[garyfbody77]

I want to convert my ’68 FB from power front drum brakes to disc. I bought a fairly complete (’69 FB) setup from a fellow off of this website (single-piston calipers, 2-piece rotors, brackets, spindles, bearings - everything in great shape). A short time later I found a pair of 4-piston calipers/brackets/backing plates (all correct part numbers for a ’68 FB) from a local guy on Craig’s List for $200 (which seemed reasonable at the time, though he thought the calipers should be re-built to be safe, so some money needs to be spent if I go that route). Question is – which system should I install? I heard the 4-piston setup can be a bit troublesome. I’d prefer to keep things original if possible, but if the single piston set-up has any safety/performance advantages I’d probably go that route. Just looking for opinions on the subject – thanks. I presume I can use the '69 spindles with the '68 4-piston set-up.

[boater bill]

I would use the single piston calipers and never look back.
The 4 pistons will leak and be a pita eventually. Been running my single pistons calipers on 2 piece rotors for aover 20 years with zero problems.

[stevep]

Originally Posted by boater bill

I would use the single piston calipers and never look back.
The 4 pistons will leak and be a pita eventually. Been running my single pistons calipers on 2 piece rotors for aover 20 years with zero problems.

Plus the single piston calipers are readily available and inexpensive.

[FASTASSBIRD]

I'll take the two piston ones haha! Stainless steel sleeves fix the problem. However the 68 parts are harder to find, and the 68 systems is much heavier then the 69 I think. by they look a whole hell of a lot cooler IMHO

[Cammer-6]

4 piston are about $400 to resleeve and rebuild.
Its actually cheaper to buy the repop 4 piston calipers.
I think I still have about 4 of those set ups.
Im considering redoing one set and reversing my single piston from 4 piston
conversion I did 25 yrs ago.
Alot of the newer cars with big brakes still use multi piston
setups and they dont have any problems.

[Donovan]

These days the aftermarket has aluminum calipers that are a bolt on replacement as well.

Might be time to rethink the tried and true refried info we all pass around.

The rebuilds available with O rings also address the issues that made the originals problematic. Try talking to the 68-81 Corvette community. They use the same design there are a ton on the road that have no issues.

['ol Pinion head]

Originally Posted by Cammer-6

4 piston are about $400 to resleeve and rebuild.
Its actually cheaper to buy the repop 4 piston calipers.
I think I still have about 4 of those set ups.
Im considering redoing one set and reversing my single piston from 4 piston
conversion I did 25 yrs ago.
Alot of the newer cars with big brakes still use multi piston
setups and they dont have any problems.

I would disagree about the late model multi piston calipers being trouble free. I've replaced a couple pair on latemodels & my parts counter man said he sees them frozen up all the time. On the stainless steel resleeve deal, who is installing new pistons as well?

[Cammer-6]

Vette brakes is one of them

OPH not a fair comparison
Im pretty certain that road salt or mud had something to do with those failures.

[Scarebird]

Resell the 4 piston to a 67-68 guy and get these to use on your 68:

http://www.wilwood.com/Calipers/Cali...o=120-10937-RD

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

Originally Posted by boater bill

I would use the single piston calipers and never look back.
The 4 pistons will leak and be a pita eventually. Been running my single pistons calipers on 2 piece rotors for aover 20 years with zero problems.

Which 2 piece rotor set up are you using with your single piston calipers ???

[boater bill]

Originally Posted by 67 455 Bird ragtop

Which 2 piece rotor set up are you using with your single piston calipers ???

The rotor is OEM 67/68. The issues with rotors come in when you use a 4 piston caliper on a one piece rotor. There isnt enough clearance at the hub. No problems with the 2 pice rotor and single piston caliper.

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

Thanks

['ol Pinion head]

Originally Posted by Cammer-6

Vette brakes is one of them

OPH not a fair comparison
Im pretty certain that road salt or mud had something to do with those failures.

Cammer, the late model 4 piston calipers I've pulled that had to be replaced were off SUV's & 2WD pickups that were from here in the S Plains. Very little to no salt exposure & for that matter very little mud, just frustrating when vehicle has less than 100K miles & has been babied. I'm now a big fan of flushing the original brake fluid out every 50K miles, never done that before with single piston set-ups.

On early Birds, I've had quite a few original 4 piston calipers resleeved, but know the pistons weren't replaced during the rebuild. White Post did the first pair I sent out for a customers car in the mid '90's & they were leaking within a year. I agree with others, the '69 style single piston is easiest & most trouble free, but has less stopping capability of whats being offered by massive aftermarket calipers & larger diam rotors.

[Cammer-6]

Originally Posted by boater bill

The rotor is OEM 67/68. The issues with rotors come in when you use a 4 piston caliper on a one piece rotor. There isnt enough clearance at the hub. No problems with the 2 pice rotor and single piston caliper.

69 used the 2 piece rotor as well even tho they went to a single piston caliper.
I was buying replacement one piece rotors that were designed to fit in place of the 2 piece ones. I wish I would have bought more as they were only $40 each.

I still dont understand why no one makes a replacement rotor disc to fix a worn out 2 piece.

[ho428]

Heartbeat city has the correct two piece rotors, import or US.
http://www.heartbeatcitycamaro.com/s...kes/page2.html

Vette Brakes sleeved and rebuilt my Calipers, they worked good for a couple of season on the track, and I get them really hot. They do tend to leak if you let the car sit for long periods but the seals are easy to replace, just get some SS sleeves put in them.

The replacement Camaro Caliper is not the same internally, has smaller pistons, if you swap them out make sure you get a matched set.

Personally I'd go through the Firebird 4 piston set and install it. Works a little better but looks way cooler than the single piston.
I've run both on two different 68's and I prefer the 4 piston set up.
Make sure the CL guy has the brackets and spindles to mount the calipers.