Hey everyone,

How common is it for a 72 Cutlass Supreme convertible to have drums all the way around?

I hate the looks of them, but to tell the truth, it seems to stop okay.

It has a power booster. How difficult would it be to convert the fronts?

Due to the cost, I would probably prefer to just buy a used disc brake setup.

Dale

 

Very common. Discs were an extra cost option back then.
Since they work okay, why change them to disc? Drums are fine unless you are racing stoplight to stoplight.

 

Mine drum brakes work great racing stop light to stop light. It's not difficult to convert as all parts are available.

 

My Cutlass Supreme Convertible has power drums also. This is only the 3rd car I ever owned with drum brakes, going back to 1969. I guess back then, disk brakes were kind of a "new fangled thing" and some people stayed with what they were more familiar with. My drums are okay too, but NOT if you drive through some standing water that gets in the drums. You will have ZERO brakes until you stand on them a few times to force it out and burn it off. They are also a lot more prone to fade if you use them hard, like driving in the mountains.

I bought a full used OEM set-up a while back, but just haven't gotten around to replacing them yet. I am also going to replace the bushings and springs.

 

A reproduction disc brake set up should be less than an original that you would have to refurbish or go thru. Need to add the master cylinder, the front brakes themselves, plus change the brake lines. I think the spindles are the same drum and disc. And if you are not running SSII wheels, but have the factory steel wheels you would need to change wheels

 

I believe the spindles need to be changed also.

 

Thanks everyone for a quick response.

If a conversion requires everything that you guys listed, I will probably keep the drums....at least until I get all of the other stuff done.

Dale

 

Hey Rob, great looking convertible. Is it just the way the pic looks or is the fender 442 emblem sitting at an angle?

Just curious.

Dale

 

48% of the '72 Cutlass Supremes came with disc brakes.

 

That is so strange. My son's 69 Chevelle (with no frills) came with front discs.

I have a lot of stuff to do/buy before worring about disc brakes.....
- 442 hood
- 442 rear bumper & rechrome front bumper
- Replacing the interior
- Reparing the rust around the rear wheel wells
- Paint
- New exhaust
- and the list goes on...........

I wanted a project....I guess I should watch what I ask for, I might just get it.

Dale

 

Only because someone ordered it that way.

Except for Corvette GM didn't even offer disc brakes until 1967 and even then not on all carlines, whereas Ford and AMC did in 1965 and Chrysler as early as 1949 on Imperials. Even Studebaker offered them in 1964.

But I've noticed a lot of under-50 car guys are amazed that older cars don't have all the bells and whistles a modern car has.

 

I have had two 72 Cutlass convertibles and they both had drum brakes all around. I had to drive them both home with the emergency brake only. I have an original disc brake setup that I was going to put on my current car but will probably sell it since I will be selling the car next year. I have to fix the drum brakes first. I also have a set of Vista Cruiser brakes for the rear that I will probably sell. They are 2 1/2 inches wide versus the 2" wide.

 

One good thing about drum brakes is no brake dust to dirty up the beauty rings...LOL

 

I get the exact opposite: Power locks, seats, steering, windows, aircon etc. is all unheard of in EU cars from the late 60s early 70s. They're always surprised.

 

if the car is in good shape and you plan on having it around for years to come I would keep it as orginal as possible - just my thought

 

Correct. The main backing plate bolt mounting boss is ~ .6" taller on the drum spindles. Other than that, they're identical. You can mod a drum spindle into a disc spindle by just cutting this boss down.

 

John Andreotti at Ott's Friction Supply can fix you up with high quality shoes. My drum brake car stops well from 118 mph on the strip, no fade, no smoked friction material or glazing.

 

same for a '67?


bill

 

I'm not sure....

I know the spindles are essentially the same from '64-'72 for A-bodies (& I think its also the same piece for the early X & F bodies) except for the size of the upper & lower bolt holes ('64-'66 ? are smaller ).

I've heard if you have early/mid '68 (not '69 & up) drum spindles you may have to drill & tap the hole a bit deeper after cutting the boss down .610" ...so '67 would probably need the drill/tap treatment. (Seems GM started doing the drum ones deeper in '69 ...)

'67 & '68 used the same big 4 pot calipers & rotors with similar bracketry so I'd image they're very similar, if not identical.