Want to convert drum to disc brakes in 68' Riv.

The drum brakes on my 68' Riv project will not allow me to loosen them with drum brake tool, so that I can pull of drum and inspect the brakes. I know guys take an air chisel to get them off if they can't loosen the brakes. I am thinking about converting them to disc (front ones at least). Instead of going thru all of the trouble and expense of a full, new conversion kit, is there any other Buick models that already have front disc brakes? I think I'd rather pull and replace entire knuckle/spindle but I don't know if any other spindles will fit. Thoughts? Or do I leave the knuckle and replace the spindle? That appears to be the typical way to go but if I could find the entire replacement knuckle/spindle with the rotor and disc set up already intact, I like that idea better.Thoughts?
I can keep the drum brakes because I'm just restoring it to a dependable daily driver for my 16 yr old son. Thanks for any advice in advance.

 

To loosen the shoes i use a straight long skinny pick and feel around for the adjuster arm , push it in away from the adjuster wheel, then use my angled adjuster bar. and loosen them enough to pull off drum. I have been looking for straight swaps, I think the LeSabre will swap if it has the same lower control arm.

 

The issue I've had with a direct swap over from another car is the ball joints are different and would require machining out the holes on the donor spindles. Dont think other models ball joints fit the riv control arms.

 

hopefully you did not have to buy them to find out. How do you get disk for the Riv. By the time they went to disk the lower control arms changed.

 

What is the knuckle? I know the spindal has the wheel bearing nut.

 

I have a set off a 70 olds delta 88 that might work not sure though.

 

Thanks, guys. I expected that answer, honestly. It's never that easy.

 

Stock stuff is HARD to find. '68 &'69 are 4 piston calipers that have their own issues & '70 are a one year only thing. For the most part if you have a '61-'70 full size car or Riv. it's mostly a bolt-on. Must mention again. Difficulty in finding a donor to begin with=big $$$$ when it comes time for ANY replacement parts. Best I've found/heard about is "ScareBird".


Tom T.

 

my 67 wildcat has optioned front disc, not sure of interchangeability, any body else know? and yes...good luck finding that assembly.

 

I have a set for sale off a 70 delta 88

 

I tried to mount the 4-piston Bendix caliper system on my '67, but nobody could locate the correct rotors. Instead, I sent the spindles out from the 4-piston system, and had MP Brakes in North Carolina fabricate me a hybrid system with 2-piston calipers and 12" vented rotors. Works fine.

 

It's the steering knuckle but I've always heard it called "the knuckle". It's the bracket that has the ball joints on the top and bottom. In the picture below, you can see the "steering knuckle" labeled and see how easy it would be to find a knuckle off of another Buick that fits the existing upper and lower arm controls, that is already using a disc brake system. No changing of the spindle would be needed as you would leave the existing spindle that came with the knuckle off of a disc set up. I'm not great at explaining these things. Sorry.

 

It's the steering knuckle but I've always heard it called "the knuckle". It's the bracket that has the ball joints on the top and bottom. In the picture below, you can see the "steering knuckle" labeled and see how easy it would be to find a knuckle off of another Buick that fits the existing upper and lower arm controls, that is already using a disc brake system. No changing of the spindle would be needed as you would leave the existing spindle that came with the knuckle off of a disc set up. I'm not great at explaining these things. Sorry.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...act=rc&uact=3&dur=2274&page=1&start=0&ndsp=12

 

The cheapest route is keep those drums and your son will learn that when the brakes get wet more space is required to stop.

I personally have done a few things for my Riv. and here is what I learned.

The taper angle is the same for the ball joints upper or lower as well as the tie rod. Depending on the GM model the diameter may need to be increase. My first iteration of a conversion was to use a complete spindle assembly off a '81 caddy DeVille. $50 savage yard parts and $40s for the time for a machinist to increase taper diameters. I could have done this myself if I bought the $200 taper bit.Once done, I flipped those spindles around and adjusted the caster,camber & toe-in as needed. I later removed these in a costly learning experience of replacing parts that resulted in the gear box being to root cause of most of my issues.

The second and current brake system I have on my riviera is the scarebird kit, https://scarebird.com/, some give this a bad review, in all the cost was $500 and everything works and is new with the original spindles. I have no complaints.


So if cheap is salvage yard parts or a conversion kit like scare bird. I would go with scarebird. imho.

Good luck.

 

Thanks. I'd much rather go with a new conversion. I might just leave them, now that it's obvious I can't do an easy switch with another set up.

 

I am slap dab in the middle of doing a 68 Skylark. I spent $200 to buy the knuckles off a 70 chevelle that "would bolt right up"!!! Nope, I bought an after market kit but now I am having problem with the rim hitting the caliper.

 

We are talking about a Full Size car or a Riv. here. An entirely different animal.


Tom T.

 

How much bigger than a Riv would be " Full Size" ?
LOL:grin:

 

For all intent purposes, same/same.

 

Here ia a set up i am currently working on. Boattail discs and S-classe Merc Brembo 4 pot callipers.