Rear Drum to Disc

[Breezy]

I have been to a few mechanics and they all tell me that it doesn't make a different in brake performance/stopping power. Is this correct?

[geeang]

It would make a different but probably not by much, the rear brakes are mainly for when you park/handbrake.

The biggest difference would be upgrading your front brakes, but going from rear drums to discs would still be a worthwhile upgrade.

[Chernoby1]

It 'COULD' make a feelable difference IF you got the right brake balance again.
To work out brake balance... its kinda tedious, but you measure your weight on all 4 corners, make a front:rear ratio, wrk out how weight is transfered to the front during braking and then you can see how much force your front brakes need to deal with, and that tells you how much force you rears have to deal with. If you stick in big brakes on front but not rear, it could actually make you stop slower. But as your talkin bout changing rears from drum to disk.... dont see how you could screw it up that much.
The biggest difference you might see between disk/drums is under constant hard breaking (eg a trackday). If you did it once or twice, doubt youd see any big improvemnt.

[Breezy]

going from rear drums to discs would still be a worthwhile upgrade.

if it doesn't really make a difference how can it still be worthwhile? Are there any other advantages?

[SHOGUNOVDDRK]

Shame you can't keep your drums if you do a swap (ok, there is probably a way to swap and drum.....but its likely to involve bengay in 5 ways)

[Chernoby1]

if it doesn't really make a difference how can it still be worthwhile? Are there any other advantages?

Breakpads are cheap and easy to find/install all by yourself?

(i actually have no clue about the maintence of a drum brake so im just throwing out ideas.)

[shadou]

drums will stop a car faster compared to standard rear disc brake set up (note the standard) due to surface area ratio of contact, take a drum housing off and you'll know what I'm on about, downside is drums won't disperse heat nearly as readily as a disc set up