Anyone ever done one? Just picked up a 53 Two-Ten, and it's apparent that the brakes are going to need a complete overhaul. Is there anything more common (talking about hunting through salvage yards, etc.) in a disc setup that could be modified to fit without needing an engineering degree? I'm cool with some fabrication, mild to wild, but I'd like a reasonable place to start. I figure, as long as it needs brakes anyway... Is it even FEASIBLE?
Haven't done it myself but be prepared to put in a dual-chamber master cylinder. I believe there is a kit out there to modify your stock one or you'll need to do some modifications. Personally I think the stock drum set up is fine when working correctly. ~ Carl
http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/s.../2175532/hl/disk+brakes/fromsearch/1/#2175532 http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/151502/ ...a couple related links form the ChevyTalk boys. ~ Carl
Probably not the easiest thing to find anymore but 1970 (69?) Impalas used a 2 piece rotor that you could remove the rotor from the hub and install on the 53-54 hub. You'd have to create your own caliper brackets but if you can find the parts it would be low budget. I've got three cars done this way, 39 and 37 Chevys with beam axles and a 39 with the independent, all of which have the 53-54 hubs on them. Been on the road since late 70's early 80's with no problems.
AWESOME. Thank you ALL for your links and suggestions. I've got something to hunt for myself for a change! Oh, and I can find a 69-70 Impala pretty easily. I know where there are two. I'm going to check out those rotors this weekend. Thanks again!
Just curious, but if a 69-70 Impala had a two-piece rotor, wouldn't that same rotor be found on 69-70 Biscayne, Bel Air, Catalina, Bonneville and Grandville (and perhaps some Buick/Olds that I haven't named) possibly also share those same two-piece rotors? I would think at LEAST the Bel Air and Biscayne, no? Hell, I could supply the whole dang H.A.M.B. with rotors if that's the case...
It is feasible. I used the Braketech Solutions kit. If I remember right, the guy said they were the same thing as a '70 Chevelle. It was actually very easy. If a blockhead like me can do it, anyone can. My personal page has an album where I rebuilt front end and did brake job. Followed how to on chevytalk.com.
Pretty sure the discs were optional back then so while you may find some on the cheaper cars probably not as common as they would be on Impalas. I have seen some Pontiacs of that vintage that had them but don't remember if they were 4 3/4" bolt pattern (which the Chevys were till 1970) or 5".
Lots of luck finding those 2 piece rotors. Disc brakes were options on those cars. They were hard to find back in the day, we usually converted those cars to one piece rotors when they needed service. As someone said above the stock brakes are fine when repaired. Convert to a 2 line master cyl. you will be fine. Unless you are road racing or doing multiple rapid high speed braking.
Hey, Bob, if you do a Google search for 1970 Impala brake rotor you will get a picture of it, so I've got to disagree with you.
I'll be dipped.. in all my years of working on cars I've never run into a 69-70 disc brake set up where the hub was separate from the rotor. If you can round up the rest of the parts, good luck to you. They use the 4-piston calipers and originally came on taxis and police cars for the most part. Bob http://www.partsgeek.com/gbproducts...tor+Centric+Front+69-70+Chevrolet+Brake+Rotor
I do remember them now. The shop I was at wouldn't touch them, they had a policy against 4-piston caliper rebuilds. I did do a set for my bro's '68 Impala, but he installed them. Try the stock 11" drums, they should stop the car just fine, just that people are hesitant about working on drum brakes. I used to work on them all the time, the key is having a good set of drums that are either new or can take another cut on them. Replace all the hardware, new wheel cylinders and hoses plus the (under-floor) dual master. Look for a master from a '67 or so Impala to adapt in, you want it to be from a similar car in weight. Bob
Oh, I don't doubt for a minute that they'll stop the car. They MUST, since that was all they had back then, and they had to stop the car SOMEHOW, lol. But I'm building this to be the "family cruiser", which means that I won't be a solo p***enger a lot of the time. I have just always felt a little safer with disc brakes, and with my little boy riding in the back seat (guess I need to install seat belts, too, huh?) I want to know it will stop in an emergency. It only took me one time experiencing stuck carb linkage and nothing but a pair of drums to stop me on a winding downhill road back behind the high school to cause me to lose faith in drums if I was ever in a pinch. I can take a dashboard at 60, as can my wife (I say this because she HAS a few times...), but my little guy is only three. I would feel better with disc brakes, as long as the conversion is done RIGHT.
Nope, single piston in 1970, earlier was probably 4 piston. If you find some (and I know that's a pretty big IF) the caliper bracket unbolts from the spindle and can be used in the fabrication of the mount for the conversion.
300 or so for a complete kit for the wheel part, then you add a dual master and Prop valves etc. been done a zillion times. there is no easy bolt on disc swap from chevy parts . your Bendix brakes are fine unless you have a big HP motor or drive like crazy. You are going to spend 3-500 bucks regardless either completely re-doing your drums or doing disc so its up to you...which ever you prefer, discs will give better braking, drums are more traditional....both stop the car.
hey i know its alittle late but heres a link for the master cylinder to bolt in stock place i have a s10 4x4 rear end so was a different kit for the rear end. but the rest I Hope this helps others. http://waltonfabrication.com/19chcarpobru.html And then i went with the kit from chevsofthe40's.com and got this kit https://www.chevsofthe40s.com/detail/21757/Chevy_Brake_Disc_Conversion_Front_4954_Chevy_Car.html
Reviving this Thread. Has any one used the brakes out of a 2001 Camaro? And how difficult would it be to put them on and original '53 suspension?
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