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Rear Brakes

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Old 07-01-2006, 11:41 AM
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Default Re: Rear Brakes

Originally Posted by Patgt501
does anybody make a rear brake conversion to discs kit? My 96 ssei has drums in the back and they suck. i dont know why GM didnt use 4 wheel discs, H*** me 94 taurus SHO has 4 wheel discs.
Well on this note, try looking at grand prix of the same year with 4 wheels disc brakes. To change from drums to disc, you would need to replace the master cylinder & booster, proportioning valve, rear lines and adapter kit that would fit on the rear. WWW.Summitracing.com might be able to steer you in finding or how to adapt from drums to disc. I think the drums are fine, I use the aluminum drums from GM and to of the line Bendix shoes which will out last the rust on your car. lol.
Old 07-01-2006, 07:51 PM
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Default Re: Rear Brakes

Originally Posted by bigbadbonneville
Originally Posted by Patgt501
does anybody make a rear brake conversion to discs kit? My 96 ssei has drums in the back and they suck. i dont know why GM didnt use 4 wheel discs, H*** me 94 taurus SHO has 4 wheel discs.
Well on this note, try looking at grand prix of the same year with 4 wheels disc brakes. To change from drums to disc, you would need to replace the master cylinder & booster, proportioning valve, rear lines and adapter kit that would fit on the rear. WWW.Summitracing.com might be able to steer you in finding or how to adapt from drums to disc. I think the drums are fine, I use the aluminum drums from GM and to of the line Bendix shoes which will out last the rust on your car. lol.
Just remmber that by doing this you have lost the ABS system on your car. In my opinion not worth it.
Old 07-01-2006, 09:15 PM
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Typically H-body cars (up to 99) were not equipped with rear discs, (G-bodies as early as 95 did however).

Stick with your rear drum brakes and the ABS. You'll be thankful for them at replacment time. I spent a bundle on pads and installation of my 4 corners last week.
Old 07-03-2006, 01:58 AM
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I could not agree with anyone here more about the sanity of keeping the drums. I just purchased an 01 with 4 discs and it does not stop any better than my '95 w/drums. The trick on my '95 was to toss the cheapo composite front rotors and go with some good quality all metal ones. I had the same smelly, grinding fading problem with my brakes until I put on the better rotors. Don't worry about getting ceramic pads either. For the back brakes, for some reason GM decided not to pop holes on the rear drum set up so that you can adjust them without taking the wheels and drums off. That is really the only single thing that bothered the heck out of me about the drum brakes. When adjusted properly though, they work great and the low cost and maintenance is impossible to beat.
Old 07-03-2006, 03:33 AM
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Nice thing about the drum brakes, they last forever damned near, like Boosty said, a few good romps in reverse then hitting the brakes adjusts them for you, for tighter response and better pedal height/feel. I did this on my 93, it helped alot.
Gotta love having one pad larger than the other!
Old 07-03-2006, 10:18 PM
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Regarding my earlier comment on the ceramics, ignore that. It was late when I typed that. They should work great.
Old 07-03-2006, 10:40 PM
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Default Re: Rear Brakes

Originally Posted by OLDsman105
Originally Posted by bigbadbonneville
Originally Posted by Patgt501
does anybody make a rear brake conversion to discs kit? My 96 ssei has drums in the back and they suck. i dont know why GM didnt use 4 wheel discs, H*** me 94 taurus SHO has 4 wheel discs.
Well on this note, try looking at grand prix of the same year with 4 wheels disc brakes. To change from drums to disc, you would need to replace the master cylinder & booster, proportioning valve, rear lines and adapter kit that would fit on the rear. WWW.Summitracing.com might be able to steer you in finding or how to adapt from drums to disc. I think the drums are fine, I use the aluminum drums from GM and to of the line Bendix shoes which will out last the rust on your car. lol.
Just remmber that by doing this you have lost the ABS system on your car. In my opinion not worth it.
It'd just look nicer, especially with a nice set of rims, its just the look of rear discs as the car is moving.
A Grand Prix? There should be lots of other cars of the same era with rear discs. If I were to do this conversion, i'd take the booster, the master cylinder, the rear discs and hubs, as well as anything else i'd need. Would it fit? Would the booster bolt right in the holes and just bolt onto the pedal? What problems would I have?

I have no problem with my rear drums, they work excellent and are easy to work on, just if it'll work, I'd love it! ABS isn't an issue with me, I don't have it, lol.
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