Help! '69 Camaro factory brake setup

Chevy454 · 09-04-2008, 03:13 PM

I've got a '69 Camaro, bbc w/auto, factory front disc/rear drum setup...my question is for some of you old school guys (read: pre-Wilwood). How can I eliminate the drag on the front/rear breaks? Someone told me of an extra spring on the rear drums to pull the shoes away...and someone else told me to add a small spring between the pads on the front, or even take out the clips and let 'em rattle? I know my fronts are dragging a tad, but the rears may be also.

Any help is appreciated!

ericsz · 09-04-2008, 03:27 PM

Take caliper bolt out and turn them down or sand them down and apply grease to them also if your calipers have inserts for the bolts hone them out also.

Chad E532 · 09-04-2008, 03:28 PM

I am not sure on the fronts, but on the rear you could remove the factory automatic adjuster mechanism and just run the adjuster manually. This way you can determine the clearance you want to run between the shoes and the drum. It will just take an extra pump of the brakes to get them out to the drums.

bobby · 09-04-2008, 03:45 PM

You probably have bad hoses or calipers. They are not expensive if you just want to back to stock replacements. You local auto parts store should have them for about $25 per caliper and $20 per hose. I couldn't see the porportioning valve or master cylinder being bad to cause this. And take all the lines loose and blow them out with at least 100 psi of air.

Dave Goob Cook · 09-05-2008, 12:35 PM

Can't find it right now, but someone used to offer a set of springs for the calipers that helped retract the pads for low drag.....

Pretty much like a door hinge spring inserted between the pads/caliper to push the pads back......

I'll keep looking to see if I can find the old link.

09-04-2008, 03:13 PM	#1
Chevy454 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Alton, Missouri Posts: 84 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Help! '69 Camaro factory brake setup I've got a '69 Camaro, bbc w/auto, factory front disc/rear drum setup...my question is for some of you old school guys (read: pre-Wilwood). How can I eliminate the drag on the front/rear breaks? Someone told me of an extra spring on the rear drums to pull the shoes away...and someone else told me to add a small spring between the pads on the front, or even take out the clips and let 'em rattle? I know my fronts are dragging a tad, but the rears may be also. Any help is appreciated! __________________ 69 Pure/Stock Yenko Camaro 11.73 @ 118

09-04-2008, 03:27 PM	#2
ericsz Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 140 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Help! '69 Camaro factory brake setup Take caliper bolt out and turn them down or sand them down and apply grease to them also if your calipers have inserts for the bolts hone them out also. __________________ Eric Bowling

09-04-2008, 03:28 PM	#3
Chad E532 Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Lindstrom MN Posts: 156 Likes: 5 Liked 54 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Help! '69 Camaro factory brake setup I am not sure on the fronts, but on the rear you could remove the factory automatic adjuster mechanism and just run the adjuster manually. This way you can determine the clearance you want to run between the shoes and the drum. It will just take an extra pump of the brakes to get them out to the drums.

09-04-2008, 03:45 PM	#4
bobby Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: League City, Texas Posts: 243 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Help! '69 Camaro factory brake setup You probably have bad hoses or calipers. They are not expensive if you just want to back to stock replacements. You local auto parts store should have them for about $25 per caliper and $20 per hose. I couldn't see the porportioning valve or master cylinder being bad to cause this. And take all the lines loose and blow them out with at least 100 psi of air.

09-05-2008, 12:35 PM	#5
Dave Goob Cook Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indy Posts: 422 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Help! '69 Camaro factory brake setup Can't find it right now, but someone used to offer a set of springs for the calipers that helped retract the pads for low drag..... Pretty much like a door hinge spring inserted between the pads/caliper to push the pads back...... I'll keep looking to see if I can find the old link.