OK, Got my first Chevelle (1970) a few months ago. I have done just about all the maintenance I can except for the brakes. I have drum brakes all the way around. Now, in the past with my other vehicles having rotors, I could tell when the pads needed to be changed due to the indicator on the pads. Is there a way I can tell when it is time for new shoes for my Chevelle? ie is there an indicator on drum brakes? Thanks for all tips and responses!!!!!

dsmith
sometimes you can look through the ajusting hole.but you cant see much.i would make it a point to check them by taking off the drums
from time to time. maybe when you rotate your tires,or change oil or something.put it in your maitanence program.you dont want them burning down to the rivits or metal.
67rat member #199

Front drums are really lame for serious driving. You should consider a front disc swap. PST or other companies offer complete swap kits for your car. That kit runs for $829 not cheap. I have many steep hills where I live and used to have a 74 Omega (Oldsmovova) with a rocket 350 and unfinned front drums. I was ready to Shi* my pants many times with that car by the time I got to the bottom of the hill.
If you need to keep the front drums, first make sure the adjusting stars work properly. (Same on front and back drums) This weird looking thing that pushes out the bottom of the drum shoes. These tend to freeze on the threads or the pivot. There is a self adjust mechanisim which pushes on the star and slowly pushes the shoes closer to the drums. Next try to find semi metalic shoes for the front, this will help.
Always use new springs with new shoes, only do one side at a time. If you have never worked on drum brakes it will seem confusing at first.
Good luck

Frank

------------------

ok I got a question. I already have power brakes but with drums. All the kits I have seen sell the booster and all. I don't need all of that right? What do I acctually need?
Thanks!

-Slim

------------------
http://members.xoom.com/BigBoySlim/index.htm

Slim You need it all. The disc booster is different, I'm not real sure why, but if you do a site search for booster or disk brakes you will find why. Its been discussed in the passed.

------------------
Rick Schaefer
72 El Camino
TPI 350/700r4
Aces #00140
TEAM CHEVELLE #00038
NCOA #16197

The cost of an aftermarket drum to disk conversion is outragous. Call a place like Sundell Auto in Splippery Rock, Pa. (thats where I get most of my used and sometimes new stuff - or Ted Williams Enterprises in Lisbon, Ohio for repro and NOS). See if they have spindles and good rotors. You should buy the master cylinder and booster new. You'll need a proportioning valve and most likely new hoses to go to the valve and master cylinder. Buying good used spindles and rotor cans save you some money.

No, you can't use the drum power brake setup. In the old days, just about every car took about a half city block to stop. Now they all stop on a dime. If you still have drums all around my advice is to give the guy in front of you TWICE the normal distance!

I was quite suprized when I got out my PST catalog to quote the actual price for the disc conversion. It is all new stuff though.
I am all for doing the conversion from junkyard parts. Both of the Chevelles I have had already had front discs, all 73's and up had front disc's so that is one nice thing about those cars, my first car was a tremendously beat 72 Malibu 350. The stock front disc's from that car would have been a good score in the junkyard, but 15 years ago rotors and calipers were hard to come by at the local parts store. I sold that car for $65 for a $15 profit!!
I believe you would want 68-74 Nova spindles, I don't think the 73 up spindles would fit right. You will need a power disc booster and probably the pedal bracket as well. When I converted the 73 to power brakes, I needed a longer pedal arm and had to move it to another slot in the bracket so I got a bracket and pedal out of a 74 Monte. The proportioning valve and front rubber and steel lines will need to go as well
I think these projects are more fun if you scrounge for the parts insead of forking out $900 for all new parts.

Frank

------------------

DSmith, The answer to your question is: (and I won't try and sell you a upgrade on your brakes) the only way to check the lining is to remove the drums.

IF YOU CAN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION, DON'T POST.

------------------
ACES #2637
TEAM CHEVELLE #69