#1  
Old 07-03-2020, 02:12 PM
Fullback66's Avatar
Fullback66 Fullback66 is offline
Chief Ponti-yacker
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Cornhusker state & Great Lake State
Posts: 915
Default Drum to disk brake question. 1966 GTO

I am about to convert my drum brakes to disk brakes.
Question:

Do I need to have a spring compressor to convert brakes?
Do I need to secure or chain them up?

Those who converted brakes what did you do with the spring?

Just want to be safe.
Thanks
FB66

  #2  
Old 07-03-2020, 04:10 PM
ignaro's Avatar
ignaro ignaro is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Torrance, CA
Posts: 109
Default

If you're swapping out your spindles, you'll need to pull the spring. I put a ratchet strap on mine for safety, used the jack to lift the lower control arm and unbolt the spring/shock, then stood back and lowered the jack slowly. Worked great, no drama. That was for suspension upgrades.

My front disc brake conversion used the same spindles and therefore didn't need any changes to the spring or spindles. I'm guessing yours wouldn't either.

You basically just unbolt the drum brake assembly and the whole thing comes off the spindle peg. Then a new wheel bearing, hub, and rotor go on.

Sent from my SM-G988U1 using Tapatalk

  #3  
Old 07-03-2020, 05:00 PM
george kujanski's Avatar
george kujanski george kujanski is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: palatine, il. USA
Posts: 7,832
Default

I didn't fool with the spring at all when I changed my drums to disk. Sure, you should have a jack stand under the lower control arm when you disconnect the ball joints. the spring stays loaded with the weight of the car. If you are unsure of the process get someone who knows to help out. Be safe.

george

__________________
"...out to my ol'55, I pulled away slowly, feeling so holy, god knows i was feeling alive"....written by Tom Wait from the Eagles' Live From The Forum
  #4  
Old 07-03-2020, 05:01 PM
Greg Reid's Avatar
Greg Reid Greg Reid is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Palmetto, GA. USA
Posts: 16,163
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fullback66 View Post
I am about to convert my drum brakes to disk brakes.
I'm interested in doing the same for my '66 at some point. Can you post what you are using for parts? I'd be going from manual drums to power discs.

__________________
Greg Reid
Palmetto, Georgia

  #5  
Old 07-03-2020, 05:13 PM
george kujanski's Avatar
george kujanski george kujanski is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: palatine, il. USA
Posts: 7,832
Default

For the front, I bought the spindles and dust shield from Ames.All the other parts were for a '72 GTO. I bought reman calipers and had them powder coated. I also bought PowerStop rotors for the same vehicle. Vacuum booster and master cylinder was similar, but the std booster is 11" and gets close to the driver's valve cover. if too close for your liking, the 9" ones are available. The prop valves are available aftermarket or you can get the entire setup along with front and rear lines also. Since you have a '66 there may need to be a modification to the existing rear line/ distribution block.

Check with Inline tube, the Right Stuff, etc. for their upgrade kits for ideas too.

I replaced the dist block on my '67 with a proportioning combo valve and made my own lines from the master to the prop valve and then to the front and rear(since the position and size of the valve on the frame had changed.

george

__________________
"...out to my ol'55, I pulled away slowly, feeling so holy, god knows i was feeling alive"....written by Tom Wait from the Eagles' Live From The Forum
The Following User Says Thank You to george kujanski For This Useful Post:
  #6  
Old 07-03-2020, 10:35 PM
Fullback66's Avatar
Fullback66 Fullback66 is offline
Chief Ponti-yacker
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Cornhusker state & Great Lake State
Posts: 915
Default

Greg,
I bought the whole kit from Inline tube about 13 years ago.
Time to finally put them in.
FB66

The Following User Says Thank You to Fullback66 For This Useful Post:
  #7  
Old 07-04-2020, 01:01 AM
Lemans64's Avatar
Lemans64 Lemans64 is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Vancouver Island BC Canada
Posts: 1,811
Default

No you do not need to remove the spring, or chain it, leave the shock on and will help, will act a safety as well as jack or jack stand under the lower arm when seperating ball joint.
Buying a kit is probably the easiest way to do it.

__________________
64 Lemans hardtop
4spd, buckets
The Following User Says Thank You to Lemans64 For This Useful Post:
  #8  
Old 07-04-2020, 09:10 AM
Skip Fix's Avatar
Skip Fix Skip Fix is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Katy,TX USA
Posts: 20,541
Default

I swapped a kit onm my 65 as the drums were seized up form leaking wheel cylinders. Just supported lower A arm and popped loose the ball joints. I use a tool that goes between the ball joints and spreads them to pop them loose. 65 was a little tight since original and needed a few taps with a hammer to help loosen it.

__________________
Skip Fix
1978 Trans Am original owner 10.99 @ 124 pump gas 455 E heads, NO Bird ever!
1981 Black SE Trans Am stockish 6X 400ci, turbo 301 on a stand
1965 GTO 4 barrel 3 speed project
2004 GTO Pulse Red stock motor computer tune 13.43@103.4
1964 Impala SS 409/470ci 600 HP stroker project
1979 Camaro IAII Edelbrock head 500" 695 HP 10.33@132 3595lbs
The Following User Says Thank You to Skip Fix For This Useful Post:
  #9  
Old 07-05-2020, 06:36 PM
389 389 is offline
Suspended
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Pittsburgh
Posts: 561
Default

Pull the shocks and run a piece of 1/2" all thread through the holes and bolt everything together. Then get your fork and pop the ball joints and swap spindles.. Don't depend on the weight of the car to hold everything together... Those springs can be a real jack in the box..

  #10  
Old 07-23-2020, 12:27 PM
NeighborsComplaint's Avatar
NeighborsComplaint NeighborsComplaint is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Elgin
Posts: 2,468
Default

After my experience with the disc brake conversion, I would gladly let the spring hit me in the head and end the misery quickly.

__________________
Triple Black 1971 GTO
  #11  
Old 07-23-2020, 02:30 PM
NeighborsComplaint's Avatar
NeighborsComplaint NeighborsComplaint is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Elgin
Posts: 2,468
Default

On a serious note, I would just get a caliper and dust shield kit kit that does not require a spindle change-out unless you are installing dropped spindles or lowering springs, especially if you are planning on doing the by yourself.

My car was on a lift when I did mine. We used a transmission jack to compress the spring and a length of rebar through the shock mount to prevent a spring from flying out. I was able to swing the control arm down and remove the unloaded spring with a pry bar.

On the reinstall, it took 3 of us to get the uncompressed springs back in the pockets. You would think what came out should go back in, but it didn't and the replacement springs were correct to the car. Even with the lower control arm swung down to its lower limit, no way was the spring going back in without brute force. Once seated, we used the transmission jack to compress the spring with the lower control arm. We had to use ratchet straps from the frame to the arms of the lift to keep the car from coming off of the lift as theer were no wheels on the car at the time. Once the spring was partially compressed, we were able to attach the spindle to the control arm.

I would never do that again and had 2 really burly guys helping me with it.

__________________
Triple Black 1971 GTO
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:09 AM.

 

About Us

The PY Online Forums is the largest online gathering of Pontiac enthusiasts anywhere in the world. Founded in 1991, it was also the first online forum for people to gather and talk about their Pontiacs. Since then, it has become the mecca of Pontiac technical data and knowledge that no other place can surpass.

 




Copyright © 2017