Just got my 1966 Chevelle SS and was wondering if anyone could give me a ballpark estimate (parts and labor) to convert front drum to disk brakes?
Don't have time to do it myself.

To many variables . . . do you want 4 wheel discs or just in the front? What size (12" front 11" rear)? New kit or reman parts from other applications?

It pretty much depends on what you want, just like anything else you can go from mild to wild!

No idea about labor cost (sorry).

I would assume a ballpark figure of $1000+.

This would be based on one of the "new" systems you see in magazines and catlogues. Probably the cheapest system (~$700 for parts).

You could piece together a system for less, but I doubt a shop is going to want the liability of "piecing" together a brake system...

Of course better brake setups will cost more...


Likely you will need a suspension rebuild too, thats extra (~$400+)... Afterall, its a 38 year old car. Even if its been rebuilt before, still if you have to remove the spindles, that might mess up the balljoints... Again, liability-wise, the shop might want to replace those (or maybe just your choice).

Will your current wheels fit disc brakes behind them? Stock 66 wheels won't... So that means new wheels (tires too?) might be needed...

So for a shop to do the swap, you are probably looking at at least $1000, but likely it can go much higher...

Its nice to have the dual reservoir master cylinder, but there are new drum brake shoes that are better than the old stuff... Maybe think about Praise Dyno brakes...

depending on what you want for your car... Drum brakes would help keep originallity...