2002 T/A 4 wheel Disc brakes on a 68 Firebird

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0><script type="text/javascript" src="http://hb.lycos.com/hb.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://ratings.lycos.com/ratings/lycosRating.js.php"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><![CDATA[//><!]]></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://scripts.lycos.com/catman/init.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-start.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-middle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-end.js"></script> <noscript> <img src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/img/common/ot_noscript.gif?rand=161219" alt="" width="1" height="1" />  <iframe frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="728" height="90" src="http://ad.yieldmanager.com/st?ad_type=iframe&ad_size=728x90&section=209094"></iframe>  </noscript> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=125 BGCOLOR="#6633FF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="093467d1egbsqc.png"> <div> <B>Tom's Mess</b><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       </b></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Toms Mess"><U>Home Page</U></A></FONT></div> <div>        </div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="My Project"><U>My Project</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tech"><U>Tech</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Favorite Links"><U>Favorite Links</U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=355 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> 2002 T/A 4 wheel Disc brakes on a 68 Firebird</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Coming soon!</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2f59d360.jpg" border=0 width="413" height="310" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> The S10 brakes will bolt up and should clear 15" Rally wheels. A Pontiac axle will need shims made to make up for the thickness of the backing plate. Otherwise the bearing will float around approx. 9/16" in and out. C-clip axles don't need any shims. Only concerns are welding tabs on the axle to retain the rubber lines, cutting and re-flaring the old lines to mate with the rubber lines, and getting E-brake cables fabricated to work with the car. The nice thing is the bracket for the E-brake is incorporated into the backing plate! Makes for an easier swap.</div> <bR> <div> The S10 setup is an 11.5" rotor and a single piston aluminum PBR caliper. The E-brake is internal drum style.</div> <bR> <div> The 98-2002 Fbody setup is similar but the rotor is 12" The same considerations are needed as above. Also will need to fabricate the E-brake bracket for this one. The setup needs a small spacer (1/8" or so) to move the inner wheel face away from the caliper to allow full movement when using a stock wheel.</div> <div> The S10 setup is more deeply recessed on the axle and won't need a spacer. Look at eBay, sometimes they come up there and you can see what I'm talking about.</div> <bR> <div> The 93-97 Fbody setup is a lever-type internal E-brake, but the calipers are aluminum PBR's and the disc is 11.5" They fit 15" wheels too. Shims needed bor NON C-clip rear</div> <bR> <div> 89-92 are aluminum internal lever and 11" rotors. Shims needed for NON C-clip rear</div> <bR> <div> 82-88 are cast iron internal lever very similar to 79-81 but are smaller and use a low drag piston design. The rotor is 10.5" and the whole setup will fit a 14" stock steel wheel. Shims needed for NON C-clip rear</div> <bR> <div> 79-81 cast iron, internal lever, 11" rotor. Shims needed for NON C-clip rear</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The only one that will work easily with staggered shocks on a First or second gen Firebird is the 79-81 configuration. The others will need 2 driver side or 2 passenger side assemblies as they are not staggered. If your shocks are moved inboard there is no problem.</div> <div> __________________</div> <bR> <div> If I was working on an A-body and wanted to retain original 14" rims I'd look into mid 80's G-body brakes and spindles.</div> <bR> <div> With the proper adapter balljoints and tie rods you should be able to bolt in the tall spindle of a G-body since the spindle is essentially the same as the Tall spindle on a 12" rotor conversion with B-body parts, but with a shallower mounted caliper.</div> <bR> <div> The G-body STANDARD discs use a rotor about 10.5" and would be the best chance of fitting in a 14" rim. Worst case you will need 14" rims made for disc brakes, which are out there.</div> <bR> <div> Still need to check for caliper to rim face clearance but it would be a good chance. The knuckles and brakes are dime-a-dozen in the salvage industry and can be had cheeeaap. This also allows you to have discs that you can maintain with parts from ANY parts store.</div> <bR> <div> You could go a step further and get the rear discs off of an 82-86 F-body, and bolt them on the rear. They fit in a 14" rim too. Then buy a cast iron 4 wheel disc master cylinder for the 79 WS6 TA. Bolt a combo valve from the same into the car and you have a done package behind stock rims.</div> <bR> <div> With this setup you have the improved suspension geometry and brakes all in one move. I have not done the swap but the impression I get is that people have completed it with no need for the tubular arms.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>