65GS.com - Buick Gran Sport Enthusiasts!
Drivetrain => Differentials, Axles & Brakes => Topic started by: Brian on May 07, 2008, 02:24:13 PM
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I noticed on the information page on this site that the information says the '65 GS had wider brake shoes on it. My '65 GS has the same exact brake shoes on it as a regular Skylark both front and Rear. It does have the larger wheel cylinders in the front like the information says--they are 1-1/8" instead of 1-1/16" like came in a regular Skylark.
Also, all of the '65 Specials and Skylarks I have ever seen have the finned brake drums both front and rear--they were not specific to the GS.
My car is a very early produciton car with the small grille emblem, so it could be that the brakes on it are different than most cars.
Does anyone have a '65 GS with wider brake shoes in the rear?
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Brian,
Welcome aboard!
Mark
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Welcome Brian!
I'll need to measure the brakes on my four 65 GS's and if there was actually a difference, it would certainly appear on one of them.
It may take me a while to do it.. but I'll get er done. = )
Chris
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Glad you could join us Brian!
As far as I know, the GS has the same size brake shoes as the standard Skylarks.
The Sportwagon has wider brake shoes which also required different backing plates.
Supposedly, the GS's did have thicker brake backing plates. The 1966 Buick parts book does show different numbers for GS models than 'larks.
However, the pn stampings on my 66 GS plate (5456850-R) differs from the parts book pn of 5467809....so I haven't confirmed that yet.
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The reason for the different rear backing plate part numbers is because the hole in the middle is larger for the larger rear wheel bearings to pass through when you install the axles. The GS wheel bearings won't fit through the hole in the backing plates from a standard Skylark. Other than that, I haven't noticed any other differences in the rear backing plates, although I never thought to check the material thickness. The bolt mounting pattern is the same--the gaskets from a regular Skylark are the same and fit with no problem.
I need to get some pics of my car and put them on here for you guys--I recently bought a set of the correct Firestone Bias-Ply tires and put on my '65 GS. It looks a little different from the rear, but not much different from the side since they are blackwall. But man does it ride different though! As with all bias tires, they get flat spots since the car sits around in the garage so much!
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I also have a set of bias ply tires for my GS . It seems to be much more touchy with the steering then with radials on .
Loren