Classic Shop Talk - Upgrading to Disc Brakes

When you think about upgrading to disc brakes on a Chevy Muscle Car you probably think that it’s a difficult job that should be left up to a professional shop. In the past that would of been the case. Most upgrades required changing spindles, ball joints, custom machine work and a host of modifications that move your wheels out, negatively affecting the steering geometry, causing your new tires to rub your freshly painted fenders. But things have changed. Today, companies like Classic Performance Inc. manufacture kits that are considered easy “bolt-on” kits. An excellent example of this is CPP’s Super Street Kit, a high performance disc brake system designed for all the popular early Chevy midsize cars. Let’s take a look inside the box of a Super Street Kit and read the instructions. I think you will see these kits are very simple to install and require just basic hand tools, something any gearhead can handle.

INSTRUCTIONS: Remove the drum brake assembly including the backing plate so all that remains is the spindle. Inspect the spindles for grooves and cracks caused by excessive wear from the old bearings. Worn spindles must be replaced before continuing with the installation.Next you will need to bolt the caliper mounting bracket to the engine side of the spindle. Attach the steering arm pointing toward the rear of the vehicle placing the provided short spacer between the spindle’s front lower mounting hole and the steering arm. It is recommended that Loc-Tite adhesive sealant be used on the top 3/8” Allen head mounting bolt. No sealant is necessary for the two lower bolts.
Attach the aluminum hub to the rotor with the supplied 3/16” Allen bolts using Loc-Tite, torque these bolts to 7-9 ft. lbs. Install the inner bearing and seals and place the rotor on the spindle.

Install the outer bearing, washer and spindle nut.

Slide the caliper onto the bracket with the bleeder up. The caliper may not slide into place due to a bump in the casting next to the piston bore. In some cases, it will be necessary to grind this bump flush using a bench grinder. It may also be necessary to grind away a small portion of the caliper where the brake hose mounts to allow the new banjo-fitted brake hose to be installed so it does not interfere with the spindle. In some cases, it may also be necessary to grind the spindle near the anchor bolt boss for proper bracket fit. Reinstall the caliper and turn the spindle full lock left and right to check for any interference. Loc-Tite is also recommended for the caliper mounting screws.

For more information on the Super Street Kit and other “bolt-on” disc brake kits, contact Classic Performance Products for your free catalog or visit our website at www.classicperform.com.

These instructions and others can be found at: http://www.classicperform.com/instructions.htm

Upgrading to Disc Brakes

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