After the rotor is installed,...
After the rotor is installed, the caliper is bolted to the steering knuckle from the backside. Don't forget the hose bracket.
On the other hand, since the single piston slider style was used as standard equipment on nearly all A-Bodies from 1973-1976, it makes sense that these parts are more readily available and less costly than the earlier pieces. Furthermore, the later-style system used thicker rotors, which are better able to absorb and dissipate heat. Retrofitting later-style discs to a drum brake vehicle requires changing the upper ball joints, upper control arms, and lower ball joints. The reason is this design uses the larger B- and E-Body ball joints. Though the lower control arms need not be changed, it may be necessary to grind up to 1/8-inch of material from the steering stop on each lower ball joint to maintain an acceptable turning radius. The real drawback to the later-style disc brake lies in its 4 1/2-inch lug circle. All A-Bodies built through 1972 had a 4-inch lug circle, while '73 and later A-Bodies had the larger 4 1/2-inch lug circle. (The exception would be drum-brake A-Bodies built after 1972.
These cars retained the smaller lug circle of earlier cars, but they're very scarce. Nearly all '73 and later A-Bodies were equipped with disc brakes.) If you choose the later style and don't want to carry two spare tires, then your rear axle will require some attention. There were two rear axles used on pre-`73 A-Bodies: the light-duty 7 1/4-inch axle and the heavy-duty 8 3/4-inch axle. A-Bodies from 1973-1976 were built with either a 7 1/4-inch axle or the new 8 1/4-inch axle. If your car currently has a 7 1/4 axle, you may be thinking of sliding a later pair of axle shafts into your existing housing as a quick and easy solution, but it won't work. The '73 and later housings are narrower than early housings; consequently, the axle shafts are not the same length. The easiest way out would be to install a complete 7 1/4 axle from a later car or, preferably, upgrade to an 8 1/4. If your car has an 8 3/4 axle, you won't want to downgrade to a smaller axle. custom axle shafts will probably be your best option.
Connect the rubber hose to...
Connect the rubber hose to the steel brake line at the framerail. Be sure to reinstall the clip securing the end of the hose to the tab on the framerail.
B- And E-Body
Installing disc brakes on a B- or E-Body is easier than on an A-Body. For starters, upper-and-lower ball joints remain the same. In addition, all B- and E-Bodies have the larger 4 1/2-inch lug circle, so rear axle considerations pose no problem with these vehicles. B-Body cars built through 1969 and equipped with disc brakes received a four-piston design similar to early A-Bodies. all E-Bodies with disc brakes and '70-'77 B-Bodies were fitted with a floating caliper design, which consisted of a single-piston caliper mounted by two pins and rubber bushings. There were actually two variations of this design: '70-'75 models used 10 7/8-inch rotors; '76 and '77 models received 11 3/4-inch rotors that require 15-inch wheels. For 1978, the floating caliper design was replaced by a sliding caliper similar to later A-Bodies, and the 11 3/4-inch rotors were retained. This style was carried over to the R-Bodies ('77-'81 New Yorker, Newport, and St. Regis). Though any of these styles would easily bolt onto any B- or E-Body, keep in mind-as with the A-Body-the four-piston style is generally harder to find and more expensive. Another thing to keep in mind is all E- and B-Bodies through 1972 had the K-frame bolted directly to the front frame-rails, while '73 and later B-Bodies used thick rubber isolators between the K-frame and the framerails. Because of this, later B-Bodies used taller steering knuckles, which should not be interchanged with the shorter pieces.
With the caliper pistons at...
With the caliper pistons at the bottom of their bores, the new disc-brake pads are dropped into place.
Single-piston disc brakes used on '70-'72 B- and E-Bodies used a two-piece rotor, and the disc was joined to the hub. All '73 and later A-, B-, and E-Bodies used one-piece rotors. Due to a difference in wheel bearing size, these rotors are not interchangeable. If your A-, B-, or E-Body already has a disc brake setup from a `73 or later car with 10 7/8-inch rotors and either sliding or floating calipers, you can upgrade to larger 11 3/4-inch rotors (in either floating or sliding caliper design) by simply replacing the rotors, caliper adapters, and installing 15-inch wheels. it wouldn't be necessary to align the car afterward since none of the suspension components would be disturbed. If your car has '72 or earlier brakes and you wish to install larger rotors, you'll need to procure a pair of steering knuckles from a '73-'76 A-Body or a '73-'74 E-Body (the same knuckles were shared between A- and E-Bodies). These knuckles accept the larger bearings of the one-piece rotors, whether they're the 10 7/8-inch or 11 3/4-inch variety. If you have to swap knuckles, a front-end alignment will be necessary afterward.
Master Cylinder
The master cylinder performs the same basic function on drum- and disc-brake cars, but a disc-brake master cylinder is characterized by a larger reservoir feeding the front brakes. By design, as the brake pads wear thin, the caliper pistons must protrude further and further from their bores in order to push the pads against the rotors. Additional fluid is needed to fill the cavities behind the pistons. If a drum-brake master cylinder is used, it's conceivable that as the brake pads wear, the reservoir could run empty. This would lead to a loss of braking ability. Don't gamble with your safety. Install a disc-brake master cylinder.
The clips are made of spring...
The clips are made of spring steel. They serve to retain the pads in the caliper and keep the pads from rattling.
The difference in reservoir...
The difference in reservoir configuration between the drum-brake master cylinder (left) and the disc-brake master cylinder is obvious. The larger reservoir on the disc-brake master cylinder feeds the front brakes. Though it's not apparent in this photo, the reservoirs in the disc-brake master cylinder are deeper than those in the drum-brake master cylinder.
Early disc-brake systems used...
Early disc-brake systems used a proportioning valve plumbed in the line to the rear brakes in addition to the pressure differential valve, and, in some cases, a metering valve.
By 1973, all the valves were...
By 1973, all the valves were incorporated into one-a combination valve. custom brake-line plumbing may be required if you are changing to this style valve.
The line between the centers...
The line between the centers of the lower-ball-joint attaching holes is perpendicular to the vertical centerline of the knuckle. Therefore, it's possible to move the knuckles from side to side with no effect on steering geometry or the operating angles of the ball joints.
This '71 A-Body has been fitted...
This '71 A-Body has been fitted with '73-and-up single-piston disc brakes. From the factory, orientation of the caliper on '73-and-up A-Bodies was toward the front of the rotor (as shown by the assembly on the ground). This creates a small problem on some applications. If your '72 or older car has a sway bar, the sway bar links want to occupy the same space as the calipers. The solution is to swap knuckles, calipers, and caliper mounting brackets from side to side.