If anyone can help me real quick, I am in the process of changing a rear end. Swapping a 10 bolt drum to a 9 bolt 12 inch disc. I have everything in and the axles spin, but when I put the wheels on and tighten it it wont spin anymore. I loosened the e-brake cable and removed the driveshaft and still the same thing. When I loosen the lug nuts on both wheels it will spin again. I have brand new rotors and pads. I made sure they weren't touching when I romoved the wheels. I don't get it? Does anyone know whats wrong. Did I do something wrong? Skip something? Oh yeah I don't think it really makes a difference but the brakes aren't bleed yet. Thanks for the help!

 

Sounds like maybe the wheels are rubbing the brake caliper. Worth a look...

 

Thanks I just checked it and it does clear. It will spin with the wheels on but not when I tighten the lug nuts... I don't get it.

 

I just put everything back together and started the motor and it wont budge the rear. Just stalls out. I have the 15 inch snowflake rims. It looks like it clears the calipers by 3/4 inch. The outboard brake pad seems to be touching the rotor that could be it but I don't know or even know how to correct it if it was the prob. Anyone have any ideas?

 

Did you check the caliper at the inner circumference of the wheel and between the front of the caliper and back of the rim face?

 

No that I haven't even thought of yet. I will do that tomorrow morning. If that is the problem is there any other way to correct with out buy different rims?

 

Thanks Key, I found out it was the wheel back surface hitting the caliper. I guess the snowflake rims just wont work with this rear set-up. Good thing a had a pair of the five star z-28 rims laying around with somewhat good tires on them. Sucks I can't use the snow flakes, they had brand new 28" tires on them and I like the design of the wheel. Oh well.

 

Can you use a wheel spacer to give you some extra clearance?

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1985 Camaro IROC-Z LB9

1989 Pontiac Firebird
Formula W6S LO3 TBI 305
-180 degree stat
-Hooker Cat-Back

 

You can get aluminum spacers to get some clearance. If the back of the rim face hits it may be enough.

 

Yeah I was thinking about that. Unforntatlly, because the 2nd gen snowflake rims are aluminum I guess the area where the studs go through are thicker and they are flat and not flared, requiring washers, the studs don't go through far enough to get enough threads on the lug nut if I put a spacer on them. I tried to put longer studs in but unless I remove the axle to do it, I can't get them in because of the backing plate. I guess I'm stuck for now with the Z-28 rims at least until I decide to rebuild the rear and remove the axles. Thanks anyways for the help.

 

Do you know by how much the wheel interferes with the caliper? Maybe just a pair of thin spacers will work. Some 3rd gens came with spacers about 3/16" thick on the rear for some reason. I have them on mine, although I don't know if they're needed.

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1985 Yellow IROC-Z 5.0 HO, T-5 3.73 Posi, 4 wheel disks
PFCM pads, GTA wheels, Koni yellows, B&M Ripper, Dynomax

 

That was my thought as well, my Formula has them too, depends on how much clearance is needed.

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1985 Camaro IROC-Z LB9

1989 Pontiac Firebird
Formula W6S LO3 TBI 305
-180 degree stat
-Hooker Cat-Back