Wassup everyone. I have an 89 Formula (Ws6) Firebird. I recently decided to change the Brakes pads, Front calipers, lines, etc. Now I did the front first, everything good, no problem. I went to change the back shoes and to my astonishment it wasnt drum brakes. It was Disc brakes. Now I have had a few of these cars and they all had drums in the back. I was under the impression that all thirdgens came with drum brakes stock in the rear. Now I have heard of people doing swaps. Believe me Im happy about this.

Now heres my questions;

1. Am I right, Do they all come drum in the back?
2. If not, How much does it usually cost for one to convert them because if thats not stock that obviously what happend?
3. I have really only ever dealt with these cars and dont know much about any other car, so I have never had the opportunity to deal with rear disc brakes. These look diiferent than the front. Like the caliper. I dont know how to change these. Right now to my look the pads are still pretty good, though I wanna change them, like I did the front. So are rear and front disc brakes usually the same or are they different? If diisc brakes in the front and back differ on cars, then how so?



Any and all help or information is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

Many of these cars have four-wheel discs. 82-88 had 10.5" rotors with iron calipers on all corners. 89-92 disc brake cars (with the exception of 1LE's) had 10.5" fronts and 11.7" rears with a single pison alum (PBR) caliper. Nothing unusual.

JamesC

 

I know this is a bit old now but just trying to understand better the braking options that came on 3rd gens. So the 89-92 fronts were also 10.5" you say.....so basically all 3rd gens (except 1LE) came with the same rotors/calipers whether iroc/WS6/Z28 or V6?

How did the 1LE's differ? Especially in the rear as someone locally is selling PBR rear calipers yet he says they are 1LE......are the 89-92 and 1LE rear calipers the same?

thanks.

 

Yes.

Yes. All 89-92 cars with disc brakes were equipped with PBRs, or the so-called 1LE brakes.

JamesC

 

I am doing the drum to disc swap. I am removing an axle from a 91 and replacing it with a 89 disc. This axle seems to be a odd one due to the parts available. what changes are neccesary for the swaap with the parking brake, brake lines, master cylinders?