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Sun Oct 13, 2024 10:13 pm

70bus wrote: Awesome - I bought the kit before I bought the Grabbers :P

Saul, what rotors/calipers did you use? I don't care about cheapest, or exotic; more interested in what works well and might still be available in 5 or 6 years or more..

Honestly I don't recall. Brian E supplied a parts/application list with the kit, I think they were Rock Auto part numbers. I visted the website and there were columns and pages of parts, tons of choices that would fit at many different price points and manufactures and I just randomly chose stuff based on my budget and what was in stock. Zero issues. It's all generic off the shelf parts for camaro or something. I seriously doubt we'll ever have sourcing issues from FLAPS, or online.
I think I saved my receipts and if I can locate them I'll get you the specific details.

Wed Feb 12, 2025 8:48 am

Just wanted to pass along Rock Auto has a closeout on the
Durago BR5547 Brake rotors, I think 19/20.00 each.
These are the rotors I ordered for my install.

Just go to rock auto and type in the search at top
DURAGO BR5547 and it should pop up.

Thu Feb 20, 2025 10:41 am

Brian_e wrote: I was poking around on rockauto.com, and they have wholesale close out on the rotors needed for the Type E brake kit for $12.96. They are the good Durago brand. I tried to add 100 of them to my cart, and it showed they had 57 in stock.

Here is the link if anyone wants extras, or is thinking about swapping to disks on their 64-70 bus.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/chevrolet,1986...rotor,1896

Brian

Thanks Brian for the tip on the Rock Auto price drop!

After verifying that these were indeed the same parts that I initially ordered, I just went back and ordered two extra rotors (now sale priced at $19.73 each as well as one extra set (also clearance reduced!) of four brake pads at $11.76. Taxed and shipped to my door for a total of $83.34 so that I can have a back-up set of parts that'll last way past my life time...

I love these Splitty disc brakes Brian!

Bill Bowman

Sun Jul 06, 2025 2:58 pm

Finally getting around to get the pieces for my E-kit, ..cant wait for better stopping power in my split which I got about a month ago. Need to be able to stop on these downhills in Pa!

Seems like everyone in content with the Durago rotors, so will go with those.
Any suggestions for the caliper type? Is it you get what you pay for? - which I don't mind doing to have safe reliable stops.

Here is the list with current prices... recommendations? ( can click to magnify)

For easier viewing, link is here
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/chevrolet,1989...liper,1704

Appreciate all input!
Thanks!

Mon Jul 07, 2025 8:50 am

I usually get the AC Delco professionals down near the bottom of the list. Minimal price increase. I have heard a few bad things about Cardone's work in general. Not on these calipers specifically.

The Rebestos Element 3 pads have also been working good. Don't cheap out on the pads.

Brian

Mon Jul 07, 2025 10:17 am

can you get Powerstop Carbon Fiber Ceramic pads for those calipers? I used to use Akebono cermaic pads on everything and have switched over to the Powerstop Carbon Fiber Ceramic pads on everything - they are that good

Mon Jul 07, 2025 10:57 am

Erik G wrote: can you get Powerstop Carbon Fiber Ceramic pads for those calipers? I used to use Akebono cermaic pads on everything and have switched over to the Powerstop Carbon Fiber Ceramic pads on everything - they are that good

Rockauto shows POWER STOP Z23215 Z23 Evolution Sport Carbon-Fiber w/ Hardware for $48/pr.

I have never used them, but I will try them on the next one.

Mon Jul 07, 2025 12:53 pm

mcmscott wrote: Got a kit from Brian for my 60 single cab(I am using later spindles) seems well built, gonna install them with my new beam and irs rear kit soon,,,, hopefully.

So later spindles will bolt on the earlier front end?

Mon Jul 07, 2025 5:13 pm

I'm new to this, but strange to me to get one set of rotors from one company and put calipers on it from another... or any of the listed calipers which will bolt correctly up to the provided Type-e brackets...did not realize that degree of crossover exists.

Thanks Brian for the caliper suggestion. Yes, want good calipers and good pads.

Tue Jul 08, 2025 10:35 am

mr matt wrote: I'm new to this, but strange to me to get one set of rotors from one company and put calipers on it from another... or any of the listed calipers which will bolt correctly up to the provided Type-e brackets...did not realize that degree of crossover exists.

Thanks Brian for the caliper suggestion. Yes, want good calipers and good pads.

The calipers were used from 1983-1990 on all kinds of GM models. Cadillac's, mini vans, Bonneville's, Buick's, etc. Millions and millions of those cars were built, so there are lots of different companies producing the parts to keep them going. Its a little different than a single model VW with a short year span, and only 2 companies making the repair parts.

The rotors were used from 1982-1992 on S-10 trucks, Camero, Cutlass, Malibu, etc. Same thing, millions and millions sold.

Some companies focus on building rotors, some build calipers, some build both, so the mix and match is perfectly normal in the American car parts world.

This is also the reason I built the kit using these parts. I wanted the parts to be available everywhere. Not just from one or two companies, and none of the wear parts are proprietary. You should be able to find the parts on the shelf in most any town in the US. The same can't be said about fancy Willwood calipers, or custom machined rotors.

Hope that helps.

Brian
Type E

Tue Jul 08, 2025 11:34 am

Brian, is there any progress on the early spindle? Or is it price prohibitive to do?

Tue Jul 08, 2025 2:03 pm

Brrian, so glad you made these....

Wed Jul 09, 2025 1:57 pm

Brian_e wrote: Erik G wrote: can you get Powerstop Carbon Fiber Ceramic pads for those calipers? I used to use Akebono cermaic pads on everything and have switched over to the Powerstop Carbon Fiber Ceramic pads on everything - they are that good

Rockauto shows POWER STOP Z23215 Z23 Evolution Sport Carbon-Fiber w/ Hardware for $48/pr.

I have never used them, but I will try them on the next one.

Awesome, I'm sure you will but for anyone else that wants to try them - make sure to read and follow the bed in procedure to a T. It is important.

Wed Jul 30, 2025 11:27 pm

I’m installing an EZ-stop kit on a 66’ with the 67’ duel master set up for front disc brakes from Airkewled. I hooked up the lines with what was already there. Front lines to the front of the master cylinder ( towards the rear of the van) and the rear brake line to the drivers side on the back of the master cylinder and a brake light switch across from the rear brake line.

I’m having trouble getting the brake fluid to flow to either front brake cylinder. I have the GM rubber brake lines hooked up the correct way, I bled-out the master cylinder for 20 min and saw no bubbles. The rear brakes are bleeding. It doesn’t look like either of the front frame lines is kinked, there are no leaks and the plunger rod is adjusted correctly. If there was something wrong with a front brake line it seems like it would only be a problem with one of the front cylinders and not both. I’m using a pneumatic bleeder on a compressor. Any ideas? Thanks

Thu Jul 31, 2025 8:12 am

scottydub wrote: Anyone have a link or some photos detailing the brake line set-up for this conversion, from a single to duel- plunger master cylinder on a 66’? Thanks
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=242594

Thu Jul 31, 2025 11:30 am

Quote: trouble getting the brake fluid to flow to either front brake cylinder.

You probably already did this - but take the line off the front-wheels port of the M/C and see if fluid squirts out when pedal is depressed. If yes, the problem is elsewhere; if no, the M/C has an issue.

Thu Jul 31, 2025 11:42 am

Assuming you had drums, before, when you did the disc conversion, you removed/gutted the external residual pressure valves on the fittings, right?