1972 cutlass drum brake convert to disk need help

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Old Jan 28, 2013 | 08:37 AM
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akins2000's Avatar
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Smile 1972 cutlass drum brake convert to disk need help

Hello I have a 1972 cutlass with drum brakes in the front. I also have the 15 inch rallye wheels on it. I found a 74 cutlass in the junk yard and I took the full disk brake setup off the 74. The spindle and hub, rotor and caliber also brake line. Will the 74 fit on my 72?
Old Jan 28, 2013 | 08:54 AM
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Originally Posted by akins2000
Hello I have a 1972 cutlass with drum brakes in the front. I also have the 15 inch rallye wheels on it. I found a 74 cutlass in the junk yard and I took the full disk brake setup off the 74. The spindle and hub, rotor and caliber also brake line. Will the 74 fit on my 72?
Not even close. The 1973-77 spindles are completely different from the 1964-72 spindles. Ball joint tapered holes are different sizes and while you can bolt them up, the ball joint studs will not seat properly in the holes in the spindles. THIS IS NOT SAFE. DO NOT DO IT.

The only way to make this work is to modify your control arms to use the correct ball joints for the 74, but even then the steering arms, which are part of the one-piece spindle in 1974, will be in the wrong place, causing bump steer. Get rid of these spindles and get the correct 1964-72 parts.
Old Jan 28, 2013 | 09:39 AM
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This really sucks. I been told bu other people that it will work. Well thanks for the info. I had everything sand blasted and painted. Hopefully I can get my 100 bucks if I sale this setup. Thanks.
Old Jan 28, 2013 | 09:54 AM
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Originally Posted by akins2000
This really sucks. I been told bu other people that it will work. Well thanks for the info. I had everything sand blasted and painted. Hopefully I can get my 100 bucks if I sale this setup. Thanks.
This question comes up a lot and I always say that a little common sense needs to be applied. If this inexpensive late model spindle swap worked, the aftermarket disc brake kits for the 64-72 cars would be priced a whole lot lower than they are. In any case, if it helps with your sale, these spindles fit all 1973-77 A-body cars (Cutlass, Chevelle, etc), 1970-81 F-body (Camaro/Firebird), and 1975-79 X-body cars (Nova, Omega, etc). Unfortunately, every one of those cars came with front discs from the factory, so there's not a lot of demand for these parts.
Old Jan 28, 2013 | 10:15 AM
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Not trying to make you feel any worse than you already do, but why didn't you ask the question first, before pulling the parts and painting them?
Old Jan 28, 2013 | 10:34 AM
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Originally Posted by ent72olds
Not trying to make you feel any worse than you already do, but why didn't you ask the question first, before pulling the parts and painting them?
Actually I did ask questions even the guy at the junkyard told me it would work. Any oldsmobiles from 67-87 that end up in the junkyard, are strip from its parts fast the damand for them parts are very high.
Old Jan 28, 2013 | 02:23 PM
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joe_padavano's Avatar
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Originally Posted by akins2000
Actually I did ask questions even the guy at the junkyard told me it would work.
I don't suppose you could take the parts back there and ask him to prove that by looking it up in his Hollanders manual...

Of course, I'm sure there's a no returns policy, even it THEY are the ones who make the mistake.
Old Mar 15, 2013 | 11:34 PM
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Does anyone know a good company to purchase the front/rear disc setup?? I'm looking to changing my drum brakes.
Old Mar 17, 2013 | 08:09 AM
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Originally Posted by alex72cutty
does anyone know a good company to purchase the front/rear disc setup?? I'm looking to changing my drum brakes.
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