Disc brake conversion

I don't see why you couldn't drill drums like you can rotors. It does cut down on contact surface area but it works on disc brakes.

Jay, you might be right but that doesn't make any sense. The 4.5" was always an A body thing. Buick and Pontiacs fullsize were all 5 on 5" and I know all A body were 4.5". Maybe '59 was an A body size for Chevy.

I'm not sure how the spindles are different but I know they are not interchangeable. I wanted drop spindles for my car. A company makes them for Chevys but on another forum I was told they're not interchangeable.

Jay, I remember when I worked at the garage that some cars had the parking brake drum inside the rotor. I can't remember if my truck was like that or not. Kind of a cool design

Another thing, Disc brakes are just plain simple and easy to work on. You have 2 bolts that hold the caliper on, 2 pads, 1 rotor no adjustments needed. Disc brakes need to be adjusted, they have a lot of little springs and shit, wheel cylinders, shoes and drums etc etc

starchief_59 wrote:

I don't see why you couldn't drill drums like you can rotors. It does cut down on contact surface area but it works on disc brakes.

You can.

However, Ford and Chrysler used the 5x4.5, GMs are 5x4.75 and 5x5.

AND ANOTHER THING haha If we could fit disc brakes with stock 14" wheels I doubt they would work any better than stock drums. Think about how small those rotors would be and think about how big our drums are.

That's what I typed first but then I thought that was Chrysler. You're right Ford and Chrysler is 4.5" and GM A body is 4.75". I've only had one A body in my life haha

starchief_59 wrote:

Another thing, Disc brakes are just plain simple and easy to work on. You have 2 bolts that hold the caliper on, 2 pads, 1 rotor no adjustments needed. Disc brakes need to be adjusted, they have a lot of little springs and shit, wheel cylinders, shoes and drums etc etc

I agree with you 100% there.

starchief_59 wrote:

That's what I typed first but then I thought that was Chrysler. You're right Ford and Chrysler is 4.5" and GM A body is 4.75". I've only had one A body in my life haha

When I get my car going and I don't think it stops well enough I'll change out the MC and booster before I switch to disc brakes

starchief_59 wrote:

When I get my car going and I don't think it stops well enough I'll change out the MC and booster before I switch to disc brakes

Much easier, you'd have to change out all that anyway to switch over to discs.

Exactly...well you wouldn't have to

The Scarebird disc brake kit for our cars says you can even use the single chamber MC with it

But that doesn't make sense because I thought with a disc brake conversion you usually needed a propotioning valve since the calipers and the wheel cylinders won't engage at the same time or the same pressure. IDK but I guess Scarebird does know

How hard would it be to use say a....69 GTO NEW booster and dual chamber MC and make it work on my Star Chief? I really want a dual chamber MC

starchief_59 wrote:

How hard would it be to use say a....69 GTO NEW booster and dual chamber MC and make it work on my Star Chief? I really want a dual chamber MC

I can't imagine it would be too difficult. You'll have to change out the proportioning valve of course.

Well old cars don't have a proportioning valve. Actually only cars with disc brake fronts and drum rears have the valves I think. You don't need a proportioning valve on an all drum brake car which is what mine will stay...hopefully

Good point, I am tired. heh

Note - Scarebird's kits will NOT work with 14" rims. You need to bump up to at least a 15".

Right, that was where my project stranded - i want to preserve my 14" original rims, that i just got new whitewalls for. I have not found any kits that will allow these 14 " rims.

Good exchange of info and ideas. Thanks.

Does anyone know who's making conversion kits curently. All the info on these pages can no longer be found-the toll free number to dfbrakes is a radio station! Any custom guys out there?

Just look up scarebird and you'll find it, I believe they make them

There they are! Thanks.

Okay so the scarebird plates are here, all the accompanying parts on order, and the new front end components en route from Kanter. If I can ever find my camera cable I'll post up the operation this fall.
I know there was some talk on this thread about saving the hubcaps. What I've done is gone to dogdish caps and a place called TheWheelsmith in Santa Ana cuts out the inners and welds in a hubcap mount- he's in the process now so we'll see soon.
I guess I should also add if anyones in need of 8.5-14 widewhite bias ply on 59 pontiac rims with full caps, I've got a set, they look okay, and I'll let em go cheap this fall!

Thats awesome! Let us know how it goes!

thats one of the great things about out canadian pontiacs, we can use all the chevy parts they make!!!LOL When did they start putting discs up front on pontiacs?

I would guess late 60s. I know you could get discs on a firebird