Thread: drum to disc brakes

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what year car or truck can I use ti switch my 62 impala to disc brakes instead of costly kits?????

Looks like your gonna have to swap out your spindles:

1967 was the first year for disc brakes but they used dual piston calipers, 1968 was the last year of the dual piston caliper. 1969-74 all used the improved design single piston caliper. All disc brake conversions use the improved single piston caliper. These disc brake conversions will fit all the 64-72 GM A-body Cars. This includes: 64-72 GTO, Lemans, Tempest, Chevelle, Elcamino, Monte Carlo, Skylark, Grand Sport, Cutlass, 442, F-85. These sets will also fit all 67-69 F-body and 68-74 X-body cars. This includes Camaro, Firebird, Trans Am, Nova, Ventura - GTO, Appolo, Omega.

Originally posted by Road Agent
Break down and BUY the kit!! After you search high and low the for OEM GM stuff and then buy all new bearings and what not, you 'll be way ahead of the game!

Your probably right but I've sunk a ton of money into yhis now.Unfortuanetly my father bought this car for me 15 years ago and just started it 2 years ago.

Like i've said in other post's once you have converted to disc brakes,,be aware that your stock rims may not fit over the brake calipers,,,and if you do try you may find your front wheels jammed solid.
You could always go to an auto wrecker and pull the entire control arm/to wheel combination of any late seventies full size chevy ( watch your tie rod position )from thereon in,,,, your in fabrication city.

It can be more than a little pricey to go with a complete disc brake conversion from the various suppliers however there are a lot cheaper alternatives.

The junk yard is not necessarily the best way to go. IF there is a bolt on replacement for your car (most do require a little tweaking) it is still not always the cheap way to go. Other than the spindles almost everything you drag home will need to be redone or replaced. While the spindles can be used the rotors will need to be resurfaced, calipers should be rebuilt, bearings and seals should be replaced along with the hoses. Additionally when ever you change major steering components such as spindles you should really have the front end realigned.

Generally when you buy the basic disc brake conversion kit from a supplier (around $200) you will also get a complete parts list of the rest of the parts needed.

Within the last 6 months I did a Disc brake conversions on my 57 Plymouth and a friends 63 Ford (Haven't done a Chevy lately but the cost will be about the same). The additional parts I need for the swaps included, new rotors, new bearings and seals, new steel brake lines, rebuilt calipers, small hardware kits, new rubber brake hoses and rebuilt master cylinder. By shopping around total cost for the parts (including core charges) was right at another $300 and in the case of the calipers and master cylinder I have a life time warranty that can be dealt with locally if needed. So basically for $500 I have the same thing that would have cost me $1000-1200 had I bought the vendors deluxe kit. Additionally I have new/rebuilt parts as opposed to used parts that have who knows how many miles/years on them.

And as Thunderbucket says, you will have to have wheels that are disc brake compatable.

My Wilwood Disc conversion kit just arrived today. It includes aluminum hubs. Are steel wheels generally compatible with Discs and aluminum hubs? The wheels are 15X7 with 2 3/8 inch backset.

I found an important part of the answer to the above question. The aluminum Wilwood hubs are not to be used with stamped steel wheels, unless a protective steel wheel shield is installed.
As for clearance, I'll find that out when the wheels are ready to go on.

Originally posted by 3deuces
what year car or truck can I use ti switch my 62 impala to disc brakes instead of costly kits?????

The reason all these brake companys make so much money is because we dont take the time to figure these thing out.
You can use the stock spindles off your 62.

Some part numbers for you
#5519 rotor ---use all related bearings and seals
C116 & C117 calipers
The brakes and rotors and calipers off anything like a 77 monte carlo,malibu,cutlass Impala will work on your spindles.
I paid $150 to have my brackets made --- I think that was too much. You should be able to do better.
There are several GM power brake booster& master cylinders that you can use.You can buy the brackets and rod extension from HotRodsUSA ---1-888-875moon, or -www.HotRodsUSA.com or you can buy the Gm booster,master cylinder,brackets and rod extension for $179.00
look on page 114 of the May issue of Super Chevy.For $110.00 You can purchase their basic bracket kit and hardware. The part numbers I gave you will not work with these brackets but if you just buy the bracket kit you can go to Advance or Autozone and get the rest or you might find good parts at some wrecking yards.You dont have to have power brakes but you do need a good dual master cylinder. Good Luck!

I forgot to tell you you will need to mount the brakes inboard and to the rear so you will not have any wheel problems