Moparts
B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses
Posted By: David_Trimble
B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 12/08/13 10:50 PM
Hi-
I'm doing the B-body disk conversion on my '69 Charger R/T using spindles from a '77 Diplomat. Since my suspension (with the exception of the conversion, of course) is factory stock- meaning I have the '69 front sway bar configuration - I understand that I'm not going to be able to mount the spindles so the calipers are towards the front as they will interfere with the sway bar mounts.
Now in reading through the posts on the board I've seen a few examples where someone has mounted their calipers rearward, and I wanted to ask: can I use off-the-shelf brake hoses for that and if so from which car? Or would I be better off having custom hoses made?
Thanks!
David
Posted By: hemi71x
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 12/08/13 10:56 PM
You using the "Slider" type of caliper?
If so, the hoses from Aspen's and Volare's work.
Posted By: Stanton
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 12/08/13 10:59 PM
I don't see what difference "pin" or "slider" would make. Anyhow, I got braided steel hoses from DR Diff.
Posted By: hemi71x
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 12/08/13 11:01 PM
Quote:
I don't see what difference "pin" or "slider" would make. Anyhow, I got braided steel hoses from DR Diff.
Hoses are differen't between the two styles.
Posted By: RapidRobert
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 12/09/13 02:31 AM
Unless someone has done that swap & has a hose recommendation for you I'd get the calipers mounted & measure roughly how long of a hose you need then see if your friendly parts house will set some out for you. when measureing do so from lock to lock & with the suspension pulled all the way down & jacked up till the front wheels are off the ground. The hoses with the long metal collar on 1 end gave me the most trouble on an A body swap. the collar I am refering to is not the bracket in the middle of a volare hose it's on the end on some hose types
Posted By: AndyF
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 12/09/13 02:59 AM
Best way to do it is use calipers which are designed to be rear hung and rear fed. There is not a factory hose that works very well but DoctorDiff can get you what you need. (I covered this topic complete with pictures in my B-body book.)
Posted By: David_Trimble
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 12/11/13 02:38 AM
Thanks, all. Yes I thought that maybe someone might've had the same configuration and was able to figure out what off-the-shelf hoses would work but it sounds like everyone in this situation went the custom route. I don't have the knuckles installed just yet but it sounds like I need to just get everything back together and get the measurements. I'll then contact DoctorDiff for some custom made ones.
Thanks!
David
Posted By: AndyF
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 12/11/13 04:37 AM
I think that DoctorDiff has found some Camaro lines that work. Best bet is to look at his website and/or call him.
Posted By: moparpollack
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 12/11/13 04:40 AM
Quote:
I think that DoctorDiff has found some Camaro lines that work. Best bet is to look at his website and/or call him.
He only shows braided ones on his site. 68 GTO might be close as they are banjo style and are rear mounted.
Posted By: Stanton
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 12/11/13 04:42 AM
You don't need to give DR Diff measurements, just tell him the application. The hoses are braided steel though.
Posted By: DoctorDiff
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 12/11/13 07:01 AM
If you run '80 and newer Diplomat (slider) calipers toward the rear, '69 Camaro hoses work perfectly.
Posted By: a12rag
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 12/11/13 05:48 PM
I did the F,M,J body disc brake conversion on my 70 Sport Satellite (manual drum to manual disc brake) . . . got the hoses from Doctor Diff - braided stainless steel . . . calipers mounted on back side, everything fit great and works perfect !! . . . Thanks again Cass !
Cheers
Mark
Posted By: Stanton
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 12/11/13 06:07 PM
Aren't the hose mount locations the same on both the slider and pin style calipers ???
Posted By: AndyF
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 12/11/13 07:39 PM
Not necessarily. There are different hose locations on different calipers depending on the original application. I put pictures of different calipers in my B-body book so people could see the difference.
Posted By: David_Trimble
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 12/13/13 01:54 PM
Quote:
If you run '80 and newer Diplomat (slider) calipers toward the rear, '69 Camaro hoses work perfectly.
The calipers are from a '77 Diplomat- but they appear to be slider types, though. Will the Camaro hoses still work?
Posted By: DoctorDiff
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 12/13/13 04:24 PM
I don't recommend mounting pre 1980 slider calipers toward the rear due to hose routing.
Posted By: David_Trimble
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 12/14/13 10:32 PM
Quote:
I don't recommend mounting pre 1980 slider calipers toward the rear due to hose routing.
Hmm.... well I'll try to swap the spindles so the calipers are forward, but from what I've read on the conversion I'm not too hopeful that I won't run into any interference issues with the sway bar. On the other hand I also seem to recall that not everyone ran into this problem- hopefully I'll fall in that category.
Failing that, my only other recourse would be to replace the front wheel hardlines with longer ones that will run forward of the wheel, and weld in new brackets for the hoses.
Edit - question: do I HAVE to run pre-80s slider calipers on a pre-80s steering knuckle? What if I get slider calipers from a '80 and up Diplomat? Will they fit on the knuckles? I assume that the issue is with where the hose connection is on the caliper, and that the location changed in 1980?
Posted By: JohnRR
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 12/14/13 11:30 PM
The slider caliper doesn't care what year the knuckle is .
as long as it is a slider caliper knuckle .
Posted By: DoctorDiff
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 12/14/13 11:54 PM
If you run the caliper facing the front, it will contact your pre '70 sway bar.
The best combination is '80 and newer Diplomat calipers mounted facing the rear with '69 Camaro hoses.
Posted By: a12rag
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 12/15/13 12:32 AM
Cass . . . why do you say not to use the rear slider caliper ??? I used a 77 F body spindle and slider caliper on my Sport Satellite, and the stainless steel hoses from you . . . only issue I saw, was having to have a "loop" in the hose, the loop can be closer to the caliper or to the body, depending on how you install. I choose to put the loop near the caliper . . . checked for clearance, turning steering lock to lock, and looking at suspension, up and down . . . hoses don't get close to anything . . . after 5000 miles, everthing is still good, and it stops great . . . I know I should post some pics . . . . just my two cents worth . . .
PS - aren't all the slider calipers from 76 up, the same ???? single piston . . .
Mark
Posted By: AndyF
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 12/15/13 12:40 AM
No, they are not all the same. Here is the caliper that works for rear hung applications. The vent is at the top and the hose comes out at a good angle to be rear mounted.
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Posted By: a12rag
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 12/15/13 12:45 AM
Gotcha . . .yes, the bleeder screw is not right on top of the brake hose entry point . . .
Posted By: nomore65BelvJim
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 12/15/13 01:30 AM
All the F bodies have rear hung calipers.
Posted By: DoctorDiff
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 12/15/13 02:54 AM
Once installed, the bleeder valve remained in the same location but the fluid port moved from the top of the caliper to the bottom in 1980.
This results in cleaner hose routing when the caliper is mounted toward the rear on A, B and E bodies.
Posted By: nomore65BelvJim
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 12/15/13 07:46 AM
Thanks for the clarification Cass
I did notice the brake line hard mount tab moved rearward on the frame rail from in front of to behind the axle in 1980. Never noticed the difference in the calipers though!
Posted By: David_Trimble
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 12/15/13 07:23 PM
Quote:
No, they are not all the same. Here is the caliper that works for rear hung applications. The vent is at the top and the hose comes out at a good angle to be rear mounted.
Yea I see the problem now- I just looked at the calipers I currently have and the hose routes to the 'top' of the caliper, near the bleeder valve. So they DID relocate the hose inlet to the opposide side in 1980 and up.
I've got a set of rebuilt calipers that I used the salvage yard ones for exchange - I'll see if I can exchange these for a 1980 and newer set....
One other question- I've also bought a set of new pads- will they still work on a 1980 caliper?
Posted By: JohnRR
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 12/15/13 07:36 PM
Yes the pads should be the same .
Posted By: David_Trimble
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 01/20/14 02:27 AM
Quote:
If you run the caliper facing the front, it will contact your pre '70 sway bar.
The best combination is '80 and newer Diplomat calipers mounted facing the rear with '69 Camaro hoses.
On the driver's side, I've got everything assembled to the point where I can mock up the routing for the brake flexible line (for a '69 Camaro), but I wanted to ask- is there a specific way the hose has to be installed? That is, does the hose need to be oriented in such a way to minimize bending? Included is a pic of how things currently look (the assembly is positioned as if the car was making a 'hard right' turn)
Thanks!
David
Posted By: skicker
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 01/21/14 12:42 AM
That doesn't look too bad. I would make sure that when you are turned all the way to the left that the hose doesn't come into contact with the shock.
Posted By: Brian_wo
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 01/21/14 02:29 PM
So do you just ask for hoses for a 69 Camero with disc brakes?
I have discs from an 87 5th AVE,used the hoses also but have not checked them through range of motion yet to see if they will be ok but in the past I have always used the donor car hoses,just never used anything this new.
Posted By: 71charger
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 01/21/14 06:05 PM
I don't know if the hard points are in the same place as on my '71, but I used the '77 Volare/Aspen knuckles and slider calipers hung to the rear. '73 Charger front brake hoses were a bolt in.
Posted By: David_Trimble
Re: B-body disk conversion question- brake hoses - 01/22/14 01:43 AM
Quote:
So do you just ask for hoses for a 69 Camero with disc brakes?
That's exactly what I did- they looked it up from that. I went with that though as Dr. Diff had recommended them in earlier post in this thread.