Rear Disc brake conversion.

[phantom dually]

I put disc brake on the rear of my 83 and thought since Ive seen a few post that someone might be interested. The brackets where purchased from a guy on EBAY. The calipers are for a 82-92 Camaro front and the rotors are for a Lincoln Continental 1978 I think. It was a pretty basic install. I did have to turn the rotors down about a 1/8" on a lathe but I only paid $20 to have it done. I pulled the calipers apart and smoothed them out a bit to make them look better. I did not want to pay $600 for a set of calipers as I am going for a clean look on a budget. I then had them powder coated.

[phantom dually]

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[phantom dually]

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[phantom dually]

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[N2TRUX]

They look awesome thats for sure. I have a couple (or 3)questions though.

1. How much are the brackets, and was it brackets or a template to make your own?

2. What size are the rotors?

3. Why does it use the single piston caliper, rather than the dual piston PBR caliper?

BTW-Did you compare the calipers to your stock front units? They look almost the same...

[phantom dually]

Brackets were about $70. That was for the brackets not a template. Also the rotors are like 12"?? I will measure tommorow. As far as the dual piston issue I really didnt see a point in putting dual setup on the rear with the front being single. At the time I just wanted rear disc!! You are right they do look alot alike but the front are slightly bigger. I also smoothed and coated them. I will try to dig up more specs if you want?? The brackets were made by a company called STEELTECH. I will try to find this guy on ebay!!

[N2TRUX]

I used a Stainless Steel brakes kit on my Blazer. When I bought the kit, it used a Lincoln Mark VII caliper. They have a built in E-brake, so it made a clean kit. They had a lot of problems with the calipers sticking, so they have changed the kit now.

The place where I bought my LS1 does a lot of Camaro/Firebird salvage, and has stacks of PBR calipers laying around. I plan to upgrade my brakes to larger rotors, with the cool dual piston ribbed PBR's.

Here's my rear now...

[Injected68LS1]

okay, i've got a rookie question here. What is a PBR caliper? All I can think of is "piston behind rotor". Thanks

[N2TRUX]

I have always known them as PBR's. I think it's the brand, and not the style, but I will research to verify that. Meanwhile, here's a pic of the type of caliper...

[Smooth68]

Originally posted by phantom dually
Brackets were about $70. That was for the brackets not a template. Also the rotors are like 12"?? I will measure tommorow. As far as the dual piston issue I really didnt see a point in putting dual setup on the rear with the front being single. At the time I just wanted rear disc!! You are right they do look alot alike but the front are slightly bigger. I also smoothed and coated them. I will try to dig up more specs if you want?? The brackets were made by a company called STEELTECH. I will try to find this guy on ebay!!

Couple more questions - Are your brackets bolted and/or welded? Did you drill out your rotors yourself? Looks good, thanks for the info.

[Shane]

I used rotors and calipers for a 1977 Cadillac Seville. The only mods for this, other than the brackets, were turning the large O.D. of the (the flange section of axle where the lugs go thru) and the center hub (the center section of the axle that protrudes thru the wheel once it is installed). Can't remember exactly how much I had to turn off of these sections, but it seems like it was only .020 - .025.

The one big down side to using the Caddy calipers is the price ... but the upside is they are set up to be used as an E-brake.

I did NOT have to do any turning, cutting or grinding on the rotors.

If anyone needs these mods done to their axles, let me know ... I can help ya out.

[slam33]

Shane, did you use the mounts/ backing plates too. I have the setup and am going to be doing the convertion.

[Shane]

I did indeed use the Caddy backing plates ... but is NOT a bolt on. The backing plate had to be bolted to the BACKSIDE of the axle flange in order for the caliper and rotor to have alignment. In order for this to take place, I had to "pie-cut" a section of the Caddy backing plate so it would slip over the axle tube. The bolt pattern also has to be redrilled in order for the Caddy backing plates to bolt up to the truck axle flange.

The mounting brackets are the biggest head-ache of this entire conversion. I would recommend buying these brackets, if they are available.

I am not happy with this setup and plan on making or purchasing a set of brackets in the future. The truck is not back on the road yet, so the brackets don't really have a high priority right now.

[slam33]

Shane, keep me informed on how yours is going. My truck is a daily driver, so I have to do the whole conversion in a weekend. If you have a pic of your backing plates, could you post it ?

[vycc]

how about it all in very simple parts list...brackets from where and for /from what(car make ), calipers from the camaro, rotors from what car, what size do they have to be.... i want to do this to me 81 GMC...thanks for all the info guys

[Shane]

rotors - 1976-1979 Cadillac Seville (5" x 5 bolt pattern)
calipers - same as above
brackets - make 'em, buy 'em, or modify the Caddy backing plates (see above post)

you will then need to find a master cyclinder AND proportioning valve for a 4 wheel disk vehicle of same approximate weight. You will also have to have your axle hubs machined to accept the rotors.

[vycc]

THE BRACKETS.... where to buy them??? how do you ask for them??? do they have the brackets for my truck???or is it off another vehicle??? thanks for your help

[slam33]

the car and truck shop in Orange Ca. has a 4whl disc prop valve

[68_c10_on20s]

Hey guys does the master cy. have to replaced or just add a prop valve?what about any booster problems and lastly how does the old manual e-brake cable bolt up and work the calipers ive never really noticed on a car with rear disk,ooops one more is there a need for a dust shield or is it just upto the person? i know this seems like alot of work but cant be anyworse than my front end deal and im sure it will be alot cheaper than the kit...

[Shane]

OK ... since I HAVE already done this conversion, here is my take on things.

If you aren't a machinist or if you don't have access to a small lathe and knee mill then BUY A KIT!

It's only a small amount more money once you consider having all the machine work done.

[68_c10_on20s]

ok Shane what is the hardest thing about the conversion the brackets,we happen to have a 2500 sq ft machine shop at my work and me and the maintence guys are pretty close and another plus is i work nights so all the big bosses are gone,ive had them machine all kinds of stuff for me, maybe if one you guys have done this conversion and have made your own brackets and would like to share dimensions it would help out,also i see alot of guys here are doing this on a 73-87 model which i assume is a 10 bolt,would there be any diffrence in a 12 bolt......Steve

[Shane]

1.) you will have to re-drill the mounting bolt holes in the Caddy backing plate

2.) you will have to "pie cut" the backing plate so it will mount on the BACK SIDE of the axle housing flange. The backing plate will bolt on the front, but the rotors and calipers WILL NOT line up that way ... thats why you have to mount the plates to the back side of axle flange.

3.) you will have to turn the axle lug flange and the center hub of the axle down in order for the rotors to fit. I would suggest buying your rotors FIRST! That way, you can fit the rotors to the axle.

[slam33]

My thinking is, since I don't have a lathe, is to spin the axles in the housing, just drop it into 1st, then use a grinder to take down the flange. Seems like a lot but it should work. The plates should be easy to do, make a templet of the flange, fill the holes on the plates and then redrill them. Then use a cutoff wheel to cut out the pie. My plates are the ones that mount the caliper on the pass side rearward and the driver side forward.