Cascade Crew

nonsensekid20 · Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 3:27 pm Post subject: Drum to disc conversion?

What all really goes into this? Is it possible to just remove the drums from the hubs and put on discs? I know that's kind of a long shot but I can't figure out why summit wants $600 for a conversion kit.

Al Hasse · Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 4:57 pm Post subject:

The flanges on the axle housings are different for disc and drum. There's a bit of cutting and drilling to get the drum rear to accept the disc backing plates.

This is for conversion from drum to LS1, but the work to the axle flange is the same....

http://www.thirdgen.org/ls1reardisc

91RSVert · Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 5:32 pm Post subject:

From what I read it was not easy at all. Thats why I kept hunting tell I found an axle that had everything I wanted (posi, disc, gears) and paid a chunk for it.

aaron_sK · Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 7:28 pm Post subject:

If you have the factory piece under there it will be an open 2.73 drum. That is an axle of no redeeming qualities except it's weight value in scrap iron.

A disk posi with a more desirable ratio can be purchased reasonably. Might even consider and upgrade to a nine-bolt, but I'm a bit partial. Wink

nonsensekid20 · Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 7:51 pm Post subject:

If I can find one I'd much rather buy a decent 9 bolt disc brake posi and sell that torsen. Otherwise I'll be rockin drums still. True ill have a low mileage torsen with new 3.23's but still crappy drums and a weak 10 bolt.

alloy · Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 9:55 pm Post subject:

Leejo2005 · Member Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 466 Location: Kennewick

I just put LS1 rear disks on my posi 9-bolt about a month or so ago. It wasn't too bad and I only used a few hand tools to do it. Mostly a drill. I had to make a spacer to keep the axle seals seated.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 8:24 am Post subject:

And I've got a full set of thirdgen rear discs with decent pad life for $50.

Want them gone.

jchaussee · Member Joined: 14 Nov 2010 Posts: 1318 Location: renton

I shall follow this thread. I am interested in What if anything has to be done with lines and prop valve.

alloy · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 10:14 am Post subject:

When I went from drum to rear disk I searched all over and found a disk/disk prop valve. I ended up just gutting the back side of the valve and putting an adjustable prop valve on it. So if I did it again (I have on others cars) I'd just gut the valve and go with the adjustable one. Brake lines are easy..........rent a flaring tool from the parts store and customize your own lines.

Both Al and I went with the LS1 rears and we both upgraded to the newer ebrake handle and used the newer stock cables. Somewhere on here there is a thread on it. Pretty easy to do, it's just basic stuff really.

jchaussee · Member Joined: 14 Nov 2010 Posts: 1318 Location: renton

Is all that the same whether you go with ls1 or just stock third Gen discs? I have read on tgo but the threads go all over the place with no consensus

aaron_sK · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 10:30 am Post subject:

Factory prop valve is a piece of garbage.

Dan is correct about running the fronts at full pressure and installing an adjustable to the rears. I am in the process of doing that right now.

I would suggest doing that mod whether you run factory disks or upgrade. I am still running factory rears.

Everything on TGO is stupid. Everything. Razz

alloy · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 10:43 am Post subject:

If you go with the LS1 style you will need to change your ebrake cables and ebrake handle, and do some brake line adapting. With the 3rd gen ones you can get stock cables and I believe you might need to have your axle flanges turned down a little to fit inside the rotors. As I recall you don't have to do that with the LS1 style. The LS1 style is just a better setup all around. Well worth going that way instead of stock 3rd gen ones unless you find a rear that's already go them.

Here is my thread on my LS1 rear install.

http://www.cascadecrew.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5164&highlight=stoppage

jchaussee · Member Joined: 14 Nov 2010 Posts: 1318 Location: renton

Unfortunately I let my wife drive car on Saturday. Now she wants to again.so I figured I better upgrade brakes a little bit

alloy · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 10:59 am Post subject:

Well since 70% of your braking is in the front brakes, I'd upgrade them first. The stock front brakes are totally inadequate for even stock a daily driver. I built my first big brake kit for the front and wow what a difference. And even with the LS1 rears I have I need more back brakes to match the fronts I have. You can see my setup in the thread I linked to.

Al Hasse · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 11:02 am Post subject:

jchaussee · Member Joined: 14 Nov 2010 Posts: 1318 Location: renton

Ill work on fronts too. I am just getting rears now cause it's good price. I likw deals. Will ls1 fit under stock 15 Camaro rims?

alloy · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 11:27 am Post subject:

I've got 16"s on mine, so I really can't say for sure. Maybe Al can answer that.

Leejo2005 · Member Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 466 Location: Kennewick

I read somewhere that both the LS1 and C5 front brakes clear 16" firebird wheels. I don't know about Camaro though. I plan on going to C5 brakes at some point. I'm pretty sure the rears won't clear 15". They're pretty tight on my 16" wheels.

nonsensekid20 · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 1:04 pm Post subject:

Does anyone have pictures of the drum to disc conversion? Me and Luke were looking online at the LS1 conversion and it looks like a PITA. Something said you had to cut the braking surface off the old brakes. Cut the spindle. I just want to be able to add the discs and larger calipers.