I've been going over my options with the 9 bolt rear I just bought (it's an 88 model) and my choices are keep the 88 style brakes or switch to the PBR style. I just read through the LS1 swap for drum brakes article and started wondering if they would fit the 9 bolt which is already set for discs. Would it be possible to use the LS1 rotors,calipers and e-brake setup on the 9 bolt?

 

I've been wondering that myself, and if noone has done it before then I'm gonna try to make it work. These pre-'89 iron calipers aren't worth a sh**. I just have to come up with some money to buy a set of LS1 brakes.....

 

It seems very possible to use them on a 9-bolt. It seems all you would have to do is re-drill the LS1 brakes backing plate. The only problem that may arise is the tolerance in the wheel bearing, you may have to shim out the bearing race slightly if the LS1 brake mounting bracket is thicker then the stock brakes mounting bracket.

 

But is the rotor flange to housing flange distance the same for a 9-bolt and a 10-bolt? In other words, if you just drill the holes and bolt it up, will the rotors be reasonably centered in the calipers?

 

I've done LS1s on an 88 9bolt I just had rebuilt. The caliper will center appropriately on the rotor.

The only problem that turned up was the thickness of the LS1 caliper bracket. To prevent leaking around the axle seal, I had a friend fab some spacer rings to go around the axle on the outside edge of the seal. When you tighten the axle plate down the extra spacer ring pushes the seal in farther to prevent leaks.

Right now I'm looking for a way to hookup the e-brake cables.

Works so far, hard to tell if it'll brake harder because I haven't done anything to the proportioning valve.

 

I did it like gcore45.
Here is what I did for the e-brakes: Below is a picture of the brkt. I tack welded to the floor support above the driveshaft, then the cables go right in (a little grinding on the **** ends).
Don>>>

 

Can you provide some specs on the spacer rings? How about some pics of the install from various angles?

 

1/4 inch thick aluminum measured to fit within the axle tube, but not rub the axle. I don't have exact specs but will find pictures.

Be smart about the install and put the rings on before you press on new axle bearings. I thought this up afterward and had to segment the spacers and fit them in afterward. I have pics and will post them ASAP.

 

Thanks a lot man.....