Drum to disc conversion

[combatwombat25]

I've been wanting to upgrade my squeeking drums for awhile now. I was wondering if I can just go out and buy the powerslot rotors for the rear and simply slap them on? Or would it be a better idea to simply jack the rear-end from a Z28 (put someone's baby on blocks) lol, j/k, I could never do that. What would I need to do if I got the rear-end? Just take off the brake rotors? Or would I need to completely swap it in?

Thanks guys n gals who are smarter than me,

The Wombat

[91Firebirdv6]

swapping the whole rear makes more sense that way you could get the disc brakes + 3.42s w/lsd
3 birds with 1 stone

:D

This is what I did, I got mine for $200 from a junkyard, and it bolts right up. All I did was change the fluid. If you do it this way, then it everything works fine. ABS and everything. Plus disc in the back look so much more... right. However slotteds in the rear and stock up front would look kinda strange. :shrug: JMO.

[Dr. Channard]

You cant just put rotors on, you have to swap everything out. you need calipers, brake lines, rotors etc. You can keep your same rear end you just have to disassembly the drum setup and install a whole disc setup{Ive done this, its not fun}. you can swap the rear end then you would jsut have to clean it up and run the brake lines

[lo_jack]

I think to get the point across better we should explain that the rear end is only held to the car by 2 LCA bolts, 1PHB bolt, couple torque arm bolts, driveshaft and 2 shocks. Parking break cable (youd have to redo that anyhow) and breaklines as mentioned, and you are done.

search www.car-part.com (http://www.car-part.com) for an entire rear end, get a 98+ (standard rear disc), they usually have an option to pick ratio and lsd or not, and I think you will see you are better off time and money wise just swapping in a new rear end.

Hey charles do you have to pull the axles for that drum conversion? Is there a bracket? I looked into this for my old as crap dodge but its more hassel than its worth by a longshot..something about c clips that hold the axles into the tubes..this may be easier than that but not by much.

[95bat]

I was wanting to do the drum to disc conversion for a while too, but realizing I'd spend twice as much on expensive pads i am considering other options.

Why not buy a large set of front brakes and keep rear drum? Drum isn't as bad as it is made out to be, a larger drum stops better than disc brakes :) And weighs less too.

You can upgrade to corvette front rotors/calipers and stop a lot better while still not spending a bunch of money to replace 4 pads, you only replace 2 :)

Or follow what these uys have been saying and get a whole rearend, its easier. You need brake lines, abs sensors, etc..

[crasher]

hey lojack thats an awsome web site you posted.

Thanks
Gary

[combatwombat25]

So let me get this straight. Basically all I would need to do is take out those bolts, remove the driveshaft, and the shocks, cut my parking break cable, then just slap the new one on and essentially get some braided brake lines? Provided I don't get one with posi. Is posi really worth the extra money and hassle? And bat, I'm not only doing this for the stopping power but also for the cosmetic purposes. I think that drums poking their ugly heads through nice C6 rims would be ugly :puke: Who agrees?

[combatwombat25]

One other thing before I forget. Would it be possible to just change out the axle shafts instead of the whole axle? What about just getting one of those "Baer Big Brake Kits" that says for rear drums? I'm just trying to explore all my options here. Oh and btw, that is a frickin sweet site lojack

[futseal04]

All of that sounds like a lot of work......I would just get a rear end from a Z, or perhaps from a 99+ Chevy truck. Much easier.

[93camaro_zzz]

I put a Z28 rear end in, and it was WELL worth it. I got it from $200 from the junkyard. It was out of a 94 Z28, and it is 3.42 posi, and disc brakes. Nice deal for $200, very good upgrade. :D

[combatwombat25]

So from what you guys are telling me, if I just get the rear axle out of a 93-96 Z28 or Firebird I can simply bolt it back on? What about the Posi? Do I have to do anything special with that?

[Grimm]

It should all just bolt right in place...direct replacement. Everything for the posi is inside the pumpkin, so that makes no difference.
Personally I've got posi in mine and love it. Better launches, and the better gear ratio is a great improvement as well. If I didn't already have it...it'd be one of the first mods I'd ever done to my bird.

[93camaro_zzz]

It should all just bolt right in place...direct replacement. Everything for the posi is inside the pumpkin, so that makes no difference.
Personally I've got posi in mine and love it. Better launches, and the better gear ratio is a great improvement as well. If I didn't already have it...it'd be one of the first mods I'd ever done to my bird.

What he said.

[combatwombat25]

Thanks guys, you've all been a HUGE help. It looks like I'm headed to the junkyard once again! :D I'll be sure to keep ya updated on everything I do to my baby. Say, I know this doesn't belong in here but anybody ever mount tweeters on the A-Pillar? I've got some 2" Boston Acoustic tweeters and I'm thinkin about mounting them in guage pods on both sides...Think it'll work?

[Wolf]

how have you guys that put 3.42 in there 3.4 recalabrated the speedo?

[93camaro_zzz]

how have you guys that put 3.42 in there 3.4 recalabrated the speedo?

I haven't yet. :(

[Wolf]

I haven't yet. :(
I see.... we need to find out if the speedo sensor runs thru one of these before it hits the ecm
http://614streets.com/drac.html

[93camaro_zzz]

Well here is one idea I had... If the manual and automatic speed sensors are the same, then maybe you can just go to GM and get the Y87 speed sensor (the autos that came with 3.42) and then just slap that in? :shrug: Maybe that would work.

[Wolf]

Well here is one idea I had... If the manual and automatic speed sensors are the same, then maybe you can just go to GM and get the Y87 speed sensor (the autos that came with 3.42) and then just slap that in? :shrug: Maybe that would work.
are the part # differen't?(like the 3.23 sensor ir #1234 and the 3.42 is #1235)

[combatwombat25]

I'm still thinkin that to save the hassle of the speedo changing on me, Ima just swap out my axle shafts...I don't really need posi anyway...this car is more of a..."show w/ a bit of go" deal than anything, i realize i can't get much go out of a 3.4 so why try right?