Disc brake upgrade

Schurkey · Mar 26, 2022

Dropped88 said:
Keep us updated if they respond back. Probably wont or itll be some automated crap email

I'm hoping they register, and respond first-hand right in this thread.

Menissalt · Mar 26, 2022

Schurkey said:
Note the different caliper--pad philosophy, showing how GM has evolved their brake program.

The older disc brakes--like the amateurish Little Shop of Horrors kit uses--had the pads trapped in the caliper; then GM properly braced the caliper so it didn't twist from brake-torque reaction. The crime LSoH commits is that they don't brace the caliper like GM did.

The newer disc brakes--that are used in the Street Truck article, conversion parts made by Freeman--trap the pads in a second, solid iron bracket with no rubber O-rings or screw-in pins, that was designed from the beginning--by COMPETENT engineers--to accept brake torque on the inboard side. The caliper itself has no brake torque, it does nothing but clamp the pads. The adapter brackets that locate the caliper and transfer brake torque to the steering knuckle or the rear axle housing may or may not be stiff enough (I don't know...but they seem to be OK) but unlike the LSoH kit, they don't change the way the rest of the caliper mounting was intended to work.

LSoH needs a biitch-slap for not understanding how GM set up the older calipers.

If anyone is interested, it looks like this is the kit used

Pro Performance F/R Big Brake Kit - 88-98 GM 2WD Truck / SUV

This new 14" front / 13" rear big brake kit will work with any HD drop spindle, such as McGaughys, Street Edge, BellTech, etc.

azproperformance.com

Frank Enstein · Mar 27, 2022

The D52 pad is slightly different than the "proper" pad. I think it's something like an anti-rattle clip that's different.

LittleShopMFG · Mar 29, 2022

Hey guys,

Skyler with Little Shop.

We stay too busy to engage in keyboard warfare, but we felt this deserved a public response. We've been selling CK1500 disc brake conversions for a decade without much change from the original design. At the time of this writing there are 2,064 kits sold since our current website went online in 2015, and at least a few hundred prior to that. Of those, zero kits have failed due to the design. Could it be improved? Yes absolutely. Would it be at the same price point and consistently available from our supply chain? No, absolutely not.

We're always looking for bright young minds to join our team and make our products better. Schurkey, please email us your resume showing your accomplishments and proficiencies. We've got a job for you.

For the rest, we sincerely appreciate your continued support. Please use code SCHURKEY for a 5% discount from now until the end of April.

www.littleshopmfg.com

Schurkey · Mar 29, 2022

LittleShopMFG said:
Hey guys,

Skyler with Little Shop.

We stay too busy to engage in keyboard warfare, but we felt this deserved a public response. We've been selling CK1500 disc brake conversions for a decade without much change from the original design. At the time of this writing there are 2,064 kits sold since our current website went online in 2015, and at least a few hundred prior to that. Of those, zero kits have failed due to the design. Could it be improved? Yes absolutely. Would it be at the same price point and consistently available from our supply chain? No, absolutely not.

We're always looking for bright young minds to join our team and make our products better. Schurkey, please email us your resume showing your accomplishments and proficiencies. We've got a job for you.

For the rest, we sincerely appreciate your continued support. Please use code SCHURKEY for a 5% discount from now until the end of April.

www.littleshopmfg.com

Quoted so they can't delete it later.

Translation: It's a cheap, compromised kit and we admit it. None have failed that we know of (yet.)

And despite me specifically asking, no response about their engineering qualifications/degrees/experience. I do commend them for responding at all; I was guessing that they wouldn't--I figured their lawyer would advise against it in case of a kit failure, their response to this thread would/will be evidence that the flaws in design were known to them.

However bright I am, or am not, "young" is not on my resume.

Erik the Awful · Mar 30, 2022

Schurkey said:
It's a cheap, compromised kit and we admit it. None have failed that we know of (yet.)

"If it looks stupid, but works, it isn't stupid."

I have a set of adapters to put a GM metric caliper on Mustang II spindles. They look cheap and hokey, but circle track racers use them and they hold up. I plan to run them on my Sunbeam, and I'm not going to worry about it. Still not interested in swapping my truck to disc rears though. https://www.speedwaymotors.com/GM-Midsize-Caliper-Bracket-Set-for-Mustang-II-Spindle,24534.html

2drXmobb · Mar 31, 2022

I just like the easy maintenance on disc brakes , I don't like changing drums because all the springs and do-dads

Menissalt · Apr 1, 2022

2drXmobb said:
I just like the easy maintenance on disc brakes , I don't like changing drums because all the springs and do-dads

Working on the drums on the 89 in high school I use to have was enough to convince me to go to disks.

My current truck is in the shop and I'm likely getting that pro performance kit.

Caman96 · Apr 1, 2022

For me, if there’s no brake improvement aside from ease of maintenance, I’ll just keep my 10” drum brakes. With all new parts fairly recent, it functions as good as new with only a bit over 60k on truck. If and when I do an upgrade it would be the 9.5 14 bolt. Been eying these a bit.

You must be registered for see images attach

454cid · Apr 1, 2022

I did the drums on my Saturn, and the biggest problem was re-using the kinda mangled backing plates that are NLA. I had to beat them back into shape after I damamged them pulling the unit bearing hubs, and do my best to address the rust. The springs and stuff wasn't that hard becasue I took pictures, and any questions I had, I was able to get help on the Saturn forum.

I've also done a wheel cylinder on my truck... that was years ago. Still have yet to do a full rebuild on them, but plan on it this summer. I've got most if not all the parts, if I can re-use the drums. I may still need hub bearings, since it's a full floater.

I've also got Buick brake work to do.... and we're talking four wheel drums.

Disc brake upgrade

Schurkey

Supporting Member

Menissalt

I'm Awesome

Pro Performance F/R Big Brake Kit - 88-98 GM 2WD Truck / SUV

Frank Enstein

Best. Day. EVER!

LittleShopMFG

Newbie

Schurkey

Supporting Member

Erik the Awful

Supporting Member

2drXmobb

I'm Awesome

Menissalt

I'm Awesome

Caman96

OEM Baby!

454cid

Sooper Pooper

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