Disc Brake conversion on a 64....
09-15-2012, 06:02 AM
#1
Heel & Toe
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Disc Brake conversion on a 64....
Hi All,
I am looking into upgrading to front discs on my 64. I have seen the Ecklers kit. Seems simple enough.
Only thing is, it says that you cannot use 64 wheels, must be 65 onwards. Does anyone know why that is?
My wheels are not standard, I have some chrome Cragar items.
How can I be sure that they will be compatible with a disc brake conversion?
If I need to buy a new set of 4 wheels and tyres to get disc brakes then it kind of quadruples the amount I was needing to spend.
Anybody shed any light?
I am looking into upgrading to front discs on my 64. I have seen the Ecklers kit. Seems simple enough.
Only thing is, it says that you cannot use 64 wheels, must be 65 onwards. Does anyone know why that is?
My wheels are not standard, I have some chrome Cragar items.
How can I be sure that they will be compatible with a disc brake conversion?
If I need to buy a new set of 4 wheels and tyres to get disc brakes then it kind of quadruples the amount I was needing to spend.
Anybody shed any light?
09-15-2012, 07:53 AM
#2
redordead
I feel reluctant to answer your question because of my last thread about disc brake conversions. As I said before, why spent several hundred dollars with an after market kit and get an off set on the wheels when you can review mgchevys ad on ebay. About 400 dollars with shipping and they work great. Had them on my car for 9 months without any problems. If you use stock wheels, you have to shave off about a ¼ of an inch off the brackets. It took me 3 hours to do the job. If yours is a daily driver I recommend this way to go.
09-15-2012, 10:41 AM
#4
I feel reluctant to answer your question because of my last thread about disc brake conversions. As I said before, why spent several hundred dollars with an after market kit and get an off set on the wheels when you can review mgchevys ad on ebay. About 400 dollars with shipping and they work great. Had them on my car for 9 months without any problems. If you use stock wheels, you have to shave off about a ¼ of an inch off the brackets. It took me 3 hours to do the job. If yours is a daily driver I recommend this way to go.
09-15-2012, 11:43 AM
#5
Safety Car
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St. Jude Donor '10-'11
Before I bought my car somebody had already installed disc on the front and if I remember right they are the bigger bearing 70 vette spindles/rotors and I was able to use the re-pop direct bolt on knock off style wheels(Va. Vettes)without any problems.
09-15-2012, 12:02 PM
#6
Le Mans Master
Hi All,
I am looking into upgrading to front discs on my 64. I have seen the Ecklers kit. Seems simple enough.
Only thing is, it says that you cannot use 64 wheels, must be 65 onwards. Does anyone know why that is?
My wheels are not standard, I have some chrome Cragar items.
How can I be sure that they will be compatible with a disc brake conversion?
If I need to buy a new set of 4 wheels and tyres to get disc brakes then it kind of quadruples the amount I was needing to spend. This assumes that the offset doesn't locate the wheel too close to the fender well.
Measure your backspacing (i.e., the distance from the inner edge of the rim to the lug nut pad), and we'll have a better ideas as too the fitment and if they will work. I assume that they are at least 15" diameter.
Anybody shed any light?
I am looking into upgrading to front discs on my 64. I have seen the Ecklers kit. Seems simple enough.
Only thing is, it says that you cannot use 64 wheels, must be 65 onwards. Does anyone know why that is?
My wheels are not standard, I have some chrome Cragar items.
How can I be sure that they will be compatible with a disc brake conversion?
If I need to buy a new set of 4 wheels and tyres to get disc brakes then it kind of quadruples the amount I was needing to spend. This assumes that the offset doesn't locate the wheel too close to the fender well.
Measure your backspacing (i.e., the distance from the inner edge of the rim to the lug nut pad), and we'll have a better ideas as too the fitment and if they will work. I assume that they are at least 15" diameter.
Anybody shed any light?
Pre-65 wheels don't clear the disk brake calipers.
If your wheels won't work with the provided calipers, you can use a thin spacer to give the necessary clearance. That's what I did as do many others.
You also need to deal with off-set. Measure the distance from the inner edge of the rim (closest to the tire) to the pad that mounts to the hub and we'll have a better idea as to the firment. I assume these are at least 15" in diameter.
Last edited by toddalin; 09-15-2012 at 12:09 PM.
09-15-2012, 08:10 PM
#7
Heel & Toe
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Ok, thats what i wanted to know. Now I get it.
I'll get the wheel off and measure, but once I have that measurement what do I do with it? What is distance I need to have to clear the calipers?
Assuming they touch, how thing a spacer do I need, my tyres are nowhere near the arches so a small spacer shouldn't do any harm.
So what are the other kits available other than Ecklers? Here in the UK Ecklers seem to be the only known Corvette parts supplier. If there is a better kit than the Ecklers one then show me the way. Also whats wrong with the Ecklers one?
PS. Are these kits an easy DIY fix?
I'll get the wheel off and measure, but once I have that measurement what do I do with it? What is distance I need to have to clear the calipers?
Assuming they touch, how thing a spacer do I need, my tyres are nowhere near the arches so a small spacer shouldn't do any harm.
So what are the other kits available other than Ecklers? Here in the UK Ecklers seem to be the only known Corvette parts supplier. If there is a better kit than the Ecklers one then show me the way. Also whats wrong with the Ecklers one?
PS. Are these kits an easy DIY fix?
09-15-2012, 08:16 PM
#8
Safety Car
So what are the other kits available other than Ecklers? Here in the UK Ecklers seem to be the only known Corvette parts supplier.
Last edited by vt65; 09-15-2012 at 08:20 PM.
09-15-2012, 08:55 PM
#9
Get in touch with Dan at van steel. I just installed theirs with reproduction knockoffs and it works great. I first tried a single piston ssbc kit that used original spindles but pushed wheels out 3/4 inch. Spindles from 65-82 brings it back in.
Ken
Ken
09-15-2012, 09:14 PM
#10
Le Mans Master
Ok, thats what i wanted to know. Now I get it.
I'll get the wheel off and measure, but once I have that measurement what do I do with it? What is distance I need to have to clear the calipers?
Assuming they touch, how thing a spacer do I need, my tyres are nowhere near the arches so a small spacer shouldn't do any harm.
I'll get the wheel off and measure, but once I have that measurement what do I do with it? What is distance I need to have to clear the calipers?
Assuming they touch, how thing a spacer do I need, my tyres are nowhere near the arches so a small spacer shouldn't do any harm.
The spacer pushes the wheel out to clear the caliper. If nothing rubbed along the inner edge of the wheel, you are good to go in that respect because you will add about 1/4" more clearance and we don't need to worry about backspacing at all.
If you have lots of space from the outter edge of the tire to the wheel well you should be good to go because you are only going to be 1/4" closer.
09-16-2012, 09:10 AM
#11
Melting Slicks
If you decide to run the spacers with your cragars, be sure to get longer shank lug nuts (longer by the thickness of the spacer). If you plan to run them with steel wheels, be sure you get spacers designed for steel wheels. Better yet find some wheels that don't need spacers. There are so many design risks with using them....
Harry
Harry
09-16-2012, 01:35 PM
#12
Le Mans Master
Never heard that using newer spindles and calipers on a 64 will make the wheels not fit.
The only difference is that the thread on the newer spindles are finer than the stock 64 spindles and that the newer spindles build a little more out than the 64 but for sure the knock off wheels will fit without any problem
I checked with several Corvette specialists before i bought the disc brakes front and rear for my car and the above is what i was told
The only difference is that the thread on the newer spindles are finer than the stock 64 spindles and that the newer spindles build a little more out than the 64 but for sure the knock off wheels will fit without any problem
I checked with several Corvette specialists before i bought the disc brakes front and rear for my car and the above is what i was told
09-16-2012, 01:48 PM
#13
Le Mans Master
The only difference is that the thread on the newer spindles are finer than the stock 64 spindles and that the newer spindles build a little more out than the 64 but for sure the knock off wheels will fit without any problem
I checked with several Corvette specialists before i bought the disc brakes front and rear for my car and the above is what i was told
I checked with several Corvette specialists before i bought the disc brakes front and rear for my car and the above is what i was told
The knock-offs (at least from '65 on) were designed with more space around the outter edge of the caliper. I guess that the '63 and '64 have similar spacing.
09-16-2012, 01:55 PM
#14
Le Mans Master
I checked with several Corvette parts suppliers about this and also asked here on the forum and everybody said that converting to disc brakes front using spindles, rotors and calipers from a 74 and new complete new trailing arms would fit great.
I even had Van Steel to check it out before i bought the parts and they told me as every other that replied that it was a bolt on job and everything will fit okay
I even had Van Steel to check it out before i bought the parts and they told me as every other that replied that it was a bolt on job and everything will fit okay
Not quite that simple. It is the back of the "spokes" of the wheel that don't clear the outside edge of the calipers. When you try to put the wheel on, it won't make it all the way to the hub in the area of the caliper because the back of the "spokes" hit the caliper before the wheel "seats." Using the spacer pushes the wheels out a bit more and this provides more space to clear the caliper.
The knock-offs (at least from '65 on) were designed with more space around the outter edge of the caliper. I guess that the '63 and '64 have similar spacing.
The knock-offs (at least from '65 on) were designed with more space around the outter edge of the caliper. I guess that the '63 and '64 have similar spacing.
09-16-2012, 02:30 PM
#16
Team Owner
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I checked with several Corvette parts suppliers about this and also asked here on the forum and everybody said that converting to disc brakes front using spindles, rotors and calipers from a 74 and new complete new trailing arms would fit great.
I even had Van Steel to check it out before i bought the parts and they told me as every other that replied that it was a bolt on job and everything will fit okay
I even had Van Steel to check it out before i bought the parts and they told me as every other that replied that it was a bolt on job and everything will fit okay
09-16-2012, 04:56 PM
#17
Melting Slicks
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C2 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Here is a link to the brake kit spry was talking about. I searched eBay and found it. I'm reminded of the saying, "you get what you pay for", but they seem to have a good feedback score (99.8%).
Someone is buying their stuff and is happy. The problem is all his sales are private and you can’t tell what he sold that people were thrilled about. It really looks tempting.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1963-1964-19...sories&vxp=mtr
.
Someone is buying their stuff and is happy. The problem is all his sales are private and you can’t tell what he sold that people were thrilled about. It really looks tempting.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1963-1964-19...sories&vxp=mtr
.
09-16-2012, 07:38 PM
#18
Here is a link to the brake kit spry was talking about. I searched eBay and found it. I'm reminded of the saying, "you get what you pay for", but they seem to have a good feedback score (99.8%).
Someone is buying their stuff and is happy. The problem is all his sales are private and you can’t tell what he sold that people were thrilled about. It really looks tempting.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1963-1964-19...sories&vxp=mtr
.
Someone is buying their stuff and is happy. The problem is all his sales are private and you can’t tell what he sold that people were thrilled about. It really looks tempting.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1963-1964-19...sories&vxp=mtr
.
09-17-2012, 10:13 AM
#20
Burning Brakes
I also went with the kit that mspry installed on his after his write up, no problems, stops much better than with the front drums.My thanks to him for posting his thread and results.
I went with the plain brake rotors.
I have purchased a dual master cylinder, but have not installed it yet.
R.J.
I went with the plain brake rotors.
I have purchased a dual master cylinder, but have not installed it yet.
R.J.