Brakes Looking to upgrade or get the most out of what you have stock? All brake discussions go here!

keep drums or disks ?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 22, 2009 | 07:20 PM
  #1  
mooch1's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 554
Likes: 0
From: montreal-canada
Car: 1985 camaro Z/28
Engine: 305 V/8 4bbl carb
Transmission: T5 WC
Axle/Gears: 3-23 posi with 4 wheel discs
keep drums or disks ?

hi , this question may of been asked many times...but again...my 1985 camaro has a posi 10 bolt rear end with drums...all works fine and stops great & the parking brake is working and holds the car down a driveway...i even upgraded to aluminium drums...now i have always thought about putting in discs brakes at the rear ,,but i hear so many horror stories about 3rd gen's with rear discs brakes never working properly and etc...is it worth the trouble?...should i fix what's not broken?....or should i look into aftermarket rear brake conversion kits for big bucks ..?///thanks ...
Reply
Old Sep 22, 2009 | 07:30 PM
  #2  
//<86TA>\\'s Avatar
Supreme Member
15 Year Member
iTrader: (15)
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,805
Likes: 107
From: Central NJ
Car: 86 Trans Am
Engine: 408 stroker sbc
Transmission: TKO600
Axle/Gears: Moser full floater m9, 3:70 trutrac
Re: keep drums or disks ?

a great upgrade for the drum rear is the 4th gen rear disc brakes. a 12" rotor and single piston caliper, you can get the calipers, brackets, backing plates and cables on ebay for under a hundred bux. Ebmiller sells a bracket to bolt to your rear to make this a complete bolt on deal, or there is a tech article on the homepage in the tech section on how to modify you existing axle flanges to make the new brakes work. I did this swap on my drum rear back when i still had it and it was quite easy.
check it out.

however, if the current brakes work, no point taking it apart right now. Maybe just research this ls1 rear brake upgrade in the meantime.
Reply
Old Sep 22, 2009 | 07:41 PM
  #3  
mooch1's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 554
Likes: 0
From: montreal-canada
Car: 1985 camaro Z/28
Engine: 305 V/8 4bbl carb
Transmission: T5 WC
Axle/Gears: 3-23 posi with 4 wheel discs
Re: keep drums or disks ?

thanks, you say the 4th gen rear brakes?...how can i search on ebay for them ?..is there a name like delco-moriane brakes?..does this set up have an e-brake?
thanks
Reply
Old Sep 22, 2009 | 07:45 PM
  #4  
//<86TA>\\'s Avatar
Supreme Member
15 Year Member
iTrader: (15)
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,805
Likes: 107
From: Central NJ
Car: 86 Trans Am
Engine: 408 stroker sbc
Transmission: TKO600
Axle/Gears: Moser full floater m9, 3:70 trutrac
Re: keep drums or disks ?

ls1 rear brakes, 125$, but not a bad price really

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LS1-R...Q5fAccessories

Last edited by //<86TA>\\; Sep 22, 2009 at 07:49 PM.
Reply
Old Sep 22, 2009 | 07:50 PM
  #5  
mooch1's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 554
Likes: 0
From: montreal-canada
Car: 1985 camaro Z/28
Engine: 305 V/8 4bbl carb
Transmission: T5 WC
Axle/Gears: 3-23 posi with 4 wheel discs
Re: keep drums or disks ?

thanks,,,is this a direct bolt on ?...do i need to cut or do anything major?...also the prop valve needs to be changed?..does this set up have an e-brake..thanks..
Reply
Old Sep 22, 2009 | 08:07 PM
  #6  
//<86TA>\\'s Avatar
Supreme Member
15 Year Member
iTrader: (15)
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,805
Likes: 107
From: Central NJ
Car: 86 Trans Am
Engine: 408 stroker sbc
Transmission: TKO600
Axle/Gears: Moser full floater m9, 3:70 trutrac
Re: keep drums or disks ?

you obviously didnt read the tech article i pointed you to.

you need to do some work to the rear axle flanges, which involves removing the axles from the rear, a little cutting, drilling 4 holes, and tweaking the brake lines a little. Nothing really hard if you have tools and some mechanical ability.

Or like i said, ebmiller sells a bracket that will bolt to your exsisting drum backing plate and then allow you to use the 4th gen brakles, check out his site, its http://www.flynbye.com/index.html
Reply
Old Sep 22, 2009 | 09:08 PM
  #7  
JamesC's Avatar
Moderator
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 19,282
Likes: 103
From: Lawrence, KS
Car: Met. Silver 85 IROC/Sold
Engine: 350 HO Deluxe (350ci/330hp)
Transmission: T-5 (Non-WC)
Axle/Gears: Limited Slip 3.23's
Re: keep drums or disks ?

Many of your questions will be answered in the following FAQ:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tran...-10-bolts.html

JamesC
Reply
Old Sep 30, 2009 | 09:02 PM
  #8  
mooch1's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 554
Likes: 0
From: montreal-canada
Car: 1985 camaro Z/28
Engine: 305 V/8 4bbl carb
Transmission: T5 WC
Axle/Gears: 3-23 posi with 4 wheel discs
Re: keep drums or disks ?

i just a set of aluminium calipers e-brake cables with prop valve and discs from a 1989 trans am...i can use that wonder bracket from ed and bolt it on directly to my 10 bolt rear drum flange...i saw the article on how to install the bracket and brakes..seems easy...are these breaks going to work and stop better than my drums?...or am i just better leaving my drums?...the axles need to be removed to do this swap...that i'm not sure how to do.....thanks.
Reply
Old Oct 1, 2009 | 06:57 AM
  #9  
JamesC's Avatar
Moderator
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 19,282
Likes: 103
From: Lawrence, KS
Car: Met. Silver 85 IROC/Sold
Engine: 350 HO Deluxe (350ci/330hp)
Transmission: T-5 (Non-WC)
Axle/Gears: Limited Slip 3.23's
Re: keep drums or disks ?

Originally Posted by mooch1
the axles need to be removed to do this swap...that i'm not sure how to do...
Check the link I provide above.

JamesC
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
6speedIROC
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Parts for Sale
16
Mar 15, 2023 08:33 PM
smnichol86
Brakes
26
Mar 26, 2017 10:55 PM
92projectcamaro
Transmissions and Drivetrain
1
Dec 8, 2015 12:25 AM
dbrochard
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Parts for Sale
8
Sep 25, 2015 04:56 PM
Buickstaged
Brakes
2
Sep 4, 2015 07:53 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:26 AM.