Ok...I ordered my kit, but I got to thinking...I have the factory 14" steel wheels on my car. The kit is supposed to be all OEM period correct stuff. Will my stock wheels work?
in 72, the same disk brake system (rotors, calipers) was used for all the skylarks & gs whether your car had 14" or 15" rims.
Is this true for '71 as well? I now have drums but would like to switch to disc brakes eventually. I currently have a set of the 15inch chrome rally wheels but would like to build a set of the rare '71 super sport wheels which were only 14x6.
Chris, My '71 was also all drums when I bought it, manual too. I installed a factory set-up & kept the 14" rally wheels. No clearance issues. You want a real change? Try installing power brakes first. Huge difference, discs the next year made it even better.
Thanks Steve. I do have power brakes along with my drums so I will just order up one of those complete close to factory disc brake set up kits eventually now that I know I can track down those elusive '71 Super Sport rims!
I have the steel wheels though...not rallyes....will my 14" steel wheels work with oem discs? I thought the steel wheels were a different offset and/or width than the rallyes?
original wheels should have a "JJ" code on the inside of the rim (covered by the tire), usually in the drop centre, are disk brake ready. i have heard that all the a-body cars from 71 onward whether rallye or steel rims, were disk brake ready. i believe that 1970 may also be the same.
Thanks for your help. That (hopefully) means I won't have to spend a whole bunch of extra money on wheels and tires. I may grab a couple of mid 80's s10 rims from a scrap yard here in town just in case, cuz I plan on doing the conversion over the Christmas holiday at our family farm, which is out in the boonies, and I'd hate to get that car up on the lift, get the brakes installed and then find out I can't put wheels on it. But, if you're right, I'll be good to go with the originals since mine is a '72.
Yup. As far as I know, the 82 to to early 90's s10's used a 14" rim with the 5x4.75 pattern. But, if you're right I won't need them cuz my stock rims will work. :bglasses:
Just a couple of questions from a newby down here in Australia. My 71 skylark just arrived on Tuesday all the way from Minnesota. A beautiful car with the exception of one thing ....THE BRAKES ( am not used to driving a non disc car to start with but without a Boosterr.....????) Steve You mentioned that the power booster made a huge difference and then by swapping in discs it was even better. As a percentage improvement in braking over standard, What would you say the booster makes - and then the disc kit makes? I have 14"Cragar S/S's on this car and was wondering what is the biggest rotors/calipers which will fit if i go this direction? Thanks Bruce
The power booster seemed to about double the stopping ability of the car. In reality it simply made it easier for the driver.Huge notceable difference right away. The discs later added another 50% improvement. Easy change, relative to others. New master, booster & you will need a brake pipe & fitting from the intake to the booster. Should be lots available from members here. I don't fool with brakes. I did the job under close supervision of a friend who really knows his way around these old cars. Have an expert lead you thru it & then inspect it for you.
