Hey guys.

I've exhausted my search fu again while researching the following topic:

Is there anything special I need to do or buy to swap a 4th gen rear end (with drum brakes) onto my 3rd gen (also with drum brakes)?

The reading and searching I've done about this topic all seems to discuss swapping from drums to disks, but I havent found anything about switching from drums to drums.

Although I know that disks are better in a lot of eyes, I'm more interested in the stronger 28 spline axles and the rims that came on a 94 donor car I lucked into for a ridiculously low price. I can absolutely live with the drums, I just want to know if everything will "bolt right up."

Thanks in advance.

 

Bolt-in. If the gear set is different in the fourthgen rear, you'll need speedo drive and/or driven gears to make the speedo rear correctly.

JamesC

 

And those 4th gen wheels - you'll need wheel spacers for the fronts to work on your 3rd gen car, about 2inch spacers I believe. Otherwise, they'll rub the tie rod ends.

 

Let me chime in a bit. I'm not an Expert like alot of the others on here, but i JUST did the swap for the first time myself. I had a problem with the center hose. You have to make sure that you get the center hose that goes with YOUR car, not the one the rear came out of. I also had a problem with emergency brake cables. I have a 1982 and was putting a 1994 Rear in. I had to use Cables from a 1992. With the Cables, you have time to Find the right ones. I don't know what ones you should use with 4th gen drums, but you can drive the car without emergency brakes until you find the right ones.

If your goal is 28 Spline, you don't have to go to 4th gen. Late model 3rd gens have 28 Spline. I THINK it's 1989-1992. Another Route you could go is to get a Borg-Warner 9 Bolt. It just so happens that i have one of those available if you're close by. It has rear discs, It's Limited Slip, and it has a 3.45 Ratio.

Just noticed you're in West Texas. I'm in Shreveport. That would be a bit of a drive i guess.

 

To the OP. As most members swap in disc brakes from either third- or fourthgen cars, I'm interested in what parking brake cable issues you might encounter. Please keep us posted.

JamesC

 

Thanks guys. My baby is a 1987 Camaro with a 2.8/700r4 combo. Disks up front, drums in the back, nothing too special....yet. I've installed just about every shiny red BMR Suspension part in their catalog, and it is time to start upgrading the rest. I was able to get my hands on a '94 Camaro with a 3.4/t5 combo that is mechanically sound but pretty tore up cosmetically inside and out, hence the questions I've been asking lately.

It'll probably be a bit before I actually get a chance to get some good wrench time in on her again. Thanks for the tip on the front spacers and the hose. I'll report back when I actually get the swapping started to let everyone know definitively what it requires to go from drums to drums.

As always, thanks a ton.

 

I'm interested in that rear end.....is it a bolt in for 3rd gen? is it the right width? can I use my '84 Z28 rims with this? I live in Greenville, Tx which is off I30 in the way into Dallas. I could make the trip is your rear end is in good shape?