Qestion about my 79 Trans Am's rear brakes: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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June 25, 2011 10:36 p.m. SilverFleet HalfDork

So, I have this 1979 Trans Am that I've had for years, and I'm starting to get around to fix all its many issues. One of them is the brakes.

When I first bought the car (back in 2002), everything worked fine. A few years later, one of my rear calipers locked up (yes, REAR caliper, it's a WS6 car ). I ended up going through my brakes and replaced everything. I did all the calipers, rotors, etc. Ever since, the brakes haven't been the same. The fronts work fine, but the rears barely work at all. I have tried replacing the master cylinder, and then the old leaky proportioning valve was replaced with one of those adjustable front-to-rear billet milled ones like Stainless Steel Brake Co makes. Still, the rears just don't work well.

I was thinking of upgrading the rear brake setup. I can't stand the e-brake setup on these anyway, so I want to go with a setup that has an integral parking brake setup inside the rotor. Is there a car or truck out there that has the same bolt spread as my T/A that I can swap the rear brakes from?
June 25, 2011 10:49 p.m. Javelin SuperDork

I'd imagine 3rd or 4th Gen F-Body would be the best swap-over.
June 25, 2011 10:58 p.m. SilverFleet HalfDork

I do have access to a complete rear brake setup off of a 2004 GTO, but since its a IRS car and has a wacky bolt pattern, I figured it wouldn't work. What about a 90's Chevy Blazer? Pseudosport mentioned that to me earlier.
June 25, 2011 11:43 p.m. Trans_Maro Dork

Just go buy one of the very many off-the-shelf disc brake conversions for that 10-bolt axle.

I have two cars with the stock WS6 rear disc setup and they aren't a very good system, They're better than drums but not by enough to justify the headaches that come with them.

Shawn
June 25, 2011 11:52 p.m. ncjay Reader

Many companies have aftermarket brake kits, but they're not cheap. I suppose if you consider the amount of use you'll get out of it and the headaches you'll avoid, it's probably money well spent. http://www.wilwood.com/BrakeKits/BrakeKitLanding2.aspx
June 26, 2011 9:03 a.m. patgizz SuperDork

In reply to ncjay:

ditch calipers for 3rd gen fronts and get one of those little mechanical caliper e-brake kits. worked for me, the difference between the two calipers, all else equal, was nuts. i have the ws6 rotors/brackets and 3rd gen front calipers on the back of my belair too.