheap to manufacture and and they easily incorporate an emergency brake mechanism. Here are some pictures of basic designs:
Drum brakes are the first 2 pictures
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/drum-brake2.jpg
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/drum-brake3.jpg
This is a pic of typical disk brake
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/disc-brake2.jpg

i really have not idea, but my guess would be that the disc brake cars have a lower suspension ( or the sport suspension ), and the drums do not. The latteral links on the cars with the drums might be longer.

alex aha,

Thanks for the basic course in braking. But I'm just asking what are the differences in the lateral links between the disk and drum cars. I have drum brakes on the rear of my LX sedan and want to convert to disc. The parts fische lists different lateral links depending on which brake set-up you have and I was wondering what exactly the differences in the lateral links themselves were.

Im not that educated on protege brake systems so i do not have an answer. However, i think since it can be very expensive to do so with all new parts i would just go to a junk yard and pull off any necessary parts from wrecked proteges with 4 wheel disk brakes... Sorry i dont have an answer...

Thanks for the advice. I'm trying to piece together all the parts bit by bit from forum members.

There is a difference between the two links (hence the different part numbers). All I can guess is there is a difference in size (length and/or thickness) of the eyelet through the spindle and lateral link. Bolt part number 9YA11-1204 is for rear drum, bolt part numer 9YA11-1203 is for rear disc. Im guessing the bolt difference comes down to length and thickness again. Your part numbers: k is for rear drum, p is for rear disc. If your questioning on using your drum lateral link for your disc conversion I would say give it a try, worst case you gotta get the "p" ($65) and you learn what the difference is... Hope this helps.

Yes, it does help. Thanks. I'm trying to iron out all the details before I attempt the conversion. Your ideas make sense. I just swapped out my stock springs and struts with MSP items, so I'm pretty failiar with how the rear knuckle and lateral links look. I took pictures too. Do you or anyone else have close up pics of the rear disc brake setup as it pertains to the lateral links? Thanks again.

My boss just bought a whole MSP suspension. Its gonna be so easy to swap it in to his 03 LX (just gotta rub it in). Honestly if I was gonna do it I would do everything from, nuts and bolts to cross member, lateral links, spindles/knuckles, and brake lines. All that would make what your tryin to do so much easier. If you need any help I can get you part numbers and maybe some ideas to point you in the right direction. Sorry no pictures unless my boss takes his camera to work and takes a picture of YEAH HIS WHOLE MSP SUSPENSION.

Here are the pics of the boss mans new suspension.

Wow, thanks for the pics. :bt: I'm jealous! And I agree, it is best to do it all at once and do it right down to the last nut and bolt. But I can't drop that much $ on the car at once. So I thought if I do enough research - and with enough patience - I'll be able to find the right parts at good prices and save some money in the end. I'll take a close look at the pics and compare it to my stock, LX suspension. Maybe I can figure out the differences. Thanks again.

Just got a camera today, so ill post some pics of my p5 rear versus his LX rear.

Man, if only alll forums were this helpful. Thanks. :cheers: