Rear Disc Conversion How to

[monzaman69]

One of the guys from V8 monza created this, and I can't for the life of me remember who... But, Seeing ezboard probably dumped it out a while ago, I'll repost it here (hosted on my server for ease of download)

http://adambrisebois.ehost.com/hbody/reardisc.zip

It's quite a good How-to, includes a list of everything you'll need.

And if any of you remember who put this together, please post here so I can give proper credit.

Later,

Adam

[res0o7eb]

Before I saw this post just now, I sent an email to Scarebird Mechanical asking if their rear disc brake brackets for the S-10 would work on a 76-80 H-body 7.5 GM rear-end. Response was, "it could".

Here's a link to the installation instructions from Scarebird Mechanical website:
http://www.scarebird.com/12802/13701.html

Because I sheered off the wheel studs on the drivers side axle when the wheel let go while towing my 1977 Sunbird home, I decided to do a 5-lug axle swap. I am using S-10 axles from Randy's Ring & Pinion.
http://www.ringpinion.com/content/produ ... id=4&pid=0
Part No. : YA G14030355
Description : 7.5" S10 26SPL, 90&DWN, 2WD AXLE 26-7/8", GM
These are a little longer than the standard S-10 axles (26.875 vs. 26.563). Not sure if they will work. But, according to this rear disc conversion instructions in the zip file, longer is better.

BTW, Randy's is located about a mile from me and Scarebird is just a few miles further. I like supporting local businesses.

Anybody else tried this or any other (Wilwood, etc.) rear-disc brake conversion? Submit pictures.

Are brakes considered suspension or should this be posted in driveline?

[res0o7eb]

Pictures of an installation using custom made caliper brackets built by Scarebird for a fellow H-Body enthusiast.

[ColinOpseth]

That's very innovative.. i like that..

[NixVegaGT]

On the source of the How-to. The pix look like Reid's car... He was really good at documenting his work on the frame rails he fabricated. My bet is it is him.

Great post, Tom.

[wootz]

Wow, funny I came up with almost the same solution trying to solve my rear brake dilemma. My '73 Vega has a custom Ford 9" with small Ford-type housing ends. I knew I wanted to have rear disc brakes, but I was having some trouble finding an inexpensive set that fit the small Ford housing end and had parking brakes.

I found this company searching on ebay: http://www.steeltechsolutions.com/

They sell the brackets for just about any housing type for ~$100 or an entire disc brake kit for ~$500. The parts used are pretty much the same those in the write-up above (although 1979-1981 Pontiac Firebird rotors are recommended for use with a 5x4.75" bolt circle and 2.5" brakespace offset). My brackets came in the mail yesterday, and they look pretty beefy, made out of 3/8" steel. I am going to source the rest of the parts this weekend. I'll be sure to take some pics and let you guys know how it goes.

[vega_man_larry]

The problem with rear disc brakes is finding the calipers that have an integral parking brake. I wound up using kit brackets that were set up for '81 ish Caddy Eldo calipers. I checked with my local discount auto parts store and learned that the cores are $100 EACH!!! So eating a $200 core charge was out of the question (popularity of a swap caliper driving prices up I'm sure). It took 2 months to locate the correct car in a U-Pull-It lot. I got the calipers for $40, and traded them in on rebuilts. I had one rebuilt leak when I fried an axle bearing (heat killed the seals) and had to replace it again. I also had to go to LONGER brake cables. I wound up using a repair kit I bought at PepBoys in the help section. This gave me the inner cable, and I custom made the outer sheath. I have emergency brakes which are required in most states for a street car.

Larry

[peterpan]

what about 80 trans am rear calipers they are listed on cskauto.com for $103.00 loadedcalipers

[barebonesracecars]

Yeah, the picture set Adam posted is mine.

The other pictures posted after that are, I believe, the custom brackets Scarebird Mechanical (Mark Janus) fabricated for Dick (hammerdown).

My brackets are Scarebird's, but are highly modified, S-10 pieces. They use Cadillac rear discs with the integral parking brake that VegaManLarry mentioned...and no, they aren't cheap! I bought mine brand new for $180/pr.

Contact Mark at Scarebird and see if he's made more of the H-body brackets. Dick and I both worked with him to see if he would build some. I believe he went out and bought an H-body rear to do it.

The stock cables, as Larry also mentioned, will no longer work. I had a stainless set made by Inline Tube (about $170). They run up and over the axle, and down into the caliper bracket. I gave them the dimensions, so I doubt they have these made up. But they will make pretty much whatever you want.

Using the Cadillac rear rotors and S-10 fronts, you now end up with all 4 being the same size....really more rear brake than you need. Just install a Wilwood or Speedway proportioning valve.

Both Mark at Scarebird and Inline Tube are good people to deal with.

[75TC]

well I went ahead and printed out that how-to. Definitely a thumbs up on the process for whoever wrote it.

[Caveman]

I like the custom made caliper brackets good penetration on the welds res0o7eb.

[res0o7eb]

I like the custom made caliper brackets good penetration on the welds res0o7eb.

I can't take credit for it.
Hammerdown sent me the pics from someone else's setup. I don't know if these were done by a himself or a supplier.
Yeah, I hope to put down some good welds someday.