I recently purchased an 85 disc brake rearend, and I am wondering if I can just take these in as cores and purchase re-built calipers from a 92? I dont need the 1-le just the newer single piston ones with the better E-brake set-up. Thanks in advance.

 

The 89 and up aluminum calipers are the same ones used on 1le's, You will need diffrent backing plates and rotors, you will also need new brake lines and if you have drums now the 89 and up setup uses the same m/c the p vavle is diffrent though. I would recomend this swap I went from drum to disc to the 89 and up set up and it is byfar the best so far. Look for a place called ta creations on the net they will be able to set you up with everything you need cheap.

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86Z28, GM 350, Jet perf Q-jet & chip Dual snorkel air cleaner, Edelbrock performer intake, Edelbrock headers, Edelbrock cat-back, Off road pipe, MSD 6AL, Accel Super Coil, Taylor Spiro-pro wires, Rapid fire plugs, Jet fan switch, World class t-5, Hurst Short Throw Shifter, Ram Flywheel, Center force dual friction clutch,Aluminum drive shaft, BW disc rear 3.45's & a posi, PBR calipers, Earls braided brake lines, Polygrapite bushings all the way around, poly tranny mount & torque arm mount, Hotchkis lower control arms & panhard rod, Rancho limiter straps, KYB struts & shocks, Gm Wonderbar, Edelbrock strut tower brace, SSM sub frame connectors, Jamex lowering springs, Carbon metallic brake pads, Crossed drilled rotors, Mobil 1 Tranny fluid & motor oil, GM syntheic rear end oil, K&N, Grant stering wheel, 1,200 watt system, Jet Black Paint, 91 Z28 rims, 92 wing, Tinted windows.

 

The 89 and up rear discs are the same as 1LE? I thought the 1LE had double piston calipers and 12" rotors?

 

The 1LE calipers with the 2 pistons is for the front brakes only. The rear disc brakes were the same weather or not it was a 1LE

 

Can these calipers be bolted on to the 85 disc brake rearend, or do I need other brackets? Or should I just get re-built 85 calipers?

 

I don't think there is a way to mount the dual piston calipers to the rear. The mounting I think is different and I know the rotors are different. I think you would need a lot of modifying. I never heard of anyone trying that though. Also you might be limited to certain types of rims or need spacers so the caliper won't touch the rim face. I would just get the rebuild calipers for the 85 It will save you a lot of trouble.

 

If you want to rebuild the calipers yourself, http://www.expressautoparts.com got me an Auto Specialities rebuild kit for $12 or so. It's got all the seals in it. The Haynes 82-92 Camaro (or Firebird) manual covers the rebuild, and gives you the same info that the GM Service Manual does.

The one I rebuilt is working better than the one I got from Pep Boys (the other one was rusted up too much to be rebuilt).


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

the calipers will clear 15 inch rims, you will need diffrent backing plates,like I said before I recommend this swap.

 

Black Z, some 15 inch rims will clear the calipers. I just swapped in a 9 bolt with the rear disc's and mine did not. Its not the inside diameter that is the problem (there is about an inch clearance) its the wheel back facing. My 2nd gen snowflake rims was rubbing against the back of the rim so bad the the engine couldn't turn them even when jacked up. Just kept stalling. I had a set of the five spoke Z-28 rims and they it fine. So some will fit just check before you put them on.

 

I would highly recommend getting the 89 and up calipers. I did the rear disc swap and put on the earlier calipers and have had nothing but trouble. I have everything that is suppossed to go with the system including mc and prop valve.
It has been a nightmare getting it to work right, and from what ive read, im not alone.
So if you wanna save yourself alot of headaches and have good rear brakes go with the newer system.

 

Thanks everyone for your help! I just ordered a set of used calipers, backing plate, and rotors for the 89 and up PBR set-up. (ta creations had the stuff!)
Jeff

 

Yeah ta creations, is a good place, they are nice people and they are really helpful, to you have the link to there site? I am sorry if I was not clear on that, The rims I put on to my friends car just to move it where my old 15 inch camaro wheels, and he has the complete 1le package.

[This message has been edited by BLACK Z (edited January 05, 2001).]

 

The link to that site is: http://www.tacreationsusa.com/

I ordered my fiberglass headliner from there last week and I should have it Monday.

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Kevin Irving
85 Trans Am WS-6, 305 TPI, custom burned '86 PROM with '87 "165"ECM, Accel Supercoil & 8.8 Wires, MSD 6AL, Aluminum Driveshaft, TB Coolant Bypass, Ported Plenum, Modified MAF, Syclone Fuel Pump, JET Airfoil

15.556 @ 86.65mph, Nov 10, 2000.... I know it sucks.. but it will get better!

http://www.geocities.com/transam85tpi/

 

I got a 3.27 posi 9 bolt off an 89 Trans-am Complete with the rear discs, brake lines, and MC for $250.

I've got it in my car and is a hell of alot better than my Drums.