Hello everyone!!! I'm new to this site. This is my first thread. I was wondering if anyone knows how to do a disk brake conversion for a 85 Coupe Deville. I have some of the required parts. The parts I currently have are as follows: 1985 Cadillac Eldorado rear calipers w/bolts, rear caliper mounting brakets, 85 Eldo. rear brake pads and a GM front & rear disc brake prop. valve. I did SOME research on conversion kits. This was all the info. I found online for part that I needed. I'm still fresh to automotive repair but, I do know some basic mechanical skills and I'm not affraid of working on brakes (as long as I have all the proper parts). I know the lines to the current prop. valve need to be replaced or moded, and that I need new brake hoses and maybe cables. From what I've gathered (photos from the internet), the brake hoses for a DeVille and an Eldorado are very different. How would I get some hoses that fit the conversion (DeVille chassis to Eldorado brakes)? Any recommendations for hoses, brake cables and prop. valve fittings would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Money would be better spent on replacing the rear assemblies from a later front wheel drive Fleetwood with rear disc's. I dont believe anything you have will simply bolt on.

Hello everyone!!! I'm new to this site. This is my first thread. I was wondering if anyone knows how to do a disk brake conversion for a 85 Coupe Deville. I have some of the required parts. The parts I currently have are as follows: 1985 Cadillac Eldorado rear calipers w/bolts, rear caliper mounting brakets, 85 Eldo. rear brake pads and a GM front & rear disc brake prop. valve. I did SOME research on conversion kits. This was all the info. I found online for part that I needed. I'm still fresh to automotive repair but, I do know some basic mechanical skills and I'm not affraid of working on brakes (as long as I have all the proper parts). I know the lines to the current prop. valve need to be replaced or moded, and that I need new brake hoses and maybe cables. From what I've gathered (photos from the internet), the brake hoses for a DeVille and an Eldorado are very different. How would I get some hoses that fit the conversion (DeVille chassis to Eldorado brakes)? Any recommendations for hoses, brake cables and prop. valve fittings would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.


what carnut said, will be cheaper, work better, and probably much easier to maintain.

you will also be able to do the job in one weekend once you visit the local pick-a-part and get what you need, all in one trip from one car, for the price of scrap plus a small premium.

Front or rear wheel drive?

It's a front wheel drive.

Money would be better spent on replacing the rear assemblies from a later front wheel drive Fleetwood with rear disc's. I dont believe anything you have will simply bolt on.

How difficult would it be to remove the rear assemblies? Also, what year(s) of Fleetwood would fit my car? I will post pics. of the parts I have when I return from work.

I would suggest to use rear disc set up from 89 - 91 E ( Eldorado, Toronado, and Riveria, K Seville, or V (Allante' / Reatta). GM changed caliper design in regards to piston/actuator which did not require use of parking brake to move pistons out to keep rear pads in adjustment. You will need brackets, calipers, hoses, cables, etc. It will require a certain amount of fabrication - there is no straight bolt in using used parts

Here are the pics. of what I have so far. I also have the brake pads and rotors.

I would suggest to use rear disc set up from 89 - 91 E ( Eldorado, Toronado, and Riveria, K Seville, or V (Allante' / Reatta). GM changed caliper design in regards to piston/actuator which did not require use of parking brake to move pistons out to keep rear pads in adjustment. You will need brackets, calipers, hoses, cables, etc. It will require a certain amount of fabrication - there is no straight bolt in using used parts

Would this involve having to swap out the rear assemblies or just the parts used for the brake setup?

Do what you can from the salvage yards, one for one, trading components, then look in our "Community Services" .. there is an outfit that this is what they do .. convert drums to disk

Does anyone ever take a look at that thread? a lot, really a lot of good stuff there.


...

Stealth,
I can't find the "drums to disk" thread you mentioned. Could you provide a link please?

And when its all done, it will still stop the same. Yes you will have bragging rights to having 4 wheel disc but not that much will change in actual use. I think you are in for alot of either fabrication and/or money with no real benefit.

carnut
How difficult would it be to remove the rear assemblies? Also, what year(s) of Fleetwood would fit my car?

Originally Posted by carnut http://www.cadillacforum.com/forum/images/kirsch/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.cadillacforum.com/forum/showthread.php?p=28979#post28979)
And when its all done, it will still stop the same. Yes you will have bragging rights to having 4 wheel disc but not that much will change in actual use. I think you are in for alot of either fabrication and/or money with no real benefit.I found these links about the benefits of Disk Brakes vs. Drum Brakes:

http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/techcenter/articles/43857/article.html

http://cars.about.com/od/thingsyouneedtoknow/a/discvsdrum.htm

http://ezinearticles.com/?Know-Your-Brakes---Disc-Vs-Drum&id=1724996

The following is something I stumbled across during my search on the differences between the two. It was posted on another forum:

Following are typical pros & cons for both disc and drum brakes:
Drums

Pro - Less expensive since they're already stock on Broncos
Pro - Drums work better then discs as emergency brakes
Con - They stop poorly when wet and can get clogged with mud
Con - Stopping power can fade with repeated hard braking
Con - Larger tires

Discs

Pro - More consistant, straight line stopping power
Pro - Dissipate heat better to stay cooler
Pro - Less affected by water or mud
Pro - Easier to maintain and faster to replace pads then shoes
Con - More expensive to install (but maintenance costs should be less)


Are all these things false? I'm not trying to be rude or anything. Like I said before, I'm still new to all of this. I'm just trying to get all the facts I can.

78-80 Fleetwoods had rear disc but they were rear wheel drive. There is no guarantee they will work on front wheel drive car. The problem you have is GM did not go to 4 wheel disc in most models until after 2000.

The body type on your car is classified as a "C" body. Ck a Hollander interchange manual at a wrecking yard

Thank you all for your help. Any other helpful input would be greatly appreciated. :)