Anybody want to provide a parts list (including P/N's and est. cost if possible) to do a stock height front disc brake conversion for a 67 (or other years/models). Seems that many folks imply it's easy and cheaper to just go to NAPA or elsewhere and buy the parts to assemble your own "kit".

Some of us that want to do a conversion could use this type of list, especially if it'll save us a few hundred bucks. Right now it seems that for some of us we only have 2 choices, pre-assembled kits or junkyard parts. This could be a 3rd, middle of the road, option.

Maybe someone would like to do a write up for the tech forum, similar to the write ups on alternator, or tall spindle conversions, etc. How about one for a vanilla front disc brake upgrade from stock front drums. I'm sure those of you that have already done this have the info available. Maybe you could share your knowledge and experience.

Or has it been already provided and I've just missed it smile.gif

The NAPA course is only to replace the worn out parts that you'd have to do (probably) from a junk yard anyhow. Imagine, if you will, going to a junk yard and getting the both front spindle assemblies. Cool!! And only $300!! Now, you get it home and find that both rotors have huge grooves in them from someone running the pads to far. No problem, off to the machine shop to have them turned. Nope, the machinist tells you that they have been turned peviously and are at their minimum thicknes. Crap, new rotors, at $50/ea. (If I remember correctly) Now it's time for the calipers. What? The inside of the piston cavity is full of rust and the piston is pitted? Well, for about $20/ea you can get remanufactured calipers, stuffed and complete. So, now you've spent $300 on a set of spindles, caliper brackets and dust sheilds. Not such a good deal!! Do yourself a favor, go to our sponsor and buy the $269 Disk brake mini kit and go to Napa and ask for rotors and loaded calipers for a ummmm.. 69 Chevelle... yeah, that ought to do it. While you re there get bearings, seals and nut kit as well as caliper bolts. Sorry. no part numbers. To save a few bucks, you could modify your spindles and run without dust sheilds. Just some ideas!!

Hope this helps!!

Cam

Originally posted by Cam Sweet:
The NAPA course is only to replace the worn out parts that you'd have to do (probably) from a junk yard anyhow. Imagine, if you will, going to a junk yard and getting the both front spindle assemblies. Cool!! And only $300!! Now, you get it home and find that both rotors have huge grooves in them from someone running the pads to far. No problem, off to the machine shop to have them turned. Nope, the machinist tells you that they have been turned peviously and are at their minimum thicknes. Crap, new rotors, at $50/ea. (If I remember correctly) Now it's time for the calipers. What? The inside of the piston cavity is full of rust and the piston is pitted? Well, for about $20/ea you can get remanufactured calipers, stuffed and complete. So, now you've spent $300 on a set of spindles, caliper brackets and dust sheilds. Not such a good deal!! Do yourself a favor, go to our sponsor and buy the $269 Disk brake mini kit and go to Napa and ask for rotors and loaded calipers for a ummmm.. 69 Chevelle... yeah, that ought to do it. While you re there get bearings, seals and nut kit as well as caliper bolts. Sorry. no part numbers. To save a few bucks, you could modify your spindles and run without dust sheilds. Just some ideas!!

Hope this helps!!

Cam A good plan. But, $300 for yanking spindles from a yard is insane! I think I got my b-body spindles, backing plates all in one chunk for less than 50 bucks.

in any case, I think for ease of install and all that good stuff a mini kit would be easiest. You might save a few on the parts and all by going the yard route but its made up in time spent. Especially when its all there and all correct. All you have to do is the install. If I were going that route, I would do as Cam suggested. Just less of a pain.

ok guys, that's a good start. thanks

I remember reading that your stock 67 drum brake spindles can be modified (machined mounting holes)then you would add these
http://www.yearone.com/serverfiles/fbshopmain2.asp?cat=0
to use the stock style single piston calipers.You would also need new rotors,bearings,pads,calipers and hoses.

Tried to get a pic from yearone website but it wouldn,t show.Looks like ground up has the best price on caliper brackets anyway. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Thanks John. Since I have some unexpected cash outlays, looks I'll be "building" my own kit.

I'll check OPG for the brackets and go from there.

I have another set of spindles to do one of these day and have entertained the thought of documenting the process. When using pre-69 spindles, you'll have to drill out the pivot boss and retap. 69 and later spindles are already the right size/thread, just not deep enough. Also the bottom steering arm caliper mount bolt size on pre-69 spindles is smaller. I agonized about shimming up the hole in the caliper bracket or drilling out the steering arm and spindle. Because the spindle seems to have a little less "meat" there, I opted to shim up the hole in the caliper bracket.

Cam

I modified several sets of drum spindles to use for disc conversions very quick and easy took less than 1 hour to do both. I am thinking about collecting a bunch converting them and selling em on ebay. I think anyone on here could do the mod fairly easily. Just a thought

herb, you could have your spindles milled down on the one boss and buy these
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4526322781&category=34199
then everything else is a napa part. i have a complete set of disc brakes on a 72 i'm going to be pulling soon. just mentioning it.

Pete,

YGM

/h

Originally posted by smittyocat:
I modified several sets of drum spindles to use for disc conversions very quick and easy took less than 1 hour to do both. I am thinking about collecting a bunch converting them and selling em on ebay. I think anyone on here could do the mod fairly easily. Just a thought Got any pictures of that mod?

I took mine out of a 78 olds cutlass. I had to have the ball joint holes reamed to fit the chevelle joints (and the tie rod end holes). with all new parts I think it came to about 350 bucks. this was about 5 years ago.

Originally posted by smittyocat:
I modified several sets of drum spindles to use for disc conversions very quick and easy took less than 1 hour to do both. I am thinking about collecting a bunch converting them and selling em on ebay. I think anyone on here could do the mod fairly easily. Just a thought i have done it many times. early nova spindles too.

I've been calling around Sacramento Recyclers looking for spindles to convert my 72 front disc brakes to 12" discs and havent had much luck finding any readily available.

However today this guy "Fred" that all the recyclers seemed to know about and recommend told me he knew exactly where to find a blue b-body wagon at pick-n-pull...after he explained to me that they would never work and would cost me $5,000 to buy a-arms and other parts required to fit them onto my Chevelle.

Off to Pick-n-Pull I go!

This is what I'm ordering. What do you guys think.

http://www.performancesuspension.com/discbrakegmft.html

Why not just pick up the 98+ f body brakes (usually about $150 on E bay), get the brackets to adapt them to your Drum spindles for about $60 (Brackets work after slight machine work to the spindle and hub), and use them? They are 12" rotors and dual piston calipers.
[Will not work with 15" rally wheels]

Hey Guys,

I've been digging into this brake kit thing for many weeks. As you know, I've been driving you guys crazy with this subject. Hre's what I've found.

There are MANY sources for the same stuff. That means the demand is high and so are the margins. (BTW - I have no problem with anybody making a fair and reasonable profit. It's called business and I'm all for it.)

Here's where I've found the best deal yet. E-mail him and ask for a quote. He's beat everyone else on price. His complete bolt-on kit price, including fully loaded new spindles, hoses, MC, booster and combo valve is very nearly the same as the cost to build up a set myself from bare spindles.

He sells on e-bay too but you can go direct to him at:
ride34@aol.com
for the best prices.

Here''s one of his ebay deals:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33564&item=7953428141&rd=1

His direct quote was lower.

/herb