hi everyone.
i just installed a 9 bolt rear with disc brakes.
i originally had an open rear 10 bolt with drum brakes.

the rear suspension has hotchkis lower trailing arms and pan hard bar..

my question first off.
is that i have never seen a setup like this before.

on the driver side rear , the caliper faces the rear of the car...
on the passenger side the caliper faces the front of the car..
i have never seen this before so excuse my noobness.

if this is normal then my next question is.
when i replaced the brakes on this thing. i had no problem installing them on the driver side rear.
but when i got to the passenger side rear.
i was able to remove the top caliper bolt.
when i got to the bottom.
the bolt was too long and the head of the bolt hits my lower trailing arm.
i tried a million different ways to find a way to take the bolt out of its hole. but the head of the bolt was hitting the trailing arm.

i managed to sneak my pads into the caliper and my caliper over my rotors. but has anyone encountered an issue like this before??
any input is greatly appreciated.
thanks in advance

 

That's normal for the cast iron caliper brakes, this way GM could use the same part number for both sides. I just finished replacing the passenger side axle shaft on my rear end this weekend. In order to remove the lower caliper bolt, the control arm needs to be disconnected from the rear and lowered out of the way, It might be a good idea to disconnect the e-brake cable also.

 

Believe me, the pass side caliper can be removed, although it looks impossible. On my old '83 someone had actually torched a hole through the LCA, but it's not necessary.