Clear, Consise Brake Upgrade Instructions, please.
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- I finally get the smurf thing
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Re: Clear, Consise Brake Upgrade Instructions, please.
Thank you smilesafari excellent post I cut and pasted the list onto my works documents
always tinkering with stuff
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Re: Clear, Consise Brake Upgrade Instructions, please.
Does anyone have the part numbers for the 11" backing plates .....there are none in this area at the salvage yards...so I'll have to go with new ones.
93 Astro cargo .... Newest Aquisition !
95 Safari , on the injured list
![Image](http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p217/ASTROSS88/Safari-71.jpg)
95 Safari , on the injured list
![Image](http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p217/ASTROSS88/Safari-71.jpg)
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Re: Clear, Consise Brake Upgrade Instructions, please.
everyone i've phoned about the new backing plates say they are discontinued and not available if you find someone who has them you MUST tell me ![Rock on! :supz:](./images/smilies/icon_super.gif)
![Rock on! :supz:](./images/smilies/icon_super.gif)
1998 GMC Safari AWD, BFGoodrich AllTerrain T/A
Jet performance tuner 91 octane preset, Jet under-drive pulleys
Rancho 999000 series shock, on-board controller to be installed later
DHC rock rails and skid plate Add-A-Leaf
G3500 front calipers
Zexel Torsen Diff
11" drums
180 amp Alternator
Long tru-cool 4590 trans cooler
1997 gone
Jet performance tuner 91 octane preset, Jet under-drive pulleys
Rancho 999000 series shock, on-board controller to be installed later
DHC rock rails and skid plate Add-A-Leaf
G3500 front calipers
Zexel Torsen Diff
11" drums
180 amp Alternator
Long tru-cool 4590 trans cooler
1997 gone
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- I finally get the smurf thing
- Posts: 161
- Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2010 6:44 am
- Location: Barrington NH 4
- Contact:
Re: Clear, Consise Brake Upgrade Instructions, please.
try autozone, & advanced auto. they are the only stores that could get me calipers for my ford e150 and I called 7 different autopart stores.
always tinkering with stuff
Re: Clear, Consise Brake Upgrade Instructions, please.
I got 11" drums when I did my axle swap. Well worth it. If you have RWABS up until 89 or 90 I think) there is another trick you can do, even though I would likely consider it a safety hazard at times. You take the ABS valve and you remove the accumulator spring then put the cap back on it. What this does it it will push that piston out and it will totally bypass the RWABS system. My van always had "soft" rear brakes until I did this. I actually got rear ended between this and the 11" drums IMO. Well that and the dumb kid behind the Excursion's wheel. Nother story nother day.
Re: Clear, Consise Brake Upgrade Instructions, please.
This link might resolve the issue if someone wants to buy new parts for their rear end brake 11" conversion.
http://www.mpbrakes.com/uploads/documents/discdrum.pdf
http://www.mpbrakes.com/uploads/documents/discdrum.pdf
1979 Malibu drag race only car
1999 Sonoma 4.3 5 speed-Rufus
1989 Astro-Ole Yellar cancelled-still selling off parts
1985 Astro-shop van R.I.P. my friend
1994 Astro LT RWD W4.3 rod knock RIP
1982 Winnebago single rear wheel-Chevy 350 Scraped 1/28/13-broken dreams......
Rochester,NY
1999 Sonoma 4.3 5 speed-Rufus
1989 Astro-Ole Yellar cancelled-still selling off parts
1985 Astro-shop van R.I.P. my friend
1994 Astro LT RWD W4.3 rod knock RIP
1982 Winnebago single rear wheel-Chevy 350 Scraped 1/28/13-broken dreams......
Rochester,NY
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Re: Clear, Consise Brake Upgrade Instructions, please.
Good find, Gary. This clears up some questions that the newbes might have. ![Dancing \:D/](./images/smilies/eusa_dance.gif)
![Dancing \:D/](./images/smilies/eusa_dance.gif)
1996 Safari SLX Hotair balloon transport vehicle
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- I get chills without my van.
- Posts: 64
- Joined: Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:05 am
- Location: Chilhowie,Va......I know you've never heard of it...
Re: Clear, Consise Brake Upgrade Instructions, please.
Does anyone know the bolt spacing on the backing plates and the axle housing diameter . MPBRAKES.com has 11 rear brake kits for 10 and 12 bolt rears but do not have 5 on 5 drums. Just exploring the possibilities. ![Think :-k](./images/smilies/eusa_think.gif)
![Think :-k](./images/smilies/eusa_think.gif)
93 Astro cargo .... Newest Aquisition !
95 Safari , on the injured list
![Image](http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p217/ASTROSS88/Safari-71.jpg)
95 Safari , on the injured list
![Image](http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p217/ASTROSS88/Safari-71.jpg)
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Re: Clear, Consise Brake Upgrade Instructions, please.
The 5 on 5 drums can be had in the aftewrmarket. Here locally they are less than $40.00 each. I have the bolt spacing dimensions as I kept a log on the 12 bolt conversion I did on my Safari. If I remember I'll post those dimensions tomorrow. I keep the log at the shop. ![Dancing \:D/](./images/smilies/eusa_dance.gif)
![Dancing \:D/](./images/smilies/eusa_dance.gif)
1996 Safari SLX Hotair balloon transport vehicle
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Re: Clear, Consise Brake Upgrade Instructions, please.
Here's the dimensions you ask about. These are center to center of the bolt holes.
Top: Horizontal- 3 1/8"
Bottom: Horizontal- 2 11/16"
Top to bottom: Verticle - 2 7/16"
Holes are 3/8"
Center hole for the axle tube: Stock Astro/Safari: 1.95"
Center hole for the axle tube: 12 bolt: 2 3/4"
I don't think it's all that important to have the center hole exact for centering the backing plates. The bolt holes will do that well enough. The shoes are floating on a pivot. They'll center themselves.
These dimensions were the same on the Safari (1996) and the mid 90's Buick Roadmaster that I got my backing plates from. It made the conversion a no brainer swap.![Dancing \:D/](./images/smilies/eusa_dance.gif)
Top: Horizontal- 3 1/8"
Bottom: Horizontal- 2 11/16"
Top to bottom: Verticle - 2 7/16"
Holes are 3/8"
Center hole for the axle tube: Stock Astro/Safari: 1.95"
Center hole for the axle tube: 12 bolt: 2 3/4"
I don't think it's all that important to have the center hole exact for centering the backing plates. The bolt holes will do that well enough. The shoes are floating on a pivot. They'll center themselves.
These dimensions were the same on the Safari (1996) and the mid 90's Buick Roadmaster that I got my backing plates from. It made the conversion a no brainer swap.
![Dancing \:D/](./images/smilies/eusa_dance.gif)
1996 Safari SLX Hotair balloon transport vehicle
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- I finally get the smurf thing
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Re: Clear, Consise Brake Upgrade Instructions, please.
Well apparently some of these donor vehicles have a different backing plate as the parts I grabbed , the backing plates are totally different and will not work. So if anyone knows a part number and a parts place that may carry them I would appreciate the info. Mark
always tinkering with stuff
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Re: Clear, Consise Brake Upgrade Instructions, please.
That's a good find Gary. It raises questions about doing brake upgrades, and whether the master cylinder has enough stroke to accommodate the larger calipers people are using.1Gary wrote:This link might resolve the issue if someone wants to buy new parts for their rear end brake 11" conversion.
http://www.mpbrakes.com/uploads/documents/discdrum.pdf
Don't semi-trailer trucks use drum brakes because they have more surface area?
Re: Clear, Consise Brake Upgrade Instructions, please.
The testimonies by members who have done this upgrade is more than enough proof that the upgrade does substantially improve the brakes.Guess work over was a long time ago.Skip has on his van untold miles on his van as well with him traveling across the country to balloon events with at the very least 800lbs of equipment.This site has old timers that has done everything that you can think of on these vans.So if you looking up ref's to do a mod,that's one thing.But if your looking up threads to open a discussion that are ref's,that is something else where train has left the station on that long ago.Beyond what I just said,really not much more can be added.
1979 Malibu drag race only car
1999 Sonoma 4.3 5 speed-Rufus
1989 Astro-Ole Yellar cancelled-still selling off parts
1985 Astro-shop van R.I.P. my friend
1994 Astro LT RWD W4.3 rod knock RIP
1982 Winnebago single rear wheel-Chevy 350 Scraped 1/28/13-broken dreams......
Rochester,NY
1999 Sonoma 4.3 5 speed-Rufus
1989 Astro-Ole Yellar cancelled-still selling off parts
1985 Astro-shop van R.I.P. my friend
1994 Astro LT RWD W4.3 rod knock RIP
1982 Winnebago single rear wheel-Chevy 350 Scraped 1/28/13-broken dreams......
Rochester,NY
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- I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
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- Joined: Fri Aug 08, 2008 12:55 pm
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Re: Clear, Consise Brake Upgrade Instructions, please.
Not all of us are on the same train as you, Gary. I hope I don't have more replies like this to look forward to from you.
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Re: Clear, Consise Brake Upgrade Instructions, please.
One of the members posted about the correct Wheel cylinder to use since 2 different bores are listed they found the 1" to not work well with their system but the 7/8" to work perfectly (probable cause is exactly what you mentioned since the original Wheel cylinders are 7/8"). Balance is important and it appears that 1 ton front calipers (larger bore piston) and the 11" rear drums appear to be within the limits of the master cylinders of our vans. I can think of a couple reason why transport trucks use drums but i don't have any facts on that so i'll keep my mouth shuttimelessbeing wrote:That's a good find Gary. It raises questions about doing brake upgrades, and whether the master cylinder has enough stroke to accommodate the larger calipers people are using.1Gary wrote:This link might resolve the issue if someone wants to buy new parts for their rear end brake 11" conversion.
http://www.mpbrakes.com/uploads/documents/discdrum.pdf
Don't semi-trailer trucks use drum brakes because they have more surface area?
![Silenced :-#](./images/smilies/eusa_silenced.gif)
1998 GMC Safari AWD, BFGoodrich AllTerrain T/A
Jet performance tuner 91 octane preset, Jet under-drive pulleys
Rancho 999000 series shock, on-board controller to be installed later
DHC rock rails and skid plate Add-A-Leaf
G3500 front calipers
Zexel Torsen Diff
11" drums
180 amp Alternator
Long tru-cool 4590 trans cooler
1997 gone
Jet performance tuner 91 octane preset, Jet under-drive pulleys
Rancho 999000 series shock, on-board controller to be installed later
DHC rock rails and skid plate Add-A-Leaf
G3500 front calipers
Zexel Torsen Diff
11" drums
180 amp Alternator
Long tru-cool 4590 trans cooler
1997 gone