Brakes???

[packman]

Eventually I was going to get into this. I am not sure if I am going to go over the brakes before or after another engine. The stock brakes seem to work alright in my ma's CV, but I wonder what'll happen when I start adding some power. I was thinking of saving up for some big inch rotors and multi-piston calipers from SCBC or possibly Baer, however, I want to keep running her stock turbine wheels during the winter months because I got snow tires on them. Would brakes from a PI work? What works for you guys?
Packman

[Tiggie]

PI brakes really aren't that much different from civilian ones. On boxes, the PI's just got 11in Rear drums (same as tow package) and I think a little different caliper piston material.

I dunno what year your car is, but on a box that wants to keep 15in wheels, brakes from an Aero work well.

[85crownHPP]

yep. the only upgrade worth doing really is the 98-02 brake swap and that requires a 16" wheel.
92-97 brakes may be alittle better, but its the same about of work as swapping the newer type.
I doubt you will find any aftermarket performance brake parts for a box

[91LTDProject]

I'd like to do the big brake upgrade, but I originally thought you didnt have to change the upper control arms. Then I read something else. Seems like an absolute P.I.T.A to get the uppers off from what I understand, specially after 17 years of being together. It would be great if someone could do a sticked writeup on the big brake swap.

[85crownHPP]

actually, harvesting the upper contoll arms is the easiest part of the big brake swap.

[packman]

I think somebody on Cardomain said they were going to do the 98 swap onto a box, no wait a minute, Moneypit did that swap, right? If you're going to see any aftermarket big brake kits, that would be the year you'd probably see.
Packman

[mrltd]

Natehawk, Lincolnmania, Gadget, and I all have 98-02 brakes. An aftermarket brake kit will cost about 3 times the worth of the car. It's not worth it. Upgrading to the newer 4 wheel discs and throwing a decent set of pads on there will be more than adequate. Any larger brake setup will require larger diameter wheels. 16" steelies are cheap, and 17" wheel and tire packages aren't too bad either.

[gadget73]

the upper control arms are easy to pull. Getting the spindle off the lower can be a bitch but the upper is a piece of cake. Its really not horribly expensive, nor that difficult really. There are a few little tricks and tweaks involved but to be honest its really about the same work 100% rebuilding the front end with stock parts as it is rebuilding it with big brake stuff. Only added work really is the parts harvesting, and thats not too terrible. A fresh front end will do wonders for a car's handling and general driving comfort since all the stuff will be where it belongs. Its like having a brand new car again.

[85crownHPP]

I got a good workout getting the nut off the lower balljoint when I harvested the spindles... lol
If your not experienced with tapping balljoints out of things than Id invest in a picklefork

[DuceAnAHalf]

I got a good workout getting the nut off the lower balljoint when I harvested the spindles... lol
If your not experienced with tapping balljoints out of things than Id invest in a picklefork

I pulled Pi springs from the junk yard. It involved a big ball joint separator and a 10# mini-sledge and a shitload of whacks.

[88Vic]

What would be easier when doing a rear disk swap, removing the old drums and putting the disk assembly onto the current rear axle, or just switching to a 92-97 rear axle? Cuz if replacing the axle is easier, then i'd go for that, and you could get 3.27 trac-lock gears out of it also.

[mrltd]

swapping the complete axle is less difficult, it just means you don't need to actually go into the rear axle.

[packman]

Thanks for the input. 88Vic, that's a good idea. If the 92 front and rear set up fits, hopefully then I can still use my 15" turbines. I replaced the upper control arm on a 1983 Olds 88. Not fun but not too horrible. If this is what I have to do, then so be it.
Packman

[mrltd]

the 92-95 fronts are the same size as the stock box ones. Not worth the effort/money

[DuceAnAHalf]

the 92-95 fronts are the same size as the stock box ones. Not worth the effort/money

The only differences is that the 92-95 uses a newer style ball joint, and the arm probably weighs a little less since it is cast aluminum not stamped steel.