mike graycar

iTrader: (2)

Hi all ! I took the white IROC out of storage today. The brakes were rusty so I drove around to clean them off. I accidently was doing some burnouts (8 or 10 of them) and I discovered that my rear discs are not working at all. Good for burnouts but bad for panic stops. I have the stock '88 rear disc setup and I am not going to spend the money to fix it (again) !!! What do I need to put the 1LE upgrade to it? Just go buy some Calps and rotors for an '89 up F-body or is there more to it?


Thanks in advance, Mike

bingo

iTrader: (2)

You also need the 89 specific backing plates. Ed Miller is the man you want to talk to. I am sure he will chime in and help.

mike graycar

iTrader: (2)

Sound good, What about E-brake cables? Brake lines? How much do these backing plates go for? ED ! Are you there?-Mike

bingo

iTrader: (2)

You will use the parking brake cables for an 89 disk brake car. When I worked at NAPA they could get them. That was two years ago.

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Everything you need to know:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/faq-...iscs-89-a.html

JamesC

mike graycar

iTrader: (2)

Thanks James, That is a great thread. I have some more questions though. How much should I be paying for this stuff? What should I be sorcing from the junkyard? I went to Advanced with some of those numbers and they looked at me like I had 3 heads!

Also are the rear brakes off of an LS-1 car compatable?

-Mike

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

I doubt you'll be able to find much at the bone yards, though taking a peek certainly wouldn't hurt. You also might consider the classifieds on this site for both calipers and backing plates which would no doubt save you some money. Everything you require, however, is available new. You might do a search on the LS1 stuff. I know that's an option these days.

JamesC

ebmiller88

iTrader: (7)

I have everything you need..brake lines, cables, backing plates bolt on for a 9 bolt. Please send me an e-mail, I'll take care of you.

Ed

mike graycar

iTrader: (2)

Well, I think I got some rear 1LE's and maybe fronts too. Stick around as I'll probably need some help along the way. Thanks James and ED.


James, I have been stuying that link. Do I indeed need a drum brake master cylinder? that seems strange. I'd bet there are alot of guys running around with the old disc brake MC who don't know this.

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

I run the drum brake master, but....

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...fferences.html

JamesC

mike graycar

iTrader: (2)

So, I can run either/or, Interesting!

James, Thanks for all the help and the speedy reply. Do you have a job or do you just hang around on the brake board? LOL !

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Retired. I'm probably the oldest fart on this site!

JamesC

mike graycar

iTrader: (2)

Retired. I'm probably the oldest fart on this site!

JamesC

I here that, I'm getting up there myself! Home from work today due to the snowstorm. Watching "Magnum P.I." and remembering what it was like to be young!-Mike

mike graycar

iTrader: (2)

All right, I purchased a used setup here on the classifieds for a fair price. It has the rotors, calps, backing plates, soft lines and cables. Before I start taking it apart. Do I use the stock hard lines that are there or will I need to replace those?

-Mike

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

The stock lines from your 88 won't fit. Check my link for manufacturer and part number for the correct lines.

JamesC

mike graycar

iTrader: (2)

I saw that, I think it says one side works and the other side needs to be replaced. Now that I am thinking about it I have a donor rear and I'll bet that out there in the yard, Covered with snow I have the brackets I need. Of course I am a genius so I cut the housing up with a sawzall to make it fit in the trunk of the Honda. So I am sure I cut the lines also. Oh well, I should be putting new lines on there anyway.

How important are the brackets for the E-brake cables? I have the T/A Performance rear cover and I'm not sure they will fit with the recessed mounting holes.


James, Nice car !!!!

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

If you don't feel like crawling around in the snow, AndyZ28 fabs the brackets:

http://www.andyz28.com/3rdGen/reardisc.html

The e-brake guides keep the cable away from the exhaust, so I'd do something. Here's another choice (from ebmiller):

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...brake-4c57.jpg

Thanks for the compliment about my ride.

JamesC

mike graycar

iTrader: (2)

Well, I started the upgrade today. Where do I put the brackets that hold the hard line/soft line connections? I printed out the pics from James's thread to use as a reference but I lowered my car and used the Sphone relocation brackets to restore the proper angle for the lower control arms. Anyone done this before? Any solve-all solution?


-Mike

mike graycar

iTrader: (2)

AAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!!! Well, we're not done yet. I finally got the car out for a test drive. First, bleed brakes. What's this? Very little fluid coming out of rear bleeders. Swap out MC for a new one, Drum brake one by the way. Now it bleeds the way it should. Test drive: Little to no activity in the rear. Cannot lock up rear wheels. Does spectacular burnouts as the rear brakes are still not working. What have I done?

trumps2000

iTrader: (2)

How do you know the rears aren't working? They should never lockup, or at least not before the fronts do. As far as I know none of the factory prop valves will send enough pressure to the rears to lock them them up.

Try jacking the rear of the car in the air and put into drive. Once the rears are in the air tap the brakes and see if they stop rotating. The J65(?) brakes are notorious for doing nothing.

mike graycar

iTrader: (2)

Well, when I bleed them they were grabbing. Couldn't turn the rotor with a pry bar. The calipers moved freely. Now, as for the brake testing. I did it in a sand filled parking lot. Got up to 40 and stood on the brakes. Bad pedal and the rears did NOTHING ! Also on high speed stops the car takes forever to slow down and you can smell the fronts burning. The J65 brakes, That is the old set-up I had before?

trumps2000

iTrader: (2)

What makes you think the rears are doing nothing? You said they grabbed when you bled them.

Remember 60% or more of the braking is done by the fronts, maybe they need some servicing? What is bad about the pedal? Is it soft, does it go to the floor?

The J65 is the older setup. I still use them, I just bypassed the factory prop valve with an adjustable one to get them to work properly.

mike graycar

iTrader: (2)

Well, The pedal is soft and does almost go to the floor. The backs don't seem to be doing anything at all. In gravel at 20 MPH I can lock the fronts but the rears don't disturb the driveway at all.-Mike

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

IIRC, the J65 option included 89-92 PBR's. At any rate, did you use shims to center the caliper over the rotor?

JamesC

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

I've read as much as 70%.

JamesC

mike graycar

iTrader: (2)

Hummmnnn...... Shims you say? No, As I understood the ten bolt rear may nees to be shimmed. The nine bolt uses offset backing plates. Marked L and R. I put one on to mock up the brakes when I first started and if you are using the wrong side you see it. The rotors look to be perfectly centered within the calipers and pads.-Mike

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

IIRC, the 10-bolt is marked in the same manner. I had my head tucked away there for a moment. From everything I've read the 9-bolt didn't require shims.

JamesC

MilehighBird

iTrader: (1)

Sorry that you are having problems with your brake swap. You didn't mention if you bench bled the new master cylinder before you swapped it. If you didn't you'll have air trapped in there no matter how many times you bleed the lines.

mike graycar

iTrader: (2)

Hey there!

Yes, I did bench bleed it. It was a PITA, The front wouldn't bleed right. I swapped out the new drum brake MC for an old disc MC I know is good. Now I have a good pedal. THANKS ADVANCED A-P !!!!! The rears are working but wount lock up even if I stand on it with both feet. Tommorow I will start the front upgrade and go from there.

mike graycar

iTrader: (2)

I think I have it figured out. The backs are working but the fronts are glazed from being overheated. I have a few questions about doing the fronts.

1. When I cut and drill the front spindels for the 1LE brakes, Do I go all the way through with the holes?

2. What do I do with the proportioning valve? There is some question about the threads on the early VS. late models. What is up with that. Can I use the prop. valve from a '92 on my '88?

3. Where do I get rebuild kits for the PBR calipers?


Thanks-Mike

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

1. No.
2. The following thread may provide the info you need:
http://web.archive.org/web/200605221....html#1LEfront
3. Any auto parts store you be able to furnish a rebuild kit.

JamesC

mike graycar

iTrader: (2)

Here's a new thought. My rears still aren't working up to snuff. Do I need E-brake cables on there? I remember seeing something about having to set the E-brake to make the rears adjust themselves properly

strc09

iTrader: (5)

Bringing this one back from the dead...

What is the difference between the 1LE brake calipers and the standard WS6 brake calipers on the GTAs? Also, can just the calipers be swapped out or do you have to change everything for it to work? Thanks.

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

The so-called 1LE disc rears (89-92) have 11.7" rotors and single-piston alum calipers. Pre-89 have 10.5" rotors and single piston Delco-Moraine iron calipers. No direct swap. However....

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/faq-...iscs-89-a.html

JamesC

strc09

iTrader: (5)

So it comes down that I can't just buy 1LE calipers and put them on in place of the stockers that I have. I had heard some where that they have a two piston stock caliper for our cars and I thought it was the 1LE caliper. Guess not...bummer.

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Correct. The front 1LE's are two piston, but, of course, they won't fit without modification either.

JamesC

ebmiller88

iTrader: (7)

Two piston front 1LE caliper, yes..but not the rear. Most rear disc parts are now discontinued but I have a nice sized stash in the shop, LMK if you need any.

Ed