65 GS Front Spindles and Rotors?

[Joe65SkylarkGS]

I really don't like the drum brakes. Is it acceptable for this upgrade? I am really big on brakes!!!

So what interchanges with this? Maybe some chevelle part? The Buick kits are almost always overpriced!! ???

[Mark Ascher]

Joe,

It depends on what you want to do with the car. If it's a stock restoration, the drum brakes are
really pretty good. Thats a rare car in a condition that is tough to come by.

What's your plan?

Mark

[WkillGS]

Joe, glad you could join us!
Most of the disc conversion kits are in the $600 range. If you buy at a major swap meet like Carlisle, they often give a price break, or throw in goodies like a line kit.

If you want to use the stock 14" wheels, they may not fit with the discs. Scarebird offers caliper brackets that bolt to the stock  drum spindles, use readily avail rotors/calipers, and will fit the stock 14" wheel.

I went back and forth on the disk conversion on my silver 66...I put the disc spindles on, then decided I wanted 100% stock, and now have to take them back off! The discs will go on my red 66 tho.

[Joe65SkylarkGS]

Joe, glad you could join us!
Most of the disc conversion kits are in the $600 range. If you buy at a major swap meet like Carlisle, they often give a price break, or throw in goodies like a line kit.

If you want to use the stock 14" wheels, they may not fit with the discs. Scarebird offers caliper brackets that bolt to the stock  drum spindles, use readily avail rotors/calipers, and will fit the stock 14" wheel.

I went back and forth on the disk conversion on my silver 66...I put the disc spindles on, then decided I wanted 100% stock, and now have to take them back off! The discs will go on my red 66 tho.

Thanks for the welcome Walt.

But I think on ebay I saw a kit for like 3 and change?

I did call The Right Stuff but the prices are up. I think 2 yrs ago I bought the whole set up for 340!!

[Joe65SkylarkGS]

Joe,

It depends on what you want to do with the car. If it's a stock restoration, the drum brakes are
really pretty good. Thats a rare car in a condition that is tough to come by.

What's your plan?

Mark

Hi Mark. If I had a good set of drum spindles i'd use them. Unfortunatly this is the one part I couldn't get apart. Frozen solid. I even tried breaking the drums off but no dice.

Any suggestions? I really don't have the extra 750 to buy a disc set up right now.

[Mark Ascher]

Joe,

What won't come apart from what? If you describe it in a little more detail, or even post a pic
of what the issue is, I'm sure I can help you get them apart.

Mark

[WkillGS]

That's a tough one....brake shoes are stuck to drum, correct?
You can try loosening the brake adjuster thru the slot, or grinding down the head of shoe hold-down pins that go thru the backing plate, and knocking them out.
I have a parts car with a locked wheel that I gave up on.....I just drug it out to the pasture.

[Joe65SkylarkGS]

I broke down and bought a brand new complete system. 60 to 0 brakesystems, soup to nuts with powder coated calipers, gm stamped booster, and everything else needed. 670.00.  Imo great deal.

[Chris]

I think you did the right thing Joe.

The cheaper kits in the $300 - $400 range either expect you to source and provide other "stock" parts from other makes and models.

The $600 range appears to be the sweet spot now for the kits that seem to consist of quality parts and complete enough that you end up with a matched setup that was designed and built to work correctly.

You'll need to send pictures of the process.. we yet have a documented disc conversion on the site and this would help a lot of folks.

Chris

[Joe65SkylarkGS]

Chris it all bolted right on the newly refurbished frame.

Second kit ive used with no problem. Granted the booster is still in the box but
I don't see having any issue there.

I LIKE BRAKES!!!!! ;D