Drum to disc swap on '87 TA, used 10.5 rotors and single piston delco iron calipers....didn't have all the choices for the swap like we do now as this was done 10 years ago and car has been in mothballs with 38k on odometer.

Some of this info is vague to me due to how long AGO IT WAS,
but I remember bending, cutting and reflaring the stock lines to mate up, no leaks. Bled this thing LIKE FOREVER, almost got a divorce , had the wife pumping the pedal for so long for so many times.....Was told by manufacturer, can't recall off hand, (saw a little ad in Car Craft, again we did not have the options we have now)... anyway they told me I didn't need a 4 wheel disc MC, I got one anyway and a 4 wheel disc proportioning valve off a '86 or '88.

Still have a low pedal with little brakes, any ideas ?

Thank *** for the internet and you guys. :hail:

Thx in advance,

Bill E.

 

Sounds like my rear disc swap... constant bleeding with no improvement. Ever put in the rear disc recall kit? Find all the information here: https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...threadid=78725

One test you can do- while you're driving, with nobody on the road near you, press the brake pedal down like you want to stop- then quickly release the brake and smash it down again. If the car stops better, you need the recall kit.

Visual inspection- with rear tires off, thru the hole in the caliper, the pads won't be skimming the rotor- they'll be about 1/4 inch away. (That's what the first press of the brake pedal takes up.)

And I know what you mean about 10 years ago versus today... 10 years ago, most of my time was spent calling aftermarket companies and comparing part numbers and crawling junkyards. Now, 5 minutes on thirdgen.org, or some of the electronic catalog sites, solves my question right away!

 

Hi Bill. If the car's been sitting for that long, have you thought about changing the brake lines and calipers out? After sitting that long, I have a feeling something has gummed itself up.

Ed

 

Wish it was that easy, it went into storage with this problem, thx anyway.....any ideas out there, speak up

Bill E.

 

Odd; I thought I did speak up. Hm.

 

If it went into storage like that probably due to the horrible Delco Morraine calipers on the rear. Infamous for that problem. Even new they were not good. Horrible long pedal. Some GM re-call fixes available, as Tom mentioned,...but why bother. Iron caliper is a POS.

Solution. Switch to PBR's or Custom built.

I agree with ED. After ten years sitting I would replace ALL of the brake system... short of the steel tubes. Front calipers, rear calipers, Master cylinder and brake hose's. Corrosion due to water absorbtion has likely occurred. Check out the tubes as well. If the garage? was not heated they could be rusting as well.

 

I'll second what Chicken said - those old iron calipers for the rear are CRAP! They have a large piston (too large IMO) and they always seem to retract themselves a bit which causes the long pedal. Sometimes it is very difficult to fix. Best idea would be to try a set of rebuilt calipers - a good idea regardless because of how long the car has been sitting. Change all the lines (rubber ones) and seals and re-build or replace the Master as well.

The PBR caliper on 89-up cars is a much better caliper.

Or - go with a set of Wilwood Superlites

Good luck, and post back to let us know how things worked out.