The Polara Disc/Drum brake Conversion begins

[mr. fix it]

I finally am preparing the parts for upgrading the Polara for the 73 disc brake & rear 2 1/2” drum conversion

Getting the pieces ready for installation
I saved everything brake related from the 73 Newport from a few years back
Starting the job next Monday with the help of another car guy

The rotors and drums were like new and needed just a light clean up to get ready saving me a good chunk of change

 

[BoatMan]

In the middle of the same conversion. Keep pictures cpmong. I'm sure everyone including myself will want some references.

 

[Imperialist67]

Good luck with the conversion!

 

[mr. fix it]

I bought the basics from Rock Auto
Strangely The SKF bearings I ordered came without the races???
Never seen this before
The refund is not a problem
They state if it isn’t pictured then it is not included

 

[Zymurgy]

I bought the basics from Rock Auto
Strangely The SKF bearings I ordered came without the races???
Never seen this before
The refund is not a problem
They state if it isn’t pictured then it is not included

Probably because a new set of rotors have the races installed, but my timken set came with races. Good luck it has to go smoother than mine.

 

[mr. fix it]

Probably because a new set of rotors have the races installed, but my timken set came with races. Good luck it has to go smoother than mine.

Thanks Mike.
I have saved your saga as a reference of what not to do for the brake booster part! LOL!!!

 

[mr. fix it]

Here is a picture of the Centric calipers I bought. it lloks like they used sowm type of finishing on them to preserve the look.
Couldn't go wrong on the price $43.00 each
Pins, rubber bushings, flex hose washer with caliper.
Even a clip was included that I have to figure out where it goes..

 

[Zymurgy]

So you don't have to hunt it down here is how the clip goes.

 

[mr. fix it]

from cruddy to nice...
I used Acid Magic to clean the parts.

 

[mr. fix it]

So you don't have to hunt it down here is how the clip goes.

View attachment 167951

SWEET!! Thanks Mike!

I was kind of hoping that someone would jump in and shout "Get the Friggin' FSM!!!

 

[mr. fix it]

Which I have...

 

[mr. fix it]

So you don't have to hunt it down here is how the clip goes.

View attachment 167951

Hi Mike
I found out that installing the clip as shown causes it to rub on the rotors
I found another picture showing the correct way to install it

 

[mr. fix it]

Well I got the front discs installed thanks to my good friend Mel
All it cost is a box of beer

 

[mr. fix it]

Onto the rear brakes now

I noticed right away that the wheel cylinder pins are crooked on both sides on the left pins

 

[Zymurgy]

Great work, sorry about the bad info on the clip. I intially installed them incorrectly, I may have taken the picture at that point. I will definitely check to make sure. If there are no clips I will know I left them in the wrong position.

It wouldn't surprise me if I did, just adds to my disc coversicon saga. Thanks for the detailed pictures

 

[mr. fix it]

No worries Mike
I’m pretty sure you would have heard the grinding for a few minutes just before hearing the metallic thwang as they ground down to nothing and flew off onto the road

 

[Ripinator]

Onto the rear brakes now

I noticed right away that the wheel cylinder pins are crooked on both sides on the left pins

View attachment 169658 View attachment 169659 View attachment 169660

Almost looks like that wheel cylinder is installed upside down, or the shoes are backwards..

 

[mr. fix it]

Almost looks like that wheel cylinder is installed upside down, or the shoes are backwards..

Shoes are good from the pics I took

 

[Ripinator]

View attachment 169670
Shoes are good from the pics I took

I never have seen a wheel cylinder piston cocked like that. Maybe the trailing shoe is in the forward position. . . Or maybe the wheel cylinder is just not the correct part.

 

[65Fury440]

from cruddy to nice...
I used Acid Magic to clean the parts.

View attachment 167952 View attachment 167953 View attachment 167954 View attachment 167955 View attachment 167956 View attachment 167957

Wow those parts cleaned up nice!!
Did you dilute the AM at all?
How long did it soak?