I'm seriously considering swapping on some rear disc brakes. I've seen the Camaro setup and have talked very briefly with a guy who says he put them on his '72 Chevelle. It looks like this setup is both cheap and fairly easy to install.

I know that the axle flange and pilot need to be turned, but that's not much of an issue for me, because I've got the rear end in the shop right now to have it rebuilt, and I can have them do that along the way.

What needs to be done with the master cylinder? I've currently got four wheel drums, but already have the parts for the power front disc conversion off of an early 70s Chevelle, so could I just use the (slightly) later master cylinder?

Having the rear in the shop is putting me in a bit of a time crunch here, so I'd appreciate any info as quickly as possible. I'm trying to get back to the track before the season ends in our wintry wonderland of the Midwest!

I'm adding '85 camaro rear disc's to my '65. I'm not finished yet, but here's where I'm at:

Turn axle to fit inside the hat on the rotor. Redrill LH backing plate to keep bleeder pointed up. For whatever reason the LH caliper needed to be rotated slightly. The LH side camaro parking brake cable fit correctly. The RH side cable is too long, I believe I can shorten it and reweld the end. Right now I'm waiting for parts from inline tube....SS flex lines, banjo fittings and weld on tabs that will mount the fitting that ties the flex line to the hard line on the rear axle tubes.

You need a master cylinder that holds equal volume in the front and rear reservoirs. The drum/drum m.cyl won't work. A 68-69 corvette master will probably work. You'll also need the correct combination valve for disc/disc setup.

Okay, I understand the backing plate operation. I have seen a picture of that and the axle work.

I *think* I understand the emergency brake cable issue. Are you talking about the nub at the end that goes into the caliper? Can you then connect it to the remainder of the factory e-brake setup?

Now, for these Inline Tube parts, are they all required to be custom made, or can you source them from off the shelf? What are these weld on tabs, and what do they weld on to?

I have heard about the use of the Corvette MC. Is that available from a standard parts store? Can it be used with power brakes, or is it a manual-only MC? (I don't know if that makes a difference or not.)

From what can I source the correction combination valve? From the same year Corvette?

My apologies for all the questions. I'm just trying to get all the facts down. Thanks for the help so far.

Q: I *think* I understand the emergency brake cable issue. Are you talking about the nub at the end that goes into the caliper? Can you then connect it to the remainder of the factory e-brake setup?

A: yes the 'nub', except at the other end of the cable. i'm going to leave the end at the caliper just like it is and shorten the end where it attaches to the frame.

Q: Now, for these Inline Tube parts, are they all required to be custom made, or can you source them from off the shelf? What are these weld on tabs, and what do they weld on to?

A: these parts are off the shelf. look at this web page brake line parts (http://www.heidts.com/heip31.htm) check out pn LK-007. weld the tabs to the axle housing, it provides a point where the flex lines attach to the hard lines. w/o them they'd be flopping all over the place. banjo fitting to #3AN on the caliper, SS flex hose from the banjo fitting to the fitting in pn LK-007. then the hard line on the rear connects to the other side.

Q: I have heard about the use of the Corvette MC. Is that available from a standard parts store? Can it be used with power brakes, or is it a manual-only MC? (I don't know if that makes a difference or not.)

A: the corvette mc should be available at most part stores. order it for power brakes if that's what you're using (1.125" dia piston) for power or 1" for manual.

Q: From what can I source the correction combination valve? From the same year Corvette?

A: the corvette weight distribution is different from a chevelle, the valve might not work right. i'm planning on using a 50/50 distribution combo valve from inline tube then running an adjustable valve in the rear line for any compensation.


no need to apologize. i've been digging into this stuff trying to get mine right. i think i'm almost there - hey.......and if anyone sees something wrong with what i'm planning to do please set me straight!

My apologies for all the questions. I'm just trying to get all the facts down. Thanks for the help so far. [/QB][/QUOTE]

A: yes the 'nub', except at the other end of the cable. i'm going to leave the end at the caliper just like it is and shorten the end where it attaches to the frame.

Response/Question: Okay, I get which end, but you lost me with "where it attaches to the frame." My stock setup just has the long steel cable that goes to the bracket about the middle of the vehicle. Does the Camaro one get routed to the frame at some point?

A: these parts are off the shelf. look at this web page brake line parts check out pn LK-007. weld the tabs to the axle housing, it provides a point where the flex lines attach to the hard lines. banjo fitting to #3AN on the caliper, SS flex hose from the banjo fitting to the fitting in pn LK-007. then the hard line on the rear connects to the other side.

Response/Question: I looked at the web site and checked out the part. I get the basic idea. It's sort of like a bulkhead fitting and bracket, correct? I guess my only question on this is, what's up with the line you are describing that goes between the bracket fitting and the caliper? It sounds like that is a custom piece. I'm wondering if there isn't a factory line that you can get for that.

I was just doing more reading on this topic, and it was one of your earlier posts. Sounds like you've put quite a bit of time into this!
Thanks again.

Response/Question: Okay, I get which end, but you lost me with "where it attaches to the frame." My stock setup just has the long steel cable that goes to the bracket about the middle of the vehicle. Does the Camaro one get routed to the frame at some point?

A: the ebrake cables on the chevelle normally leave the drum backing plate and got about 2 feet towards the front and snap into their mount above the lower control mounting point. this is the end of the ebrake cable that i'm going to shorten for the RH side.

Response/Question: I looked at the web site and checked out the part. I get the basic idea. It's sort of like a bulkhead fitting and bracket, correct? I guess my only question on this is, what's up with the line you are describing that goes between the bracket fitting and the caliper? It sounds like that is a custom piece. I'm wondering if there isn't a factory line that you can get for that.

A: it's just an off the shelf 16" SS flex line with #3AN female swivels at both ends. on the 85 camaro (factory design), the RH caliper uses a rubber flex line. on the LH side the hard line was plumbed directly into the caliper. there wasn't enough room for a flex line because the ebrake cable was in the way. i mocked up a flex line on the LH side and was able to make it fit. i just decided to order 2 SS flex lines and keep both sides looking the same.

It will probably be 3-5 more days before my parts arrive from inline tube. i'll try and remember to post whether or not it all fits. maybe even some pictures. something i forgot to mention, the stock wheel studs are too short to mount TT2 wheels probably due to the rotor thickness compared to the drum. Good luck with your swap.

- jeff

Tom,
I beleive the 69 Chevelle master is the same as the Corvette master. http://www.yearone.com/serverfiles/fbshopmain2.asp?cat=0

John,

I'll check those MCs and see what I come up with. That'd be great, as I already have a '69 type MC.

Jeff,
Forgive me, but I don't know what TT2 wheels are. Could you elaborate? How much longer do I need to make my studs? I'm going to be ordering new axles next week, so it would be most prudent to get the correct studs in place at that time! Saves some money, lots of time, and a few cuss words.

Originally posted by TH:
John,

american racing Torque Thrust II wheels. I'm not sure of the length for the wheel stud. i borrowed some 17x9.5's and the acorn style lugs would just snug it up enough to set the car on the ground. not nearly enough to drive safely. like i said, i haven't measured - probably need a min of 3/8 no more than 1/2 longer.


I'll check those MCs and see what I come up with. That'd be great, as I already have a '69 type MC.

Jeff,
Forgive me, but I don't know what TT2 wheels are. Could you elaborate? How much longer do I need to make my studs? I'm going to be ordering new axles next week, so it would be most prudent to get the correct studs in place at that time! Saves some money, lots of time, and a few cuss words.

I would NOT expect a master cylinder set up for drum brakes to work with discs.

I'd expect the discs to drag because of the residual pressure check valve.

I may have missed something, but I don't think we were speaking about using a drum MC. Although I currently have drum brakes all the way around, I have a complete front disc setup on the shelf waiting to be installed. The MC I was referring to in my post above is for the front disc setup.

Originally posted by 71350ss:
Tom,
I beleive the 69 Chevelle master is the same as the Corvette master. http://www.yearone.com/serverfiles/fbshopmain2.asp?cat=0 Could you elaborate on that a little? I've looked and don't see where you're getting that info from. Although, I have looked at one of the vette parts sites, and it doesn't look like the Vette MCs are any different from the Chevelle MCs from '71 and up. They both have 1 1/8" bores. The reservoirs look to be the same size, but that's only eyeballing it from a picture. The later MCs from '77 to '82 show an MC that has reservoirs for the front and rear that appear to have equal capacity.

Originally posted by TH:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by 71350ss:
Tom,
I beleive the 69 Chevelle master is the same as the Corvette master. http://www.yearone.com/serverfiles/fbshopmain2.asp?cat=0 Could you elaborate on that a little? I've looked and don't see where you're getting that info from. Although, I have looked at one of the vette parts sites, and it doesn't look like the Vette MCs are any different from the Chevelle MCs from '71 and up. They both have 1 1/8" bores. The reservoirs look to be the same size, but that's only eyeballing it from a picture. The later MCs from '77 to '82 show an MC that has reservoirs for the front and rear that appear to have equal capacity. </font>[/QUOTE]Tom,
I'm sorry I had forgotten about this post,I get busy and forget lots of important stuff.In researching to do a future 4 wheel disc swap,I had read about them being the same and did some checking to verify this but FORGOT where I put it.
But I remembered checking the napa website.I found this...
http://www.napaonline.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/OrderItemDisplay?Krypto=f%2B0U6lR2e%2BlG7pghOV3hZA %3D%3D
69 chevelle with disc brakes is the only year that shares this master with the vette.I beleive thats why the 69 DISC brake chevelle gets a seperate listing in the resto cats.On the napa page I looked up 69 vette and then 69 chevelle and came up with the exact same info.I hope I didn,t pass some bogus info on to you,if I did it wasn't done intentionally.