Wilwood rear disc conv. kit for 8 3/4. Good? Best? Lousy???

[tsteiner61]

What is the best rear disc conversion kit out there for 8 3/4" rear? I am strongly considering the Wilwood kit that Summit has, but wanted to get some last minute advice. Also have a few questions if anyone knows the answers.

1. Can I find any Kevlar brake pads that will fit the Dynalite II calipers?
2. Is the rotor that comes with that kit 1.25"?
3. It looks from the picture that the rotor actually comes in 2 pieces. Does it? And if so, will that make a difference in performance or durability?

Any advice appreciated..

[Duffys Ramcharger]

Look in the junk yards for a 74-75 Imperial. They had rear disk brakes and they will bolt right up. I got a set from a cheby junk yard for $50 (it's nice to find a good deal once in a while). And it doesn't hurt when they don't know what they have hehe.

[451boy]

Is this a race car? I hope so since the Wilwood kit isn't designed for a street driven vehicle. What are your front brakes?

[tsteiner61]

No, it is (will be) a street rod. But the kit that I'm looking at says it's for street vehicles. It's called the Wilwood Pro Street Kit. My front brakes are stock disk Bendix, neither cross-drilled or slotted since I couldn't find any for a van. Haven't picked the calipers yet, but will probably get the matching Wilwood 4-piston calipers if they have a set that will fit my application.
It's Wilwood part # 140-2279-B. Hope I'm not barking up the wrong tree here???
By the way, I found out that the rotors are only .81 thick. Any problems with having different thickness rotors on front (1.25") and rear (.81")???
If you're still convinced that this kit might not be what I'm looking for, is there an alternative?
All info appreciated...Thanks.

[Springfeet]

What size rear discs did the '75 Imperials have?

[451boy]

Check out www.ARengineering.com for some more ideas. If you want rotors slotted you can take them to a machine shop. I've slotted rotors before. All you need is a CNC mill and some imagination. Did some Indian head outlines on a set of brake rotors for a Pontiac guy once.

[tsteiner61]

Good idea, 451boy. In fact, that's what I plan to do with my next set. I'm gonna run the stock to get a baseline feel, then see if the cross-drilled make a difference. Any clue if running thinner (.81" thick) discs on the rear as opposed to the front (1.25") will be a problem???

[Mach Manny]

any experience with stainless steel's disc conversion for the 8 3/4 or 9 1/4?

[coolcarz]

Well I'm no expert on the brakes companies, but ..I'm doing a front end conversion on my 71 duster 340 ,, front disc brakes 5x4 to 5x4.5 disc,, new calps and all, I ordered it from master power brakes good price,, and there kits came with more parts as part of the kit, seemed like the rest sold most stuff seperatly, like porp valve upper control arms ect...... mp brakes came with lots more it seems to me,,, upper control arms prop,master cyl,uppr balls, lines , I think they had rear convts too

coolcarz

[George G. Leverette]

Talked with a mechanic doing a conversion with one of the kits and he is very dissatisfied with the parts in the kit, he stated that there were quite a few foreign parts and the kit was difficult to assemble. Fact or fiction??????