Later brake upgrade

[steelhead]

My 75 needs new brakes, so I want to upgrade to the bigger brakes. Seems easy enough, but read somewhere about the front brake lines being different.
Is there anything anyone can clue me in on ahead of time to make it smoother
Lanse

[greg72]

When I changed over the front brakes of my 72 Vega , I just used the front rotors (vented) and calipers from a 77 Monza . I did not make any other changes.

Earlier I had already swapped in a 77 7.5 rear. That swap did require welding rear upper control arm brackets onto the rear end...but other than that the complete swap was bolt in....same brake lines front and rear.

I drove it like that for at least 4 years, no problems.

[cjbiagi]

I upgraded my 75 to later Monza vented rotors and bigger calipers as well as the later 9.5 x 2" rear drums. I just used Monza parts but there was a slight change after 77 I think. They went to metric banjo bolts on the calipers. I did have to slightly modify my frame bracket because the new hose would not index correctly in it. I think I used 78 or 79 parts, I would try 76 or 77 parts, they might be better. Other folks upgrade to the S-10 front spindle and brakes which also gives them 5 lug rotors. It all depends what you want.

[steelhead]

Clyde might be on it, found what I was thinking of
76 orange manual says changes for 76
front brake lines are keyed to brackets and have an offset fitting at the caliper end
have been removing the newer stuff so I haven't looked at the 75 to see the difference, was hoping someone could remember
Also in the FAQs it says to change the spindle too, is that true?

[cjbiagi]

I forget that I did also change the spindles. I have heard some people say that they kept the originals ones, but I think there is a slight offset difference because of the thicker rotor. Maybe it's not enough to make a difference?

[hammerdown7]

I've done it both ways, changed the front spindles for vented rotors and used the non-vented spindles. It depends on the casting, I had very minor scraping on the non-vented spindle when I put the vented rotor on, just a little grinding and they worked fine.
Dick

[greg72]

when I did mine i did not change the spindle. I used the non-vented (72 Vega) spindle with the vented (77 Monza) rotor.

I did not have any grinding issues. But as we all know the manufacturing tolerances during this time period were not all that tight. So your experience may vary.

[jon72vega]

I put the vented monza rotors on stock 72 spindles, & had to do minor grinding on the spindles, & a little hammer work on the dust shields.

[steelhead]

Well I got everything removed from the parts car. I'm going to try just installing on the 75 spindles.The only difference I can see is the ears where the caliper sits look thicker on the 76 so I'm guessin use the older pins so the spacings right. Don't know if I can get to it today, but I'm goin to try.

[res0o7eb]

Lanse,
Post some pics of these side-by-side if you can.

[Todd TCE]

Because I have some "connections" I plan to update the fronts on the Mirage as well as fit discs to the rear. I don't know if anyone else is interested in this but as things progress I'll keep you posted on the results.

[spyder_xlch]

We are always interested in upgrades and projects. Start a thread in the project journal for us.

[steelhead]

finally got time, seems like everything works good, no grinding needed but I did need to change the dust shields and used the smaller gapped plastic bushings on the pins. have'nt bled it yet though but the pedals way up and feels way different.
ON TO THE BACKS
oh ya Tom wants pics
you can notice the different size ears on the spindles, and the back of the hub are alittle different so you can see the need to switch dust covers as the newer is set back around the disk

[Todd TCE]

fihave'nt bled it yet though but the pedals way up and feels way different.

What's the piston size on this vs the stock caliper? You may have some further issues.

[steelhead]

its the 76 and later, bigger brakes put on a 75 Monza that had the smaller stuff.I don't think the master cylinder changed, but the prop valve changed.
But now that there bled,took it for a spin and seems almost effortless compared with before and quick stops seem much shorter, noticible difference and the backs are still to go!