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Rear drum to disc conversion SSBC kit question
#1159693
01/17/12 09:34 PM
01/17/12 09:34 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 36,840
South San Francisco, Californi...
MidPenMopar
OP
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OP
Looking for fun? Keep looking
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 36,840
South San Francisco, Californi...
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I am interested in installing the SSBC rear disc kit in place of my factory drum brakes in the road runner. I was wondering if anyone has done this before and just how simple is it? I am asking as i have to do it in the driveway of my house and soon it's going to be raining so is it an easy one day project or not? Also do i need any special tools of just the basic stuff we all have. Thanks for any advice. Stu http://www.ssbrakes.com/commerce/detail/index.cfm?nPID=8568
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Re: Rear drum to disc conversion SSBC kit question
[Re: MidPenMopar]
#1159694
01/17/12 09:42 PM
01/17/12 09:42 PM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 12,481
Chino Valley
RodStRace
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 12,481
Chino Valley
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 for Stu. I used another kit and had to have the axle ends machined, brake hose tabs welded and other minor stuff. I'll defer to others that have actually used THIS kit, but the consensus here seems to be the Dr. Diff kit.  If your luck is the same on this as it was for the 'bolt-in' transmission, make sure you have triple A to tow it to a shop! 
Last edited by RodStRace; 01/17/12 09:44 PM.
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Re: Rear drum to disc conversion SSBC kit question
[Re: RodStRace]
#1159695
01/17/12 09:44 PM
01/17/12 09:44 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 36,840
South San Francisco, Californi...
MidPenMopar
OP
Looking for fun? Keep looking
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OP
Looking for fun? Keep looking
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 36,840
South San Francisco, Californi...
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Quote:
for Stu.
I used another kit and had to have the axle ends machined, brake hose tabs welded and other minor stuff.
I'll defer to others that have actually used THIS kit, but the consensus here seems to be the Dr. Diff kit.
Hummn?? Sounds like more than just a few hours in the driveway swap.
Do you have a link for the Dr. Diff kit i can check out??
Thank you
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Re: Rear drum to disc conversion SSBC kit question
[Re: MidPenMopar]
#1159700
01/18/12 07:52 AM
01/18/12 07:52 AM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,688
Marlboro, NY, USA
Rick_Ehrenberg
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,688
Marlboro, NY, USA
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That's the '85 Caddy Eldorado caliper kit. Master Power, etc., all use it because it simplifies the park brake deal. The calipers are kinda weird, but, you you follow the instructions, they DO work, although I don't know if I'd trust the PB in San Francisco!
I've had this setup on one car for almost 10 years with no problems.
Anything Dr. Diff sells is likely to be excellent, just don't swap to "Green" wheel bearings.
Also check scarebird.com
Rick
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Re: Rear drum to disc conversion SSBC kit question
[Re: MidPenMopar]
#1159702
01/18/12 11:51 AM
01/18/12 11:51 AM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,157
Mass
DAYCLONA
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,157
Mass
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Quote:
I called SSBC just now and said the kit they sell uses parts from a 1988 Turbo Thunderbird. 
That's correct Stu,...SSBC rear disc kits are all that I use on my cars or customers cars,... Ford Thundercoupe rotors and calipers have always been the supplied componets in the kit, the rotors are redrilled to slip on the mopar axle studs, you'll need to remove the axles (naturally) the kit will have a spacer to replace the clearance lost by removing the drum backing plate, so no need to remove the thrust button if your doing an 8 3/4 axle, you will need to switch over to the GREEN Bearings, regardless of what the naysayers say, there's nothing wrong with using them, I've used them, as have my customers for decades with no issues or failures, street, track, or road course cars that have been equipped with them,....however: your emergency brake cables can be used with no mods, the only thing to remember is to install the calipers on the correct side of the car with the bleeders as high as possible, and to use the shims provided to center the caliper over the rotor for equal pad wear/placement, flex lines are provided to adapt to your existing hard brake lines, now is the time to replace any old lines on the axle, they do offer lines alredy done for the rear disc brake set-up if you desire new lines, you will have to reshape/direct your existing ends, so if they're in sad shape?...replace
So if you have the tools/equipment to change out to Green Bearings, assorted hand tools, brake tubing tools (possibly needed) it is a 2-4 hr change out
The Dr Diff kits have provisions for the tapered bearing adjuster should you decide to go that route and keep the factory adjuster/bearings...perhaps Cass will chime in with a run down of his install guidlines for you?, or PM him
Mike
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Re: Rear drum to disc conversion SSBC kit question
[Re: MidPenMopar]
#1159705
01/18/12 02:31 PM
01/18/12 02:31 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,157
Mass
DAYCLONA
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,157
Mass
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Quote:
Wow lots of great info there Mike!! Thank you!! I think i will pass the job on to a local shop as it sounds like more than i want to get into in my driveway.
BTW i have always heard of "green bearings" but just what are they?
Thanks again
Stu
Stu,... Green Bearings are a ball bearing design, the originator of GREEN Bearings was Chrysler, it was a replacement bearing assy offered thru MOPAR to replace the tapered roller bearing assy found in production chrysler vehicles, Green Bearing allow you to loose the adjuster assy/preload required with the tapered bearings...Green Bearings, Chrysler's and other designs have been the topic of yea or nay amongsts motorheads for a few decades, some swear by them, some swear at them,.....myself I've used them the better part of 2 decades on the street/track/course with no failures, guess it boils down to installation for some?...almost every vehicle produced (re: Millions of vehicles, where's those massive failures  ?) in the last few decades uses a "Green" style bearing, more and more track/course even circle cars are running Greens......if you do decide to use Greens use the snap ring style, Dr Diff sells those also
mike
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Re: Rear drum to disc conversion SSBC kit question
[Re: MidPenMopar]
#1159710
01/18/12 11:06 PM
01/18/12 11:06 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,688
Marlboro, NY, USA
Rick_Ehrenberg
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,688
Marlboro, NY, USA
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"Green" (brand) ball bearing conversions were originated by...The Green Ball Bearing Co. (now part of Bearing Technologies, Avon, Ohio).
MP has sold them, with the catalog proviso: "for drag racing use only", for quite a while. They definitely make life easier if you're making frequent "pig" swaps; however, being ball (vs. huge OEM Timken tapered rollers) they, of course, have a small fraction of the load carrying capacity. I have never personally seen a set last more than 10K, the stockers can go 250K.
I was originally worried that they would fail catastrophically, but they do seem to give plenty of warning - "snow tire" type noise. Still, they are a much weaker design -- this is intuitively obvious to even the most casual observer.
I'd personally not even do even one high-speed road-course lap, or one Auto-X lap (with sticky tires) with 'em.
Rick
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