Chevy & GMC Vans

SoCalli V8 wrote:Yep, your parts guy screwed up, do as rlsllc said, you won`t have any trouble getting rid of them.

I apologise, because I was wrong and Todd was correct.

I crawled under my van this evening to take some photographic evidence, and although it is difficuilt to determine from my pictures, The passenger rear e-brake cable does enter from the rear of the backing plate.

The drivers side enters from the front of the backing plate.


Right Rear.



Left Rear

I ran into the same situation when I put the 11 inch brakes on the Smilie van. The parking brake cable must enter the backing plate from the rear. I fabricated a bracket to hold the cable away from anything that it might rub against. The wheel cylinder size you decide to use is an option. The station wagons used 1 inch and the sedans used 7/8. I use my van for hauling my balloon so I opted for the 1 inch. It works better than I had hoped for. This mod is well worth the effort.

I don't believe it! I was right about something! Somebody write down the date! No, better yet, somebody pleeeese tell my wife!

Ahh, who am I kidding, she won't believe you anyway...

canadavan wrote:I don't believe it! I was right about something! Somebody write down the date! No, better yet, somebody pleeeese tell my wife!

Ahh, who am I kidding, she won't believe you anyway...

way to lay it down Todd, June 26th/07

What were the odds.....

Anyone have the list of part #'s needed to convert a 98 AWD to the 11" drums ?

Go to your local salvage yard and look for a Chevy Caprice, Police or taxi version. Also The full size Buick sedans and wagons. Remove everything from and including the backing plates. The entire system bolts right on the Astro/Safari vans.

I just have a few questions about this swap since I have all the parts to do it. My questions are: Has anyone done this with antilock brakes?
if so do I need to drill the backing plate or what ever to keep it antilock.
my vans a 92 and the brake drums and backing plates come off a 89 caprice wagon.

I got a set of 11" rear brakes from a 91 roadmaster wagon and the holes of the backer plates no line up for me. Go figure. Is it an acceptable practice to redrill the holes to the other bolt pattern?

I've got a set of the same brakes, except mine came off of a, wait for this, Pontiac Safari wagon.

It almost looked like the holes would touch when redrilled, I plan to find out sometime. I don't see why it couldn't be done as long as it was drilled accurately, and fastened securely. I thought about adding two extra bolts if the holes were too close when redrilled, but haven't really checked it out.

It seems that the wagons were different than the sedans, police or otherwise. GVWR differnces, no doubt. I wonder if that is an 8.5 instead of a 7.5???

Wagons were a different size than the sedans. Roadmaster won't work. I urge you to look for a 92-94 Caprice sedan.
My van had abs and the swap has no effect on it what so ever. The only thing you need to do is drill a hole for the sensor wire to pass through the backing plate.

My 11" conversion came from a Buick Roadmaster. Everything fit perfectly. No drilling, No Nothing. Bolted right on. The Smilievan is a 96. The anti lock for the rear brakes is monitored by a speed sensor that reads the transmission output shaft. There are no issues with ABS or proportioning valve. The entire conversion was done in three hours. Very well worth it.

anyone know what the best donor would be to do this swap on an '02 AWD? Do the roadmaster parts work on the 96-02 vans or should I stick with Caprice parts? Thanks.

The Roadmaster parts will work without any mods. That's what I used on my 96 Safari. The backing plates bolted on along with everything else.

is it possible for somebody to post a pic of the backing plate (preferably with a ruler in the pic to show basic dimensions) so I have some sort of reference to go by when I'm picking around in the junkyards?