I am converting 1964 chevelle with 14" 1969 SS396 wheels to front disc brakes. Bought a package with calipers, rotors, spindles, caliper brackets, ect. I mock-up the kit off the car and test fit it to a wheel and it doesn't fit.

Try a different wheel, doesn't fit. Test fit wheel on a 1969 chevelle with stock front disk brakes, fits with no problem. Try again a few days later will not fit. Looks like the caliper bracket is rubbing on the top and bottom corners. Clearance problem looks like 1/8 or 1/4" would solve issue.

I included some pictures for illustration, red tape shows where the caliper bracket is rubbing and keeping the assembly from fitting inside wheel.

Hope someone knows what is causing this because currently the only solution I have is larger wheels and tires, really don't have an extra $1200 for wheels and tires right now.

http://www.geocities.com/neal64ss/tn_img_2284.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/neal64ss/tn_img_2285.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/neal64ss/tn_img_2286.jpg

yeah i would have to just say larger rims and tires would be the correct solution. You might be able to put some spacers to push the wheels out but that would only be a temp solution and you might rub the fenders.

those brakes look real beefy, what size are your rims currently?

14" wheels correct for a 69 chevelle. I have confirmed they fit on a 1969 chevelle with stock disc brakes. All the brake parts look the same as the parts on the 69 chevelle I test fit the wheel on. I hope I am overlooking something simple.

Larger rims is the easiest (and most expensive) solution , not necessarily the correct solution.

I will not do spacers, doesn't meet my safety standards.

14" wheels correct for a 69 chevelle. I have confirmed they fit on a 1969 chevelle with stock disc brakes. All the brake parts look the same as the parts on the 69 chevelle I test fit the wheel on. I hope I am overlooking something simple.

Larger rims is the easiest (and most expensive) solution , not necessarily the correct solution.

I will not do spacers, doesn't meet my safety standards.


Well I dont see why you couldnt maybe manipulate the bracket on a vise or with a hammer. i really dont see it hurting anything. In my mind i was already guessing you 14's

Neal I ran into the exact same issue.....Spoke to the vendor and they said to grind them down and beat them into shape. I explained they were advertised to fit factory 14'' rims and I wasn't going to destroy the plating by grinding them. They then agreed to send another set so I tore it down and replaced them and still had the same issue. Mine were worse on the passenger side than the drivers side which also didn't make any sense. I also replaced all my tie rods which were the originals. When I went to install my new ones I found them to be off by over 1/2'' on each side indicating the spindles are somewhat cast different as well affecting the steering arms. So back to your original problem I can only assume whoever makes this stuff for the majority of the vendors is sitting on a bunch of these caliper brackets which are incorrect. They are not fixing the issue and are going to continue to sell the crap hoping they will be sold to people running 15 inch rims. When I called and spoke to my vendor they also told me they had never heard of any issues.....I soon found out that was a lie as well.

Seems like if I can get my hands on some original caliper brackets I may be in business.

After giving it some thought I decided to beat and grind the caliper brackets into submission. Returning them is not an option for reasons I don't have the time to tell here.

It occurred to me that if the solution was to get the correct brackets and the brackets I have are not returnable, then I had nothing to lose by attempting a big hammer modification.

So . . . I get my hammer and my grinder (yes it took both) and an hour or two later, after several trial fits, I have disc brake assemblies that fit nicely inside my 14" wheels.

Now that I have finished I am starting to wonder about safety. Brakes are not somewhere that you want to have any safety issues. Does anyone think that I should be concerned about bending and grinding these brackets? They were bent about 1/4" on both ends and ground on the lower part of each bracket about 1/16".

The calipers bolt up easily and smoothly, and it seems to me that the brakes would work fine if I had simply cut these tabs completely off. See pictures in first post for the areas I am talking about.

I wouldnt be worried. I know the piece you are dealing with and what you had to do to it. i dont think you comprimised anything in your braking system.