SINGAPORE : Some 4,000 owners of Mazda cars in Singapore will have their car brakes upgraded.

The upgrade to disc brakes from the current drum brakes is only for earlier productions of the Mazda 3 model sold before October last year.

The exercise is expected to cost Mazda some S$4 million.

Mazda 3s bought two years ago came standard with disc brakes for the front wheels and drum brakes for the rear.

But models made after October 2005 were equipped with four disc brakes.

Mazda Motor Singapore has stressed the upgrading exercise is not a recall, as the current rear drum brakes are not defective and don't pose any danger.

Said Phillip Lu, marketing manager, Mazda Motor Singapore, "The objective of this entire upgrading exercise is actually to align our earlier Mazda 3 specifications with the current Mazda 3 specifications."

Doing so will help cut down on the need to stock two different brake components for the same car model and streamlining parts procurement.

Those affected first heard of the upgrade through an online Mazda forum, and are clearly pleased the company is replacing the brakes at no cost.

Said Mazda 3 owner Lim Chee Keong, "Since Mazda Motor is doing the upgrade out of good will for us, I guess we're quite happy about it."

Another owner, Doris Lim, said, "Of course as a driver I feel very happy, because this is one of the value-add services from Mazda, and naturally as a driver I'll feel more secure with the disc brakes."

The disc brakes will take about four to six hours to install.

Said Mr Lu, "This is entirely an optional upgrade exercise. Customers can choose not to upgrade or upgrade, but we'd strongly encourage customers to upgrade because it is really at no cost to them."

Mazda says it has set aside five months for this entire upgrading exercise, during which affected car owners will be informed in batches to come and have their brakes upgraded. - CNA /ct