I want to convert my 66 Buick Skylark from the power drum setup to a front disc brake setup. The Buick is actually my daily driver, so I want good safety in stopping. I see a lot of these kits for sale, and I want to make sure I get the best kit for the least money (don't we all!). I see these kits raging from $400 on e-bay to $2000 at Stainless Steel brakes. Does anyone have experience with any of the kits from Master Power Brakes or SSBC? Master Power brakes has a pretty killer setup with all new parts, 12" rotors and Corvette dual-piston calipers but it's $1500: http://www.mpbrakes.com/db1780p.htm There is also a setup at SSBC, that has basically the same specs but uses the stock Drum spindles for a couple hundred less http://www.stainlesssteelbrakes.com/products/detail/349/?make=Buick&model=Skylark&year=1966 Then lastly, I see this on ebay, which is the same as the SSBC and MP Brakes stock setup for like $600! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...tem=7945864883&category=33564&sspagename=WDVW Now I don't know what to do - do I save a grand and just get the e-bay setup? Should I get the SSBC kit or should I get a kit new spindles as well? Is there a better place to get the MP brakes stuff that would be cheaper? Final question - what type of braking improvement is there between, say, the single-piston ebay setup and the dual-piston 12" setup? Any sage-like advice would be helpful. Thanks!
Why not go to a recycling yard, have then pull off a complete setup from an A-body, rebuild/refurbish stuff you need and save some $$.
Daily driver?????? Then get a stock set-up from any 68-72 A-body. You will also need the combo/prop valve and possible new brakes lines from master to combo valve. Read my article: http://www.buickperformance.com/discbrak.htm
Brakes I did a swap on mine several years back, and I used a Wilwood setup for a Chevelle. The results are not great. It stops better than the drum brakes did, but not as I would like or expect. I had many conversations with so called experts and tried many different combinations (different masters, proportioning valves, etc). The biggest improvement came from the switch to carbon metalic pads. Expensive and messy, but they work. All things considered, for a driver I would go to a stock type setup and maybe swap the rotors out for some better U.S. made ones, and switch to a good quality set of pads. By the way, Wilwood was not helpful at all. They insisted that I must be doing something wrong, like not properly breaking in the pads and rotors. I broke them in EXACTLY as they said in their liturature (several times!!). I'm not that stupid and I wasn't born yesterday. I think it's an insult when a company talks down to their customers like they are a complete moron. I would not have much business if I were to treat my customers that way. Just my opinion, Steve
Disc Brakes I did my 69 Camaro with a kit from MASTER POWER a couple of years ago. Very happy with the results. Everything needed was included.Mine was a power brake setup. Cost, if I remember right, was about $800. JOE
Thanks for the advice - please keep it coming. I currently have 17x7 American Racing wheels so wheel space isn't an issue. The wrecking yard solution just isn't an option. I have neither the time nor the patience, and the $$ savings wouldn't be worth the hassle when I can get new warranteed parts that I know will work. I considered it, but the economics just don't make sense for me. If it's a choice between a $600 kit and a $250 yard job, I'll pay the $600. The question is the benefit between $600 and and $1500 - is that 11in to 12in rotor going to make that big of a difference? I don't even know what kind of pads these kits use, but I would definitly upgrade to performance pads. What about the spindles? How do these bigger brakes working using the drum brake parts? Thanks again!!
