I purchased a disc brake conversion kit from Classic Industries and have it all installed and working, but twice now, I have had to fix the caliper mounting plate or caliper retaining bracket or bolt/pin hold down. Which ever of those names it goes by anyway.

In the attachment I included, it is the items in the lower right and left (2 per side, goes above and below of caliper) The images I'm talking about are those 3 items in the lower left and lower right consisting of 2 brackets and a bolt.

These things are made of very weak tin and allow for my caliper to rock back and forth, which I understand they are supposed to move a hair. They move so much that I have had to remove parts and bend them back in shape. Shouldn't these things be made of some kind of spring steel or something?

Why would this issue only happen to one side also? Anyone have any trick to rectify this?

 

Here's a better pic of the part I'm trying to describe. Those 4 brackets are the parts the are getting bent, especially the one that goes under caliper

 

I'm no expert on all the hardware used for disk conversions, especially when you start mixing off parts such as the Scarebird or other aftermarket conversion.

I have to wonder if you have the correct caliper / bracket combo?

The "tin" and small bolts you picture is typically used in A body calipers. The calipers in the photo you posted of the complete setup are using the big "through bolts" which is what I remember for B bodies.

I suspect? that this is a later model conversion, IE 70's, because the older stuff was mostly multi--piston rather than single.



The ones with the big through bolts don't even use those flat retainers

In this thread over at FABO, is a diagram out of the factory manual of A body calipers which are the type using the "small bolts" and flat plates

http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/...d.php?t=233002






At the bottom is a shot of a 72 B body caliper which uses the "through bolts"

 

Man... I have those and never ever had a problem with them.....
I would have to say that there is a taper in the rotor, or the pads have to be tapered. Something is just not fitting rite...
Those take the D52 Pads? Rite?

 

Things don't look right The caliper adapter the J piece and the caliper don't match.
The 4 metal pieces & clips should bolt to the caliper adapter Do they ???
That looks like a mid/late 70's stock brake setup Volare Satalite etc.. or such.
THose look like the early 70's Chalanger/Cuda Pin type calipers
Those are anti rattle springs THEY do not go under the caliper, they go on top and are installed after the brakes are assembled. They actually may not be used for your application look at 440RR's pictures

 

FWIW,
That first pic IS NOT what is installed on my car, it was just the first pic I found of those brackets, so I could give you an idea of what I was talking about. The second pic is EXACTLY what the retainer and rattle springs look like.

@TVLynn,
The anti rattle springs were installed after the brakes were assembled and are in the correct place. I just messed up the wording/description, I guess.

This conversion is on a 1966 Plymouth Satellite. My setup looks exactly like the pic in 440RR's post.

Edit:
Here's the exact kit I bought.
http://www.classicindustries.com/mop...ts/md7785.html

 

That is a very good question!

Don't have a clue as to what pads these are!

 

I still say there is a miss match between the calipers and the caliper brackets..
The pin type caliper is shown in the Classic Ind picture, the pin calipers does not use the anti rattle spring. USES a slightly different bracket. The slide type caliper uses the anti rattle springs. Take some pictures so we can figure out your problem.

OH Those anti rattle springs are use on later A,B F, J, M, 1/2 T vans, pickups a very wide range of vehicles from 75? until ?

 

"The 4 metal pieces & clips should bolt to the caliper adapter Do they ???"

Yes!!

Not sure I'm grasping exactly what you mean by a miss match between the calipers and the caliper brackets?

Which "brackets" are you talking about?

 

The wrong type of calipers each type of caliper has a specific bracket. Without the pads installed
does the caliper fit into the groove of the bracket & slide back & forth on the groove

 

Let me ask this question a little differently......

The first picture you posted..... Do your calipers have the long bolts in the picture?

 

I'm not the one that does the work, so I'm not sure about that one! I am having some other work done and that guy is going to go over the brakes and install a new hardware kit.


That very first pic I posted IS NOT the kit I installed on my car and, no, I don't believe it has that long bolt. I might be able to see that part to verify a little later, or tomorrow, when it isn't so dark and gloomy and rainy!

Sorry about being such a dipstick when it comes to this stuff, but I'm about as mechanically inclined as a rock!!

 

It's ok Man.....We are here to help....

 

Haven't forgotten about this question or this topic, but haven't gotten car to mechanic yet either. My brother put a different bolt in some place, the retainer bracket, I think, and so far caliper and stuff is staying in place.

Waiting on my other mechanic to get a hold of me to check/fix either oil pan gasket or rear main seal. Then I'll have go over brakes also.

Thanks folks

 

Got the issue figured out. Bought a new brake hardware kit and those retainers are MUCH, MUCH stiffer than the one's that came with the brake conversion kit. They even look like they were heat treated.

Did a few emergency stops so I could also calibrate my proportioning valve so now even rear brakes are grabbing like they should. Was to afraid to try that with other retainers and the issue they caused.

Thanks for the replies folks!!

Also got lucky and neither the rear main seal or oil pan gasket is bad. It was a hidden leak in back corner of valve cover, that was leaking! Stupid, junk, after market valve covers!!