When you think about upgrading to disc brakes on a Chevy
Muscle Car you probably think that its 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 CPPs Super Street Kit, a high performance
disc brake system designed for all the popular early Chevy midsize cars.
Lets 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 spindles 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 |