So I am having some trouble understanding the rear disk setup on an 88 9 bolt rear. The first thing I thought was strange is that one caliper is mounted towards the front of the rotor, and the other caliper is mounted towards the back. Is this stock or did someone just mount a caliper backwards?

The second thing is the brake line. There is the the spot where the brake hose meets the rear in the middle, then the two lines branch off to each wheel. That part looks fine. On the drivers side the brake line then connected into a bracket, where a brake hose is connected going to the caliper. That looks normal to me.

But on the passenger side instead of having a bracket with a brake hose going to the caliper, the metal brake line was screwed directly onto the caliper through another one of those couplers, like the one in the center of the rear. No brake hose or bracket for a hose on the passenger side.

Both lines are rusted so I am going to replace them, but I'm not sure if the way the lines are set up now is factory, or of someone just rigged it up this way themselves. Any info would be great. If you have any photos of how everything is suppose to look, that would be VERY helpful.

 

Sounds like Jerry-riggin to me.

 

thats all 100% correct and the way they came from the factory, minus most of the rust of course.

the later aluminum pbr calipers used 2 flex hoses and were both on the same side of the axle

 

86 is on the money.

What Rear Disc Brakes Do I Have?
82-86* cars are equipped with iron, single-piston Delco-Moraine calipers and 10.5" rotors. In those years, the pass side caliper with its flex line is mounted in front of the axle, the drivers’ side with its hardline to the rear (I've heard that some early model cars, perhaps 82-83, have hardlines to both sides). The parking brake on these years adjusts the brakes, so use it frequently. If yours doesn't function correctly, take note of the "recall": http://members.shaw.ca/crussel/recalls/86c28/86c28.html
See the link to follow for the fix kit: http://www.flynbye.com/catalog/i208.html
90-92* cars are equipped with alum, single-piston PBR calipers and 11.6" rotors (the so-called 1LE or performance package; however, all rear disc brake cars, 89-92*, have them). Both calipers are mounted to the rear and both have flex lines. All four-wheel disc cars, regardless of year, are RPO J65.
*87, 88, and 89 cars with rear discs are equipped with 9-bolts (87 and 88 with the Delco-Moraine calipers and 89 with PBR's).

JamesC

 

Why did they mount the calipers like that?

 

It was a carry over design from the 2nd gen cars, same design from mid 70s to 88. Terrible caliper design with the screw piston.

 

Mine gets used once a year IF the State Inspector is actually checking it, which I doubt my local guy is, judging by the rest of his "inspection" process. Yet my rear brakes work perfectly fine (1987) and can lock up all 4 tires at 70mph. I know, not the way for best braking, but does verify that the calipers are clamping down & when your avoiding Bambi on the highway you stomp on the brakes!

 

So the same caliper is used on both sides instead of stocking two different parts.

 

yup. same part number for Rear Passenger & Driver side caliper.