Rear Disc Brake Swap
Rear Discs for 70-81 Camaro`s
This is not a document to convince you into putting discs on the rear of your Camaro. If you
have decided this is something you want to do, this is the info you need. If you are not too
sure about it, there is nothing wrong with rear drums! Also keep in mind the really good
thing about this swap is that you can use 15 inch wheels. All the 3rd and 4th gen Camaro`s
require 16 inch wheels with disc brakes. If you still have 14 inch wheels on your car, shame
on you. You will need 15`s.
have decided this is something you want to do, this is the info you need. If you are not too
sure about it, there is nothing wrong with rear drums! Also keep in mind the really good
thing about this swap is that you can use 15 inch wheels. All the 3rd and 4th gen Camaro`s
require 16 inch wheels with disc brakes. If you still have 14 inch wheels on your car, shame
on you. You will need 15`s.
Also keep in mind that this can be easily used as a guide to swap discs onto 67-69
Camaro`s, or basically anything with a 10 or 12 bolt. There is enough slack from the
factory in the rear end hard lines to swap onto the longest rear end.
Camaro`s, or basically anything with a 10 or 12 bolt. There is enough slack from the
factory in the rear end hard lines to swap onto the longest rear end.
OK, now on to business. Start hitting the junkyards and locate a 77-79 Caddillac Seville.
It will have a regular rear axle in it, if you find the Caddies with an independant rear
suspension, they are Devilles and not what you are looking for. The Sevilles are pretty
plentiful, and you should be able to locate one without too much trouble.
It will have a regular rear axle in it, if you find the Caddies with an independant rear
suspension, they are Devilles and not what you are looking for. The Sevilles are pretty
plentiful, and you should be able to locate one without too much trouble.
proportioning valve
backing plates
calipers
brake lines on rear
rubber brake line from rear to hard line
bracket on rear end cover to mount lines
rotors*
backing plates
calipers
brake lines on rear
rubber brake line from rear to hard line
bracket on rear end cover to mount lines
rotors*
You have located a donor, and now
to get started. You will need the
following parts off the car....
to get started. You will need the
following parts off the car....
*Here is the deal with rotors. The bolt pattern is incorrect, it is the large GM pattern.
You can either mark and drill the correct pattern, (easier than it sounds, use a drill press
and go small to large bits) or you can buy 79-81 Trans Am WS6 rear disc rotors. They
are available.
You can either mark and drill the correct pattern, (easier than it sounds, use a drill press
and go small to large bits) or you can buy 79-81 Trans Am WS6 rear disc rotors. They
are available.
The hardest part of the whole dissasembly is getting the backing plates off. You have to
pull the axles, so you need to know about GM rears. Remove the rear end cover, and
remove the pinion shaft bolt. This should be the first thing you do, because these bolts
have a tendancy to break, and if it breaks you cannot get the backing plates off since
you will not be able to remove the axles. You will have to find another car. You can go
ahead and get all the other pieces, but keep in mind you will have to remove another set
off another car to get down to the one piece you really need. Ok, so the pinion shaft bolt
comes out clean, now remove the pinion shaft. Go ahead and remove the rotors and
calipers. The rotors may not come off that easily, if you cannot pry them off just be
patient. Take off the brake lines and the bracket from the cover. Now get back into the
rear. Push each axle in and remove the C-clips and spider gears. Now pull the axles out.
If the rotors were stuck, banging the studs on the ground a few times will loosen them up.
Now unbolt the backing plates. You are done, just don`t forget the proportioning valve.
All these parts should cost you less than $100.
pull the axles, so you need to know about GM rears. Remove the rear end cover, and
remove the pinion shaft bolt. This should be the first thing you do, because these bolts
have a tendancy to break, and if it breaks you cannot get the backing plates off since
you will not be able to remove the axles. You will have to find another car. You can go
ahead and get all the other pieces, but keep in mind you will have to remove another set
off another car to get down to the one piece you really need. Ok, so the pinion shaft bolt
comes out clean, now remove the pinion shaft. Go ahead and remove the rotors and
calipers. The rotors may not come off that easily, if you cannot pry them off just be
patient. Take off the brake lines and the bracket from the cover. Now get back into the
rear. Push each axle in and remove the C-clips and spider gears. Now pull the axles out.
If the rotors were stuck, banging the studs on the ground a few times will loosen them up.
Now unbolt the backing plates. You are done, just don`t forget the proportioning valve.
All these parts should cost you less than $100.
Notice I did not tell you to get the e-brake cables. The Caddie ones are not the correct
length. Find 79-81 WS6 ones or consider custom cables.
length. Find 79-81 WS6 ones or consider custom cables.
The great thing about this swap is that it all bolts right on your existing 10 or 12 bolt. If you
got this far I will assume you can also do the same thing on your existing rear and get it
stripped down. Bolt on the backing plates, install the axles, and put on the rotors and calipers.
Now put on the brake lines, you will see they are the same length! The rubber line will connect
right to the hard line on the car, but you have to round out the mounting bracket on the car
that the rubber line clips into, the head is a different shape from the Camaro*. If you have
the correct e-brake cables put them on, otherwise remove yours or just tie them out of the
way. The rear of the car is done.
got this far I will assume you can also do the same thing on your existing rear and get it
stripped down. Bolt on the backing plates, install the axles, and put on the rotors and calipers.
Now put on the brake lines, you will see they are the same length! The rubber line will connect
right to the hard line on the car, but you have to round out the mounting bracket on the car
that the rubber line clips into, the head is a different shape from the Camaro*. If you have
the correct e-brake cables put them on, otherwise remove yours or just tie them out of the
way. The rear of the car is done.
*This works for 70-73 Camaro`s. I am not sure what year it changed, but the location of the
rubber line went from the center to the middle of the driver side axle, so brake line mods are
needed.
rubber line went from the center to the middle of the driver side axle, so brake line mods are
needed.
Now it is time to work under the hood. Again the proportioning
valve is a direct bolt in, unless you have a 70. If you have a 70
get brake lines from the prop valve to the master from a 71-81
Camaro and set it up like the later Camaro`s. You will also have
to purchase an adapter fitting to go from the proportioning
valve to the hard line that goes to the rear. The fitting is a 1/4
flare female to 9/16-18 thread male flare adapter. Again this
is not needed on 71-81. You will need to purchase a new master
cylinder, one for a 79 WS6, and you can use your old booster.
Do not get a master for an 80 or 81, it is the new style plastic
type and will not connect to your booster.
valve is a direct bolt in, unless you have a 70. If you have a 70
get brake lines from the prop valve to the master from a 71-81
Camaro and set it up like the later Camaro`s. You will also have
to purchase an adapter fitting to go from the proportioning
valve to the hard line that goes to the rear. The fitting is a 1/4
flare female to 9/16-18 thread male flare adapter. Again this
is not needed on 71-81. You will need to purchase a new master
cylinder, one for a 79 WS6, and you can use your old booster.
Do not get a master for an 80 or 81, it is the new style plastic
type and will not connect to your booster.
That`s about it. It is a pretty straightforward job. Now get in and enjoy!
