A cheap rear disc brake conversion??? Opinions please.

Hi, below is a link to an ebay auction. He takes the rear disc brake setup off of a 1996 Z28 and says it bolts right up to any 10 or 12 bolt rear and you just need an adapter for the brake line end.

Does anyone know if this would work on a car like mine? I do have an 8.5 corporate rear with bolt-in axles. I would love to put disc brakes on my car's rearend. I have a new master cylinder. Would I need to change that also or would the one I have work OK?

Thanks for anyone's input in advance.

Phil

Ebay auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...&item=7919387538&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWA:IT

 

I posted this before. I am in the process of doing a conversion. I have looked at 5-6 kits and the best one is from www.tsmmfg.com
Check it out. $300-320 for the complete set-up, no machining axle flange, same size rotors as fronts and no spacers required. Look for another article from me on the site below!

 

Looks like the total is about $550 by the time you get the calipers with brake cables and hoses needed.

The guy selling on ebay emailed me that he hadn't tried it on a non-c-clip rearend, but will try to and get back to me. I wonder what AutoZone sells those calipers for?

 

Phil, I can get all the rear calipers you can use. Let me know if you want a pair. I will be at the yard on Sat. I believe I can sell them to you for $30-5 each + ship.

TSM states/lists hoses for $50 and ebrake cable extensions for $40-50. So total is $350. Iwill let you know about them and there will be an article on the site.

All the other kits I have seen were from $500-700 so this kit is still a deal and comes with new 11 or 11.5" rotors.

Please email me directly at GStage1@buickperformance.com to
confirm your calipers. Need your response no later than 11 pm Eastern on Friday.

 

OK, I got you now. I called a couple of yards around here and they all say "NO WAY" for having a Camaro/Firebird from the mid-90's with rear disc brakes. What cars/years do these calipers come off of?

 

The TSM kit uses the rear calipers from 80-85 Eldorado, Seville, Tornado. They are a simple caliper and should be easy to find. As for this guy listing them on Ebay with 96 Camaro, I believe those are c-clip rears and there are dimesional differences versus non-c-clip rears due to the axle bearing retainer plate.

 

anybody know anthing about rear discs from a 78-81 F-body.. A guy at the local swap yard has a complete pozi Rear out of an 81 TT/A, with rear discs, all he wants is 300 bucks. I did some research, and it should have either 3.08 or 3.23s, meaning a 3 series 8.5 inch pozi carrier and somewhat and fairly decent rear gears I could sell to make up some of the difference. But I need to know if the rear disc setup will bolt to my non-c clip rear.. Anybody have any input.. o No:

 

I've been researching this a lot. I do not think they will bolt up to a non c-clip rear. There is a spacer plate that's needed.

 

I got the kit from TSM last Thur, 9-9. I am trying to finish the body on the 70 GS so I can get it to the paint shop next week. As soon as it is outta here, I will do the rear (install posi, gear set and disc brakes). I will have an article on the site below once I am done!

 

Hey George, when you do the install and article, would you please take some measurements and see if it moves the wheels in or out any as to effect the backspacing for the rear wheels?

Thanks, Jeff

 

This kit was engineered to maintain original axle flange distance from the axle tube. So, there will be no change in backspace!

 

Do you know if you can just buy the brackets form them and get your own rotors? I'd love to get a set of cross-drilled and slotted ones to match the pair I plan to put on the front.

 

They will sell it w/o rotors. They are 11" rotors so you should be able to use any rotor you choose.

 

Yea, I ended up calling them. They want $180 for the brackets and spacers/bolts. Seems kind of pricey. I thought I saw just the brackets on ebay for $85 or so.

I think I'll wait the few weeks and wait and see your report, and hopefully pics, of your changeover. Hope you don't mind being the guinee pig on this one. I did it for the rear tires for everyone.

 

The one you saw on Ebay were from a firm called Scarebird. The engineering on them is not as good as the ones from TSM. Will post when I have the conversion done, should be in 2-3 weeks.

 

Hey George, do you know how wide the spacers are? I need a 1/4" on the passenger's side. Also, will they work with a 8.2" and will the axles have to be milled?

Thanks

 

Only spacer in the kit is the one to replace the drum brake backing plate. So, I don't know what you mean by 1/4"

This kit does not require you to mill the axle flange. It is a bolt-on set-up. The only item I got from the salvage yard that I will use for this kit is the 80-5 Seville/Eldorado/Tornado/Riviera rear calipers.

This kit has new rotors and all necessary hardware for the swap. I ordered new brake lines from In-Line Tube and will see what mods are required for the different brake lines.

 

Thanks George, I thought there were spacers to keep the backspacing correct. I have a slightly off center rearend. I was hoping I could not use a spacer on one side to even it out.

JP

 

I started on the rear on Sun. Completely disassembly, striped and painted.
Off to the rear axle builder for installation of 3.08 posi set-up and new bearings. Should have it here by weekend and will install rear disc brakes.
Already started writing the article.

Phil,
Local yard just got in a 96 Camaro w/rear disc brakes. Let me know if you want to try that set-up. It is complete. The e-brake cables appear to be a mile long so I don't know what needs to be used to make them work on our A-bodies. Email me directly at GStage1@buickperformance.com and we can discusss details. Thanks!

 

I actually am going to first try a set of ceramic shoes and HD spring kit with oversized (15/16" instead of 7/8") wheel cylinders. I'm also putting cross drilled/slotted rotors on the front with ceramic pads and braided lines to replace all the rubber ones. I'm doing a test with a G-Tech to show before and after results. Maybe After that, if there is time, I'll swap on the rear discs and see how much that change would help also. Should be able to do all this within a week or two.....I hope.