The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Disc Brake Conversion W/OUT Kit - '50 3100

Have done lots of searching, as always. A kit is obviously easy but it seems over priced.

Does anyone have something like a parts list to do a conversion? I'm thinking of looking for a 70's Chevelle/Monte Carlo for the rotors, calipers (for at least the cores), valves, etc. But what is everything I need for power brakes? I thought better to ask than to miss something.

Hell, I'd settle for knowing what rotors fit the stock spindles.

The kits' value comes in the fact that its comes with a machined
caliper bracket specifically crafted to fit your stock axle/spindle set-up, also
they also come with new mounting hardware & the rear spindle adapter for the stock truck; this allows use of the stock roller bearings; NOT the ball bearings you have now.

In my case the CPP kit came with late 70's Camaro rotors, calipers, etc. I thought it was worth the price, bolted in, and works great.

I like kits. Keeps the guesswork out of the equation. And if it's crap, you return it and get a new one. And it's all machined already and ready to bolt up.

Look for rotors from an 88-98 K1500 Chevy truck or the 99 and newer trucks. They have the same 6 lug pattern as the early 1/2 tons.

As far as caliper and brackets go, well you'll have to fabricate that yourself.

Maybe try a u-pull yard. I got a complete set of calipers and rotors from a GM van for $30. If they don't work, at least you aren't out much.

So far the idea is to get the Speedway bracket kit for $100 and source mid 70 rotors, calipers, etc from a Camaro. The full brake kit sans booster and master is only 250, but I think eveything can be had for 50 bucks from a yard.

Hey JR,

Remember your original question?

"Does anyone have something like a parts list ..."

You're fixin' to be that guy. Be sure to keep records of part numbers and sources, and take lots of pictures. When you get it all working, write up a tech tip and publish it here for the next guy.

regards,
Leon

The calipers on the CPP, Speedway, POL, etc. kits are actually the standard single piston 2wd Chevy truck calipers used up until like 78 or 82 or something. I was buying a rebuild kit for one of mine at NAPA and the guys was like "Why? A new built caliper is only $15" ...or something along those lines. At any rate, it was so cheap that if I hadn't just powder coated my CPP calipers I would have just bought the new one. I think the rebuild kit was around $2.

I have the details written down somewhere around here.

Really the only part you need that isn't standard Chevy is the caliper brackets and the mc bracket. The nice thing about buying the mc kit is that the rod, bracket and stuff is already figured out and just bolts right on.

That's the idea.

That's the nice thing about them but the not nice thing is that the brackets cost $100 for about $10 worth of metal. Any idea where those brackets are coming from? By this I mean I wish I knew what Asian manufacturer is making them for these companies for $5 a piece.

Here's what I can say along a tech write up so far:

This kit is the likely the cheapest possible way to go considering time/money. The brackets themselves are $100 (elsewhere up to $250 for the exact same thing) and to source the rotors, calipers, bits and pieces at a parts store new would be over $150.

IF you can find the rotors, calipers, hoses, hardware, etc at a junk yard for under $150 (which you can, if you can find the right donor) then you're golden. I have SO FAR not found the parts. The brake assemblies are often the first things to get stripped.

I agree

I purchased a kit from Tucker's, I'm pretty sure it's a P.O.L. Kit

In November many vendors offer 10% off around thanksgiving time.
I took advantage off that.

You still need to consider M/C and prop valve. Residual valves, new plumbing
Then your wheels may not fit.

The kit I used has a pretty beefy backing plate for the caliper, and its off-set.


I believe This outfit
http://www.inliners.org/buffalo/index.htm
Has a kit the uses over the counter parts.

I agree that the price for all the brackets and adapters is really irritating. That said, consider this, installing the entire kit takes less than an hour, everything fits and it is all delivered right to your door. No frustration with missing or broken parts, no "well, it looked like it would work" issues. Simple, clean and (fairly) hassle free. My entire front disc brake conversion cost less than $400.00 (including the m/c, adapter and lines), took about 15 minutes on the computer to order and bolted on with no issues. Don't get me started on the rear discs, though! The kit is the most economical way to go, IMO. Good luck.

Mitch

Coffeeman who's kit diid you order?

Yeah, what kit cost 4 bills with MC? Must know.

Ya know, if ANYONE out there had a simple tracing of the caliper brackets we could get them machined for very cheap...

I talked to Buffalo Enterprises a couple months ago about a disc brake kit for my "53. His kit for '48-'54 1/2 ton trucks runs $185.00-uses GM 4X4 rotors and calipers so you stay six bolt- uses your stock hub and bearings- does not move your wheels out- and is made in the U.S.A.

Speedway kit for $249, non-power mc from rock auto for $40.00, mc adapter for $89.00. Total of $379.00. I bought my residual valves and proportioning valve from pirate 4x4 for around $30 and the lines and fittings cost me another $50. I have a disc/disc system and had to rebuild the rear calipers, the kits were $7.00 each. So, for complete brake system I'm in around $460. It can be done.

Mitch

How about some more specifics? That speedway kit doesn't come with the bearings, etc. Did you buy those, too? Which non-powe mc and which adapter?

What does his kit consist of?

The speedway kit came complete with the bearings. The mc is a corvette unit from the 70's, I'll have to go back and find which one, I may still have the box it came in. The adapter bracket came from Classic Parts. The Speedway kit was awesome and it bolted right on. The instructions are kind of vague, but it wasn't hard to figure it out.


Speedway lists the bearings as inner and outer bearing cones. It shows them in the picture. I converted to 5 lug for better wheel options and compensated for the extra inch of width with the backspace on my wheel. Check my pics in my 52 burb album.

The master cylinder I used is from a 1971-1976 Corvette, non-power assist with a 1" bore. It was manufactured by autospecialty/Kelsey-Hayes and is currently on sale at Rock auto for $18.00. Bonus!!

*Just to be clear, I will be plumbing this system tonight. I don't expect any issues, but who ever does? I will post on the outcome. On my project '50 truck I used one of those complete pedal/ power mc assemblies and a disc/drum setup. It plumbed up with no issues. I bought the mc assembly at the Daytona rod run a few years back from one of the vendors who didn't want to haul it back home! I just don't like the look of the pedals on those things. I'm more of an original look with hidden modern performance guy!

Thanks Coffee. Let us know how it plumbs and works?

You can look thru the Brothers catalog and get everything you need there. Its nice the support I got when I purchased all of the necessary parts. Saving 100$ in order to spend tens of hours scouring scrap yards and crap is totally a no brainer for me. I have other issues to address on my restorations that make it cheaper to just order whats proven. But that's me.

I even told Brothers I wanted the rotors they sell drilled and slotted and they just said, no problem and took care of it. The corvette MC and the prop valve, brackets, everything just bolt right up. Since my plan is to use all stainless lines, I have to go to a bit more trouble, but I was very pleased with the way it was all handled. I am sure there are other vendors who are just as good, just sayin.