Hi all, I plan on installing a set of front disc brakes on my 68 Impala. I've looked at the conversion kits and will not use them on a full size Chevy B-Body. Just not sufficient enough with a small diameter rotor and single piston caliper that is used on mid size vehicles. I am wondering if anyone has used the Corvette disc brake set up on these cars and if they had any issues with that idea. Based on my research, the 68 Impala disc brake option (rare that it is) used the Corvette spindle knuckle and caliper. Not sure if they used the hub or any other Corvette parts. Thanks for any info and first hand experience you can share.
I sold a friend of mine (1970 Impala) a kit #6770CBK-S that I got from CPP
They mention a part #6568SP for a 1965/68 reconditioned stock spindle ... but didn't have anything available at that time. Customer made a trip to a local boneyard and was able to come up with them ... and everthing else worked fine.
I can't seem to find out what diameter the rotors in the above kit are, but there is a tech article that says you can use 11, 12, or 13" rotors on stock spindles. They also say that the 13" ones are designed to fit Chevy 1/2 tons with "PBR" calipers. ??? Read the article and see if it makes sense to you. It might be worth a call to the tech line, and ask them to explaim and confirm all of this for YOUR year.
Hi all, I plan on installing a set of front disc brakes on my 68 Impala. I've looked at the conversion kits and will not use them on a full size Chevy B-Body. Just not sufficient enough with a small diameter rotor and single piston caliper that is used on mid size vehicles. I am wondering if anyone has used the Corvette disc brake set up on these cars and if they had any issues with that idea. Based on my research, the 68 Impala disc brake option (rare that it is) used the Corvette spindle knuckle and caliper. Not sure if they used the hub or any other Corvette parts. Thanks for any info and first hand experience you can share.
before I dig in, are you going to autocross this tank?
are you going to road race this tank?
if no to both.. then your comments on the single piston and 11" disc are off kilter
g.m. used 11" rotors on all b bodys up into the 90's
only ones that got 12" was the tow package and taxi/cop cars..
it worked just fine on millions of these cars..
a well balanced 11" disc and rear drum will out stop an unbalanced vette disc and stock rear drum every day of the week..
you'll get better stop'n with lighter wheel package than ,that fancy vette parts..
good luck.. but remember g.m. used what YOU WON'T for 25+ years with no problems in normal use..
unless you are going to race this on a roadrace or autocross.. what you want is nothing more than eye candy..
and at that point go straight to wilwood and get 13" front and 12" rear disc kits. and a set of light weight wheels (3 pieces) $$$$ and have a car that put your face on the glass...
adding better brakes is useless unless you plan on better wheel package and tires that grip .. allong with better springs/shocks/aint roll bars,bushings,etc..
again good luck
remember your tank weight less than a 2010 camaro.. what you want and what it needs are two different things
There are no plans to road race this tank. Brake fade has been an issue, so the disc brake concept came to mind. The drums stop her fine, just don't like the fade feeling after hard braking in traffic. I will check out the site you listed and reconsider selected kits. I tend not to stray to far from the OEM parts and systems, hence the Corvette concept. Makes it easier to get parts for as well.
Disc brakes (especially on the front) will make a huge difference over drum ... use good quality pads and rotors, and your brake fade concerns will go away.
GM used those 728A disc brake pads and 2-15/16" diameter single-piston calipers on a wide variety of applications including 1971-78 1-ton (8400 GVW) G-30/3500 Vans ... so they should be more than adequate.
NAPA 242-2000, 242-2001 calipers
728A pads are available in several different "grades", everything from organic to "severe duty".
They even used those same pads on the same application with the 10,000 GVW, but used a larger-bore (3-3/8") single-piston caliper.
This "interchangabilty aspect" does cause me a little concern, when it comes to the "value-conscious consumer" type that would throw a set of cheap organic pads on a 10,000 pounder. :sweat:
Thanks 66GMC, I will look at some kits and ensure they have that caliper type. My initial concern with the cheaper kits (less than $300.00) was low grade components and the cheapest caliper/rotor combination possible. I like to stay with as much OEM components as possible and this fits that desire.
Thanks 66GMC, I will look at some kits and ensure they have that caliper type. My initial concern with the cheaper kits (less than $300.00) was low grade components and the cheapest caliper/rotor combination possible. I like to stay with as much OEM components as possible and this fits that desire.
in your case the low cost is because the parts where widely used on many g.m. cars..
scott liggett did this swap on his 65/66
if you are making use of facebook..
look him up and friend him and ask about what he used, and how he likes it, it's been on his car for a good 8-12 months now, and it's his daily driver, in la traffic..
iirc it used chevelle parts, and was fairly cheap.. and easy to find parts..
if you ask for his input , as thats better than any of us, as he did the swap and lives with it daily, tell him mark furgal aka gearheadslife sent you..
good luck
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