How To: Camaro Rear Disc Brake Swap to G-body Axle

[ssn696]

I picked up a complete 2000 Camaro rear axle at the boneyard. There have been some excellent descriptions and videos posted, but I keep finding questions about how to do this job, so I plan to take some photos and describe details to fill in some blanks. This is my first attempt at this kind of swap.

Nice step-by-step here: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=30606 and viewtopic.php?f=19&t=41067

Here is the as-found axle with brakes, lines, and brackets intact. This will take a few weeks to execute, so check back later.

 

[ssn696]

This axle turns out to have 3.73s and a Torsen limited slip differential. Instead of the standard cross shaft, you have to take out a 5/16 bolt and slide a 'paddle' out of the middle to access the C-clips. Otherwise, it comes apart just like a G axle.

The brake abutments that attach the calipers to the axle ends use a pair of M12x1.50x35 flange-head bolts. The backing plates use a four M10x1.50x45 washer-head bolts and nuts. You don't get these when you 'piece-part' the LS1 brakes from RockAuto.

The parking brake cables can be removed by pulling back the spring and rotating the cable end around. The parking brake shoe assemblies are probably usable as-is, but the rotors and pads were toast.

The thin rubber boots were both torn - have to see if GM sells these separately, as the backing plate assemblies are now discontinued. Here is a resource: http://www.rmsautoparts.com/proddetail.php?prod=0FH-Brake-Boot.

Here are the GM part numbers:

98-02 with NW9 traction control:
LH: 10434794
RH: 10434795

98-02 without traction control:
LH: 10434796
RH: 10434797

Or the service kit (98-02 without positraction) (one needed for each side, LH and RH): 12454994

 

[ssn696]

I took a whole setup off an 83 Buick Riviera. I debated about using them, but I decided I like the separate parking brake, especially since I will have a manual transmission. I have plates from Scarebird to use them without cutting the axle ends.

 

[pmc03spike]

Is this pretty much a bolt in set up? No cutting the axles ... All that stuff. Just a few modifications and it you drop it right in? Sorry this is the first I've seen or herd of this.

 

[ssn696]

Like the Camaro or Blazer swaps, you will still need to either cut the G-body brake tabs to a square shape or use the Scarebird adapter plates. I need to 'unsquirrell' these parts and make another post.

I just spoke to Inline Tube and they are developing a kit based on these calipers. The important piece is a set of custom parking brake cables that will mate up to the standard G-body cable system. I told them to make a splash here on the Forum when all is ready.

 

[L.A.X-RATED]

what "boneyard" did you get this axle from? albuquerque?

 

[ssn696]

U Pull and Pay. They have a couple more there, but this was the only G80 when I was shopping.

 

[ssn696]

I'm committed now. I cut off one G-body brake tab with a Sawzall, then cleaned up the edge and cut the corners with a thin cutting wheel in the grinder. Next, I drilled out one of the small through holes to 3/16", then 5/16". At this point, I decided it was more important for the backing plate to be centered (than clocked) before I drilled out any other holes. I wrapped narrow strips of duct tape around the axle end until the backing plate was a snug fit. Then I drilled out the first hole to 3/8". The backing plate hole is more like 25/32", but now a 3/8" shoulder bolt fits in there. I snugged that down and repeated the process with the other existing through hole. Finally, I used the 3/8 bit to drill divots as my starting points for the 3/16" holes in the upper half of the axle end. I removed the backing plate and patiently worked these through, then repeated the sequence with 5/16" and 3/8".
One down and one to go.

 

[Flyers9928]

There was an article in car craft a few years back detailing this swap. Let me see If I can dig it up.

 

[Flyers9928]

Got it ! http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/chassis-suspension/ccrp-1204-budget-gm-rear-disc-brakes-swap-junkyard-builder/