Rear disk brakes=green bearings?

[shadango]

I am going to call Summit tomorrow and see if they have the longer housing bolts, spacers etc that may or may not be missing from this kit....if they can sell me a hardware kit cheap enough, I am gonna try it. For $200, I figure it will get me thru a few years till I can spring for wilwoods front and rear.

[Chryco Psycho]

longer housing bolts are easy , just grab some grade 8 - 3/8 bolts & trim one point off & they will slide right in , not had to make spacers either if nessisary

[shadango]

Well, I called summit and the guy there was less than helpful.    Acted like I was asking him to give me the holy grail.   Now if I would buy a wilwood setup or a n eddy carb, I could (and have) called that company and order small misc parts, etc .......but seems that summit just SELLS the brake kits and this tech said he had no idea at all as to who made the kit......but when i asked what he would do if I called and said I was missing parts from a kit I bought from them he said there is a process for THAT.

So in other words, the computer doesnt have an easy solution for him so he just tells me it cant be done.

Steams me.   

[Gumby]

I was at a crusie today and a guy I have seen there before and I were talking...he has a sweeeeeeeet stroked bog block Dart.....anyways, he has a 3 year old rear disk brake setup from SSBC that he swapped out for 13" wilwoods and he is asking $225 or so for the setup......He paid $50-500. Said the pads are like new and he turned the rotors...he is an instructor at a local mechanics school and he seems to know what he is talking about. Not many miles on the setup since its a cruise car.

I am very tempted, but he said this kit requires green bearings.  Now, I have seen a lot of discussion here about green bearings...some for, some very much against.  He told me he has been running them for years with no issues.

He also said that to his knowledge, ANY rear disk conversion will require them.....none that he is aware of use the stock tapered setup.

Anyone know if thats true? NO it is NOT true. Contact Dr. Diff and he will set you up with rear disc brake set up that you can use with your factory tapered bearings. I asked him specifically about this, and he says you CAN use your superior tapered bearings. 

The brake kit uses the hydraulic screw type e-brake.

Anyone care to comment on any of this?

My left rear seal is leaking again so I guess I have to stop himhawing and do my rear housing swap out I have been putting off (I should have done it over winter but didnt)....and swapping in disks at the same time just makes sense.

Thanks in advance guys!

[shadango]

I wrote an email to summit's customer service and ended up getting a different person who is looking itno the part numbers and costs for a hardware kit.

The other concern I have is  -- with these aftermarket kits, how hard is getting new parts?  For instance, the summit kit they say uses ford thunderbird turbo coupe calipers and pads, but the rotors are "only available thru your distrubutor".

Summit can get the rotors ($72 each!)....but do not offer any sort of "here is what else will work"....

Are other kits similar to this as far as getting parts?

Will likely never need rotors any time soon....but still, like to be able to get parts if the need arises....

There is no way to be 100% sure that the used kit I am looking at buying is the summit kit for sure...it looks exactly like it.......but no way to know for sure....

[Chryco Psycho]

Scarebird offers some interesting solutions using common easy to find & usually cheap parts for brake conversions , no way to know what rotor they are using in combination with T bird parts though

[shadango]

Scarebird offers some interesting solutions using common easy to find & usually cheap parts for brake conversions , no way to know what rotor they are using in combination with T bird parts though

Thanks for the idea....

I just looked and the brackets they sell are $135/pair.

Went to rock auto and looked up the rotors ($60 each) and calipers (loaded) at $110 each.  Thats $475 already plus I guess i would have to find the calipers guides/brackets used ....guessing thats another $75 to $100 for a pair?? Plus hardware.....Well over $550-600....plus they advise you may need to machine the disk rotors.

Seems like it would be cheaper to go with a kit........though I like the looks of their brackets....very beefy!

[shadango]

Well, decided to just go with the flow.

Ordered green bearings , longer wheel studs and longer T bolts for the housing ends from Dr Diff.

Going to meet up with the guy selling the used disk setup this week hopefully.

Figure for $200, if I get several years from them (and I should) it will be a good deal.

I have a new chunk gasket, housing end gaskets and new inner seals.....the "new" housing is painted up......just have to get all the parts together now and dive in I guess....