Master Power offers a 11" rear drum kit... I know that some chevy wagons had the 11" rear drums on them, anyone know if you can get the backing plates for that setup, if i can find the parts it probably would be cheaper then the MP kit... i called the local chevy dealer and they said they don't make the backing plates anymore, wondering if anyone knows anything about this subject

The 73 and later rear axles in Chevelles, Malibu's and wagons had 11" brakes. I think the assemblies will bolt in with out any mods, look around in the recycle yards.

I have been wanting to call the local dealer to find out if the rear plates are available too.
I thought I would ask for 75 76 Monte Carlo, as dicussed here before.
I think the yards here are dried up of old cars.
I haven't spent the time to search yet.
I agree w/ Leo to check the 73 and later stuff. Elcaminos too.

My dealer gave me part #18002392 for 76 MC 11" backing plate. Looked it up on GMparts direct for $24.64 a while back. This is for one side, other side supposedly not available. I figure it is universal now, if not the only diff should be PB cable hole, you could drill that, I think. Just double check part # before ordering, please. Let us know.
Good Luck.
Jeff

I went to the wrecking yard and got 11" rear backing plates (which is the only thing you need that is used) and the brake actuator levers from a '77 El Camino for about $20 and left the rest of the stuff there. I bought new cast iron drums from NAPA (you can get aluminum ones too) for around $40 each and got all the inner brake parts and brake springs new from AutoZone for around $20, as I recall. I did buy the expensive Praise Dyno 11" rear brake pads which added about $100 to the total cost. The El Camino backing plates are a direct bolt-up, but don't use the 11" backing plates from a large Chevy because the diameter of the axle housing mounting flange and bolt pattern are too big to fit a Chevelle 10 or 12-bolt rear end. It is best if you re-use your Chevelle parking brake cables because the 11" El Camino cables were a few inches longer on each side. I didn't notice this until after everything was installed so I had to shorten the intermediate parking brake cable about 6" to make up the difference. Other than that, everything is a bolt-up.

With front disc brakes, the larger 11" rear drum brakes will greatly reduce the tendency of your car to dive down in the front under heavy braking. Also, the proportioning valve worked O.K. with the larger rear brakes with no changes. The only downside with 11" brakes that I found is that with 15"x8" rear wheels on my '65, I have to disconnect the lower rear shock mount to get the rear to drop down far enough to remove the rear wheel from the wheel well. However, this is a small price to pay in order to have a parking brake that will now actually work and hold the car on an incline.

Rod

Hey Hot Rod,


Good to see you on here still. Mine has 11 inchers in the rear and 12's up front now. All new front n rear suspension and a Hydroboost unit that's next to install soon. I know all about the taking off the wheels now thing. Running 255/60-15 BFG's in the rear. Had to get 5.25 back space wheels and just a smoothing of the wheellips for a non rubbing edge. So how goes it??


Rob,

Hi Rob,

Still miss the Army life? Both my sons were in Iraq for a year at just about the same time, but they are back home safe and sound. Aaron still has his '65 Chevelle and is now at Ft. Campbell. Sounds like you got the front end of your car all fixed up after your off road excursion a year or two ago. I'll have to look you up the next time I'm in NorCal. In early April, we drove the Chevelle on a 1,000 mile 3-day motoring tour and almost made it up to your neck of the woods. Keep in touch. Do you still have my e-mail address?

Rod

Checked with my dealer on the 18002392 part number listed above and he said that it is a 11" backing plate, ordered them from gmparts direct... we'll see if their right in a few days when they arrive

I have a complet rear posi 10bolt diff with 11in rear drums out of a later Cutlass,regal or G boby wagon.I think this will swap to my 12bolt.Will kep Yall posted on my progress.

Got the backing plates and they are 11"... time to scrounge up the rest of the parts.. we will see how that goes

Hotrod
good info,gets my instrust back up to do the 11 in deal.Can you remember the autozone numbers for the hardware kits?And did you use the 77 Elcamino for the part listings?
Steve

Steve,

Sorry for the late response. Yes, since the backing plates were off of a '77 El Camino, I used that car for a parts search to get the additional brake parts I needed. I think most parts such as the brake return springs, star brake adjusting lever, etc., are pretty generic parts for most of the GM rear drum brakes. I think I just asked the counter person for a GM rear brake drum rebuilding kit and he handed me a bag containing all the springs and brake shoe retaining parts.

Rod

Anyone have any ideas on an 11-inch FRONT DRUM swap for early Chevelles?

I just read through this..

I have been trying to gather info. on the 11" drum front brakes used on the "rare as hen's teeth", BB, Z-16, '65 Chevelle b/c I figure it could be used for stock forged spindle equipped A/F/X bodied cars 11" front drum brake conversions!!

BUT no luck so far.. AND I've asked a lot of people over the years about it..

Seems the spindles are maybe one-off early '60's, big car spindles that are machined for the Chevelle's upper and lower ball-joints?????? But whether they are big car Chevy or from one of the other BOP big car's???

I wish that a Z-16 owner would chime in here with pic's and dimensions of one of the stock Z-16's spindles for us to finally figure out what spindle Chevy used to put the big car 11" drum brakes on the front of the forged spindle equipped Chevelle's...

pdq67