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Hey folks... been some time since I was last in here but I'm hoping this community still has the awesome group of helpful members.
So for 20 years my 87 IROC-Z has not had an Emergency brake. When I bought the car in 2001 the previous owner decided that it wasn't "needed" and removed the cables that ran back to the calipers. Most likely the cables going back to the calipers were seized and he didn't bother replacing them. The e-brake handle is still there and it works and the cable going from the e-brake handle down to where the rear cables attach is still there but that's it.
My car came with the factory rear disk brakes and has that caliper which I believe "ratchets" in/out (you need a two prong tool to turn them in), at least that is what I remember (been awhile since I worked on the brakes). I also recall that way back in 2002 I removed the Lever/bracket/spring from the rear calipers since I wasn't using the parking/e-brake (these parts are long gone now).
So after so many years without it I would like to get the parking/e-brake back on the car. I would think trying to find stock GM parts for these calipers would be like finding a needle in a haystack so maybe I can go a different route and get into the aftermarket. Can anyone suggest a decent aftermarket solution to my problem? I used to drag race this car back 10 years or so but it's now its just a "sunny day cruiser" so I don't need something crazy, just something that works. I know I will need to buy a set of cables that run from the attachment point back to the calipers but those are fairly easy to source. Parts 1,2,3,4,5, and 37 are long gone...
Thanks Ken.... that would really be appreciated. I guess what I really need would be the parts/pieces that make up the e-brake (spring, lever, etc) but if I could get a fully complete caliper that would work better!
The rear disc brakes on your 1987 Camaro are the infamous Delco Moraine F-Body disc brakes.
These brakes were regularly problematic... and even were part of a safety-recall in the United States.
The parts that came of this safety-recall, did improve the function of the rear brakes and parking-brakes.
Some of these "recall kits" are still floating around... but they can be very difficult to find at times.
I would strongly recommend changing the rear brakes on your vehicle to the PBR rear disc brakes that replaced the Delco Moraine rear brakes on the 1988/ 1989 and up Camaros.
If this interests you... there is a TON of information in these forums regarding the PBR rear disc brakes.
Thanks for the reply... I assumed that the PBR setup wasn't a direct bolt-on into my 87 Iroc as it was part of some 1LE package. Good to know... but I would imagine that these rear PBR calipers are next to impossible to find now?
Thanks for the reply... I assumed that the PBR setup wasn't a direct bolt-on into my 87 Iroc as it was part of some 1LE package. Good to know... but I would imagine that these rear PBR calipers are next to impossible to find now?
if you have a 9 bolt i have a complete rear 2:77 ratio with 48k miles that has the brakes and cables still. If your near Lansing, MI you can have it all cheap. Problem and there reason i swapped rear ends is those brakes suck. A better option is go to the likes of big brake upgrade he makes kits to swap LS1 rears on. I have LS1 fronts also on my car and it can do a 20 minute track day session at GingerMan with out fading. Plus they fit under stock wheels (GTA fronts need a 3/16" spacer to clear the back off the spokes).
pm me if you want the 9 bolt i have
Thanks for the reply... I assumed that the PBR setup wasn't a direct bolt-on into my 87 Iroc as it was part of some 1LE package. Good to know... but I would imagine that these rear PBR calipers are next to impossible to find now?
The PBR calipers were standard for rear disks from 88 till 97 (I think).
The PBR style is more available than the earlier Delco-Morain type. Plus the larger rotor gives you better braking performance.
I just bought PBR calipers from RockAuto a couple months ago. Definitely still available.
Hey Ken.... do you need a bigger set of rotors or would my stock rotors be ok? Anything else I would need to make this work for me, backing plate, pads, etc etc)?
Hey thanks for the offer.... I'm located in Canada so that wouldn't be an option for me. haha.... I do have the 9 bolt rear with 3.70 gears (came with 3.27 but I upgraded them years ago)
Hey Ken.... do you need a bigger set of rotors or would my stock rotors be ok? Anything else I would need to make this work for me, backing plate, pads, etc etc)?
To change the rear from the Delco brakes to the 88+ PBR style, you need a new bracket that bolts to the axle flange that the brake caliper then bolts to.
Once you have those brackets (http://www.flynbye.com/catalog/i31.html) then you need rotors, pads and calipers from the 88+ setup. E-brake cables and the brake hoses on the rear might be different... I haven't gotten to that part yet.
There are a lot threads on here talking about the change over.
Most are about a 10-bolt rear, but from my understanding the only difference is the bracket that bolts to the axle housing flange. The rest of the brake system is the same.
The Backing plates that attach to the Differential Housing (like in the hyperlink above for Fly-N-Bye) are what is needed...
Then a pair of reman. Calipers with Abutment-Brakets (plus brake-pads, rotors, flex-lines, nuts and bolts, etc) will get it done.
Like already said... there are many threads on the forum showing the swap.
Thanks Ken.... that would really be appreciated. I guess what I really need would be the parts/pieces that make up the e-brake (spring, lever, etc) but if I could get a fully complete caliper that would work better!
I found my original Delco Moraine Calipers just now
My factory original Delco Moraine calipers in my 88 GTA still work perfect. Certified every two years by german TÜV (obligatory technical inspection) and they are VERY restrictive in brake performance here in my country, hydraulic brake and e-brake have to work perfect. Maybe I have been just lucky, don't know, but the calipers have never been rebuilt or upgraded with the GM rebuild kit. Fingers crossed that they will work for the next 33 years...
05-06-2021, 08:36 AM
