I'm new to this disc/drum converting stuff, but since disc was available for my car, i want to change over to disc from drum. A guy near me has a set off his GTO that i can get. it comes with rotors, calipers, brackets, bearings, one spindle. and misc bolts .He's asking 125. He says my spindles are the same on my drum brakes because of the offset spindle? he said I also have quick ratio steering since I have steer knuckles (arms) that are bent inward? Now I'm lost since I thought the caliper bracket was built into the cast iron with the spindle, not bolted to it ? If I do convert it over, I want it to be GM or just like GM looking. I see they sell caliper brackets and such available from yr 1 and OPG and stuff, and I would just buy it all new and convert it and avoid the used part pitfalls? I'm not building a concourse car, so if the aftermarket stuff "looks" gm, and works well, i'll be happy ....but if crap, and old GM is better than new "china" then that answers that?

any insight from someone who has been there, done it ?
BTW, i have power brakes, and yes, the pics don't show much. I just had them threw them on.

I don't need booster or master.

 

I did it almost 40 yrs. ago - 67 GTO to 65 chevelle, but I had 2 spindles, and didn't compare.
My thoughts are: how good is his stuff, and would I trust my life to it? Price is right if you can find the other spindle cheap!

 

The gist of what I'm asking, is ....is the aftermarket parts on the market decent ? do they look close to original? not as much about the used parts value. I just brought home a brand new wheel cyl. tonight, and well....one hole doesn't line up ...so, its back to see if they're all like that, and if so, I'm going to rebuild my 40 yr old cyl. its also more about design, since all my car with disc have the bracket for the caliper one piece with the spindle.

thanks though for your post

 

I never had a problem getting parts ( like a cylinder) from places like NAPA for my '69.. Used ? I would think all A bodys would be the same , GTO, OLds , Buick .... I used a complete kit from SSB, (Stainless Steeel Brake ) thru Year One , I think. The mounting plates for the calipers were bent, ( they said it was normal ) and sent me some new ones which were better, but still took some hammer adjusting....if I had to do it over, I'd use the used stuff like the GTO your referring too.

 

I would strongly suggest you buy some parts off guys on this site, 2blu442 and oldspackrat and jensenracing all have lots of good parts.

Start a parts wanted add, or Shoot them a PM and see what they've got. I would buy OEM cutlass parts ANYDAY before i bought anything off year-one or original farts group.

My 0.02$

 

thats the kind of hands on experience with "new" I'm talking about! thanks for the insight on used VS new (china) The wheel cyl. I bought was for a rear, and autozone has lots of stuff right there on the shelf !! These so called restoration supplies have the same china junk from what seen, actually, I was on fle-bay and saw wheel cyls, and guess what, the hole is off like mine!! I'm not going for 100 pts resto. but I'm not about to file the hole on my backing plates (hack comes to mind) my car is not a pile, I unscrewed the line and the bleeder is free so I can hone it and rebuild, its not magic. anyone in the CLEVE. AKRON area have some A BODY brakes?