Compatible Brakes [Archive] - Chevelle Tech

: Compatible Brakes


Wammer
Aug 14th, 08, 10:18 PM
I have a 1970 Chevelle Malibu with Non-power Drums. I found a 1973 Malibu (4 door) with Powered front Disc brakes that I can use as a Parts car. Will these fit mine? Can I reuse the spindles, Master Cylinder, Booster....etc?

VinceS427bb
Aug 14th, 08, 10:47 PM
sorry the fronts are not a match.....
you will want the disc's from a 69-72 gm a-body car.
welcome to the site. :)

Schurkey
Aug 15th, 08, 12:22 PM
The '73 stuff should "mostly" bolt in although you're gonna need special lower ball joints. (normal '73 ball joints but with the press-fit trimmed down to fit your lower control arms. I think it's about a 0.100 difference--but you'd better measure the original ball joints and compare to the new ones.

The upper ball joints and outer tie rod ends are standard '73 stuff although you have to be careful with the tie rod ends to be sure the toe adjusting sleeve thread size is the same as what you have now.

This would be considered a "tall spindle" brake conversion; with all the benefits and detriments that entails.

I've heard of problems with bump steer and increased turning radius in particular. I'll certainly admit my car needs forty acres for a U-turn; can't say I've noticed a bump steer problem. Part (perhaps most) of my turning radius problem is the Nova steering gear which has restricted travel compared to an "A" body unit.

The big problem with tall-spindle conversions is trying to align the thing afterwards. I had to install longer bolts to attach the cross-shaft; could not fit enough shims in there otherwise. This conversion is a godsend for all those vehicles that have run out of shims and can no longer be properly aligned because there's not enough camber. You'll have plenty of shims afterwards!

My disc conversion used a '75 Nova as a donor; I used EVERYTHING from that car--booster, master cylinder, knuckles, calipers, brake hoses, rotors, combination valve, etc. I had to get creative with the pushrod for the booster to the brake pedal, but everything else was more-or-less a complete bolt-in except as described above.

Be aware that there is an entire sub-forum for disc brake conversion stuff; a search will get you more threads than you can read.

Also, there's http://www.chevelles.com/techref/ftecref2.html