I'm not sure if I'm posting in the right area but I'm looking to convert my '65 skylark special to front disc brakes and cannot seem to find any info on google... any help would be greatly appreciated :ball:
I assume you're talking about http://www.buickperformance.com/discbrak.htm ? "A-body disc brake set-ups will not work on the 1965-72 cars. So, you will need to find a 1965-72 A-body with disc brakes. They are usually found on higher end models such as GS, 442, GTO, SS and some 4 doors and wagons." Does this mean that any car between those years with disc brakes *should* be able to be used on my car? I found a convertion kit for $750ish but that seemed a bit high to me...
I'd say that as long as the kit is complete,meaning everything but the lines.and everything is new,I would go for the kit.I've peiced everything together and I know I've spent that,and alot of time was wasted because of mismatched parts.
I would use the Master power or Stanless steel brake ( SSB ) conversion. Is exactly like stock and excellent products Ken
That's 'Ground-Up', who are Chev specialists.....But they have a great selection of parts that fit our Buicks.....I'd highly recommend you get one of their catalogs!! Another source for disk conversion setups is: http://www.rightstuffdetailing.com/ Their Buick link is missing, you need to look at pages 91-96 for the Skylark stuff. Or just look at the GTO pages. I just ordered a kit at the GM show at Carlisle, Pa.....Their show special was: - $100 off complete conversion kit....now $595 - $70 off complete stainless brake line set.....now $100 - includes brake line clips and all rubber brake line hoses. - and...free shipping!! Too good a deal to pass up! :TU:
A friend was saying it would probably be cheaper to just change the axles with a car that has disc brakes ... Is this true? Anyone know axles that'd work? :beer "All A-body rear axles will interchange. From 1965 to 1972, the rear axles are bascially the same except for the different size ring gears stated above and the 1965-7 axles being one inch narrower. A-bodies are considered to be Lemans, Skylark, Chevelle, Cutlass and from 1970-2 Pontiac Grand Prix and Chevy Monte Carlo. If you install a 12 bolt rear axle, you will need Neapco #3-3130 rear u-joint since the Chevrolet yoke is different from the Buick, Olds, Pontiac axles. Also, when putting in a 71-2 rear axle into earlier models, you will have to shorten the driveshaft approximately 1.5" to accomodate the larger yoke found on the 1971-2 axles." from http://www.buickperformance.com/axles.htm ... Does this mean those type of cars have inerchangable axles?
i used a baer claw sytem on my 72 and i still had to grid the axles for rotors to fit. it will say so in directions. i had someone turn yoke with air ratchet and i used a grinder .everything came out ok so far. andy :TU:
Here's a few interesting sites that might help you out. http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/850/ http://www.goatsgarage.com/d2dlft.html
Having done this not too long ago, in retrospect, it'd been cheaper to get the kit. Even with mine being a 72, and getting the spindles off a Monte', I still ended up replacing just about everything but the spindles with new parts... Mick
Hey 'Netfriends [ ... A real name would be nice] FWIW, give a little consideration to converting the front suspension to Camaro/Firebird [tall] spindles and disc brakes. Doing this will require a new set of upper control arms, available from Global West Suspension, www.globalwestsuspension.com While the arms are ~$475, the swap has benefits over the stock type disc setup. For starters, Camaro discs are 11 and 12 inches compared to the A-body's 10 inch setup. Second, the Camaro pieces are very common and quite pleantifull in scrap yards, and would be much cheaper than A-body pieces. Third, The taller spindle and shorter upper arm gives a much more desirable suspension geometry, resulting in handling potential the stock A-body setup could never hope to come close to. fourth, if you can find a Z-28, or Trans-Am to get the pieces off of, you can also score a 1 1/4 inch front sway bar, 3/4 inch rear sway bar [requires welding and fabrication to install, but it will fit and it does work], Posi 8.5 rear end with [usually] 3.23 gears, master cylinder, booster, proportoning valve, and maybe even a set of rear disc brakes [if the donor car was so equiped], and a tilt long style steering column. Add to the above a Monte Carlo SS steering box [fast ratio], a new set of brake lines, and some stickey tires, and you could convert your skylark to a full blown slot car for about $1600...[if you shop around and score a good deal or two] True, that's about double your original price target, but that's for the whole enchelada, not just a set of stock front discs Just my .02 cents, but worth considering...
