2004 Sonata - Brake Upgrade 10.1 To 11 Inch Possible?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa, ON Canada
Vehicle: 2004 Hyundai Sonata
2004 Sonata - Brake Upgrade 10.1 To 11 Inch Possible?
I have a 2004 Sonata with the stock 10.1 inch front brakes.
The first time I went to the local parts place to get replacement parts, they gave me 11 inch rotors, as that's what was listed in their computer to be on a Sonata of that year.
I get them home, and start to work on the front brakes. I pull off the old rotor, and put the new one on the hub, putting the little screws back, then I try to put the caliper bracket back... It doesn't fit. I then hold my old rotor up to it and see the size difference. I put all the old stuff back, and hit the internet to try and figure out what's going on.
After some research, I find just ONE reference to different brake sizes on the 2004 model. It seems that 2004's built pre-September 2003 have 10.1 inch front brakes, much like the previous model years. Cars built from September 2003 had 11 inch front brakes.
My car was made August 26, 2003
That leaves me with one question.
Is an 11 inch conversion easily done?
The 11 inch rotors fit snug on the hub. The calipers are different, just as the caliper mounting brackets would be.
Are the knuckles the same between 2002, 2003, and 2004?
If they are, it's as simple as changing the caliper, the mounting bracket, and the rotor. My dealer was useless for this info. They just told me "We'd need to look up the vin of a 2004 with 11 inch brakes to know."
I'm looking into this because I always found the stock brakes to be pretty weak, and want better stopping power. The 1992 Mercury Topaz, and 2004 Chrysler Sebring had better braking than this thing. I was thinking about going EBC, but I'd rather get the brakes up to what they should be for the model year, before spending even more money.
The first time I went to the local parts place to get replacement parts, they gave me 11 inch rotors, as that's what was listed in their computer to be on a Sonata of that year.
I get them home, and start to work on the front brakes. I pull off the old rotor, and put the new one on the hub, putting the little screws back, then I try to put the caliper bracket back... It doesn't fit. I then hold my old rotor up to it and see the size difference. I put all the old stuff back, and hit the internet to try and figure out what's going on.
After some research, I find just ONE reference to different brake sizes on the 2004 model. It seems that 2004's built pre-September 2003 have 10.1 inch front brakes, much like the previous model years. Cars built from September 2003 had 11 inch front brakes.
My car was made August 26, 2003
That leaves me with one question.
Is an 11 inch conversion easily done?
The 11 inch rotors fit snug on the hub. The calipers are different, just as the caliper mounting brackets would be.
Are the knuckles the same between 2002, 2003, and 2004?
If they are, it's as simple as changing the caliper, the mounting bracket, and the rotor. My dealer was useless for this info. They just told me "We'd need to look up the vin of a 2004 with 11 inch brakes to know."
I'm looking into this because I always found the stock brakes to be pretty weak, and want better stopping power. The 1992 Mercury Topaz, and 2004 Chrysler Sebring had better braking than this thing. I was thinking about going EBC, but I'd rather get the brakes up to what they should be for the model year, before spending even more money.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa, ON Canada
Vehicle: 2004 Hyundai Sonata
For anyone looking to do this on their Sonata, it's possible. You just need new calipers, rotors, and pads. After doing all my research, I discovered the spindles are the same, and everything bolts on. Just make sure your calipers come with new caliper brackets.
I test drove my car after bleeding my brakes tonight, and my brakes have never felt more responsive and tighter than they do now. And, yes, the larger rotors and calipers will even fit the 15-inch steel rims -- the 16 alloys aren't required to make this swap.
I test drove my car after bleeding my brakes tonight, and my brakes have never felt more responsive and tighter than they do now. And, yes, the larger rotors and calipers will even fit the 15-inch steel rims -- the 16 alloys aren't required to make this swap.
