Recommendation for A-body disc brake vendor

now if you don't want 70's factory i have read someone who's adapted rotors to work with the factory drum spindles. however I can't remember who made the kit.

here is one http://www.ecihotrodbrakes.com/early_chevy_discbrake_conversions.html
<table border="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td align="center" height="323" width="40">
</td> <td align="left" valign="top" width="156"> [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica] 67-69 CAMARO
[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]62-67 CHEVY II
68-74 NOVA
64-72 CHEVELLE
MONTE CARLO
GTO
442
GS[/FONT]
</td> <td align="left" width="520">[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]This brake conversion bolts to the stock drum brake spindle with no machine work or spindle modifications, and maintains stock wheel position. The kit uses stock big piston GM calipers and 11-inch dia. rotors on billet aluminum hubs. Available in both 4-3/4" GM and 4-1/2" Ford bolt circles. Kit includes rotors, calipers with pads, bearings, seals, caliper mounting brackets, aluminum hubs and dust covers. Note: 62-63 Chevy II requires 64-67 spindles.
[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]
[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica] 68-74 Nova, 67-69 Camaro, 64-72 Chevelle, GTO - [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]
[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]EC-723ACK...68-74 NOVA, 67-69 CAMARO, 64-72 CHEVELLE. GTO....Complete Kit $ 525.00[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]
[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]ABOVE KIT WITH 13 INCH ROTORS[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]...............$ 625.00[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica] [/FONT]


[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]EC-723ACK[/FONT]
</td></tr></tbody></table>oh i guess the bearing surfaces are the same for the drum and disc spindle. however there is an extra hole drilled for the disc.
quote from a chevelle site
"Sep 17th, 99, 2:42 PM
The spindles were a piece of cake to do. I have a set of disc spindles that are toast (someone took a disc grinder to the bearing surfaces - it ain't pretty!) that I compared my drum spindles to. All I had to do was mill 3/4 of an inch off the boss near the upper ball joint where the spring anchor was bolted into when it was a drum spindle. I tapped out the hole (the spring anchor now caliper bracket hole) to full depth, and viola, I now have disc spindles. I wish everything was this easy!"

-nate

 

I got my kit off ebay from a company named 60 to 0 brake systems. I got the power kit with booster, master and all the other parts. This kit even came with the backing plate gaskets, bearings, seals, caps, cotter pins etc. I was impressed with the quality and fit of all the parts I got. I also ordered the front end kit with ball joints and tie rods. Everything went well. I didn't have any service issues as I didn't need to call them. Had I known about the service and expertise at inline tube, I probably would have went with them. I got brake and fuel lines from inline tube for my 65 with disc conversion. The lines fit great. So my pick is 0 to 60 for price and inline for evrything else. I dealt with cameron at Inline, very helpful.

 

I have dealt with them before and am satisfied with their products , fit and appearance , plus their price is reasonable .

 

Great feedback guys keep it coming.............

 

Same here, went on like a breeze. Parts seemed kosher. Now I just need to provide enough vac. to make it work.ou:

 

I asked Mike a couple of questions one being are there any chinese components in his kits.He did state that there were but did not say which ones and also said that many vendors do also but lie about it.I appreciate his honesty and will probably use his kit BUT find an original set of spindles to use just for piece of mind.

 

I had a lengthy conversation with Mike about the spindle/ball joint issue after it came up here. He said over and over that there's no way he'd ever use Howe ball joints in a street car...they're not built or meant for one, which may be why the failures. Also, if you look at how a spindle is built, it would be pretty difficult for only one or two spindles to make it out of the plant with an incorrect taper, because they're reamed out, not cast or milled. Thus, if those spindles are making it out with the wrong taper, we'd have heard a lot more about it than one guy on the Chevy board. Also, how many plants do you think are actually making spindles for A-Body cars? One? Two maybe? That means everybody...including GM...are sourcing their parts from the same people. Even before I talked to Mike I thought it quite strange how those guys from Howe instantly blamed the spindle without even seeing it. I have 2000+ miles on my conversion, and not a problem thus far.

 

Let me cast an emphatic vote AGAINST SSB. I got a kit with them and there was a BUNCH of problems, and SSB was NOT cooperative at all trying to rectify the problems. I swore that I would never ever recommend them to anybody because they fought me SO hard, when the kit would NOT work as they supplied it.

At the time I wish I'd spent the extra money to go with the Master Power kit, but I haven't seen them advertise in a while so I don't know if they still exist.

-Bob C.

 

This whole deal with the repro spindles is basically refuted by this one post:

It wasn't an issue with the spindle. It was the ball joint, and Howe and the Howe vendor made it a big mess instead of just taking care of the problem.

 

what I've got from reading this thread is that inline tube is a good one to go with, because of quality, price, and customer service, am I wrong? I want to convert my front drums to discs and I don't know where to start as I've never had anything that needed aftermarket brakes before. I see someone commented on using factory spindles for peace of mind... I like that "peace of mind" thing lol, so should I just start calling junkyards or is there another place I can get them from? and any 68-72 A-body front disc brake spindle will work right?

 

I'm not omnipitant, so I can't say what's fact or opinion, but the quote from Billscamino posted by silverfacechamp was #14 of a thread that is now up to #87. I read the entire thread (had to get some popcorn and a rootbeer) and I came away with the impession that the spindle was reamed with a chipped or worn reamer, causing protruding material to be left in the taper, that then caused the balljoint to wobble in the spindle. I was also impressed with replys and advice from Mark at SC&C (Howes vendor) in that thread. It didn't appear Mark at SC&C was bashing any of the chinese manufactured spindles, he even suggested it could happen to any manufacturer. He just wants everybody to check the fit of the balljoint into the spindle taper before final assembly, for safetys' sake. I highly recommend reading the entire thread, it accually could save someones life.

Chris

 

i said screw it & bought an oem salvage set-up,spindles,plates,calipers,rotors,master,porp. valve,lines from e-bay seller bm455(aka breakfast_bob)the cost??? how bout $234.00 shipped!!:TU: yes i will have to rebuild calipers & master,turn rotors,buy pads,but i will know what i have when i'm done.no chinese crap,thats for sure:TU: