54 olds disk brakes

hiboy32 · Apr 2, 2011

I hope you guys can help. I have a friend with a 54 Olds 88 and he is wanting disk brakes. Does anyone know of anything that works? He really wants to get this thing on the road. thanks...

Jeff

Oldsmobucket · Apr 2, 2011

jamco makes a kit , scarebird (alliance vendor) makes the brakets for using off the shelf parts. i have a 55 im doing the a disc brake swap on and im going the DON WOW (RIP) route. if youguys need olds info just search through his threads and posts he was a olds genius. hope this helps

Hellbilly_Buzzard said: ↑

I really want to thank DON_WOW for the info he sent me. I am posting the info here he sent me.

First three pics are the front wheel, fourth pic is shot of rear axle.I have 4 wheel disc's on my olds.

Parts you will need to get are rotors and calipers from a 69 to 76 olds toronado or caddy eldo- they are 5 inch on 5 studs same as your 56 pattern. You will need ten new lug nuts studs at least 1/2 or 3/4 inches longer than stock that the 56 has.Don't try and get left hand thread not needed. Next you need 1/4 inch plate large enough to make two brackets to mount calipers. Maybe new hoses to front calipers and new pads

You will have to use 15 inch wheels with this deal. If you want to run 14 inch wheels use 77and later toro or eldo parts because rotors are smaller in diameter. Stock rims will work fine. Larger rotors are better on big car and cost is same.

Here in southern Ill. all this will run around 100 bucks at the bone yard. New stuff might be found at NAPA if you want.

Master cylinder on 56 will work if you take out check valve in very front of bore. Other wise disc's will not release. Will not change how rear drums work cause they have springs to pull and release. No valve in line to rear drum is needed, if adjusted right, they will not lock up before the fronts. If you go to rear disc's also you will need a proportial valve in line to rear to keep from locking rears first.

Run a tube into your fill cap on master cylinder to upper part of fire wall to have master full all time and fluid level above front calipers. Make sure to have vent in top lid.

Tear off front wheel-brake and backing plates. Now you have a bare spindle. Use backing plate to make pattern on 1/4 inch plate so it will bolt on same as the backing plate did.

Knock drums and studs off of the bearing hub and install new longer studs. Take hub and turn outside diameter a little smaller just so it will let rotor slip over and sit flush.

Use 24 -26 guage sheet metal or cardboard and make pattern same as backing plate bolt holes, cut U to clear caliper. Put hub on spindle, slip caliper and pads on rotor so they are set right with bleeder on top and mark center for caliper bolts. Transfer pattern to plate cut, drill, and tap, grind and make purdy. Plate bolts on same as backing plate did , hub and bearings are stock ------only now you got disc brakes.

Same deal for rear only weld bracket to axle to get spacing right.

Kinda long winded but pics will fill in blanks, I hope. Have done this on 6 different makes of cars, works on about anything .

My olds at 4000 pounds stops as good as late model new cars.

Hope this helps you out
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54 olds disk brakes

hiboy32
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hiboy32
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