Disc brake conversion general questions & recommendations.

Hi all,

I'm going to convert my 72 Skylark convertible (350) from front drums to disc brakes in the front (so I would have disc brakes in the front and still drums in the rear). I plan to use a conversion kit, but figured I would ask a few questions here before making any purchases.

I'm sure you'll first ask how I plan to use the vehicle - daily driver in Summer time (I'm in Minnesota), no racing or anything straining like that. It's all fairly leisurely driving.

Questions:

1. Do you recommend any specific brand of the disc brake conversion kits?
2. Do I need to replace my steel brake lines during this conversion, or can I keep them?
3. Do you recommend a kit that has a new power booster, or do I just use the one I have?
4. Any install tips?

Thank you for any help!
Ben

 

Long ago, I attempted to convert my stock front drums on my Riviera to the 4-piston Bendix system offered back in 1967. Nobody could source the rotors, and I didn't want the single-piston Scarebird system. I did still have the 4-piston spindles. The shop located a vendor in NC (MP Brakes) who offered to build me a 2-piston solution using 12" rotors from the 99-04 Grand Cherokee and calipers from the same year Escalade. I kept my stock booster, and it works fine.

Your answers:

1. MP brakes did a good job fabricating the custom mounting brackets for the calipers & getting it all together.
2. If your lines have less than 20k miles on them, they should still be good.
3. Changing the booster may require changing the prop. valve as well...be sure you have all the parts.
4. Check your backspacing for the calipers. I had to change wheels in order to fit mine.


http://www.mpbrakes.com/contact-us

 

I would also recommend the factory parts conversion as in the above post. Parts are readily available even at your local parts store. However I converted both the front and rear brakes to disc. The pads that came with my kit were so-so on stopping power. I upgraded to EBC yellow pads and what a difference.

 

I would have said find an old car in the years mentioned, and do the swap, but this kit is the way to go, with all new parts, yet!

 

I wouldn't mess with the lines unless they are real crusty. I've never heard of anyone replacing lines in 20k intervals??

your current booster will be fine unless it's leaking now.

your current setup doesn't have a prop valve. you'll need to source one. I've converted a few cars and never put a prop valve in. for a car that isn't driven in the weather it's no big deal.

I'd source gm spindles. the all inclusive kits are usually all china parts and junk..

 

I used the MBM kit for my '69 (power drums) It wasn't quite the bolt in I was expecting, I had to get some of the steel lines reflared for the combination valve.
Lines apart it all bolted together easily enough. One caliper wasn't square to the disc, an easy enough fix.
I used the kit booster, nothing wrong with mine other than its age. Over all, it was worthwhile.

 

Try Caruso performance. That is who I purchased my disc conversion kit from Complete kit and easy to install.

 

Thank you all for your suggestions, I really appreciate it! That's all good info.

 

Summit carries many versions and vendors kits

 

About to use Scarebird parts for front brake conversion on my 67 Sportwagon. They had great reviews and for $295 you get brackets, bearings, seals, hubs, rotors, calipers, pads. You use your existing spindles which sold me. We will be installing in 2-3 weeks so I will give a report. https://scarebird.com/

 

Personally, I'd want it as close to stock as humanly possible if you aren't going for some Corvette rotors and calipers that require 17" wheels. Come time to find parts, I don't want to be scrounging odd ball stuff.

 

A commonly overlooked part of the swap is the small frame brackets that hold the caliper hoses. The openings in the brackets are shaped different from drum to disc,but you can modify or hog-out your existing brackets. Steering arms are the same for drum and disc,and if you buy a new kit,you will need to reuse yours,

 

I was wrong on the Scarebird kit. You don't get the rotors and calipers but they have designed their brackets to work with Corvette rotors and Chevy Van calipers according to their web site. We are going to order the rotors and calipers soon and will be installing the system in about 4 weeks. I will keep you posted.

 

I converted my 67 Sportwagon to 2000 Z28 discs. It was easy, cheap, there is tons of info out there on it, and you get the advantages of having slip on rotors and better calipers than the factory early stuff. Only down side is you need to run a 16" wheel minimum to clear the calipers.

 

I purchased four new 15" Buick rally wheels and redline tires so going to a larger wheel is not an option for me. Scarebird says the Corvette rotors and Chevy Van calipers work with their system. We shall see.

 

This is why I advocate as stock as possible. The 1969 up parts should bolt right up to the 67 wagon. I've put 71 Pontiac parts on a 66 Chevelle and it worked perfectly. Really, you are limited to an 11" rotor with a stock type wheel.

 

Nothing wrong with the 11" rotor. Just get the right pads for plenty of stopping power. The stock piston is 2 15/16" in diameter which provides plenty of pressure on the pads. Piston area is one of the criteria for stopping power. I have the kit to go with C5 Corvette brake rotors up front but I have not put them on yet because the stock 11" ones are working great. By the way I have 17" rims so I could go up to the 13" rotors.

 

I am using the Scarebird kit on my Electra. I didn't really run into too many problems aside from needing to get the new rotors machined a little bit and having to trim the corners of the calipers to fit stock size wheels. If I could make any recommendations I would say go for something other than ceramic pads because they take a while to warm up and get good bite.

The kit I got uses single piston Astro van calipers and I am not worried about that at all. Astro vans are used as commercial vehicles like ambulances with gvwr much higher than anything we will see with even the big cars.