Disk brake conversion for Gen 1 Toronados using
69/70 parts
Mark Pruett m-pruett@mindspring.com April 2000
minor updates Aug 2002
This file lists the necessary 69/70 parts, with some example parts numbers.
I used to have some prices, but there's so much variation it doesn't make
sense to list them. Shop around.
Note that 69-70 steering knuckles use the Gen 1 balljoints. 71- knuckles
will work if you use 71- balljoints.
Here's where it gets wierder. There are two kinds of 69/70 knuckles.
Early ones don't have casting numbers. Later ones have the numbers 407144
and 407145 (different number for right and left) cast into the inner side
of the knuckle above the lower ball joint. What's the difference? As far
as I can figure, the only difference is in the fitting for the outer tie
rod ends. If you stick the available outer 69-70 tie rod end (Moog ES412
RL) into an early knuckle, the bolt shaft is about 3/8 of an inch too long.
In other words, it seems like the early casting has a thinner fitting for
the shaft to press into. However, the original-style tie rod with the shorter
bolt shaft does not seem to be available anywhere. Don't freak out. The
taper of the early knuckle is as far as I can tell identical to the taper
of the thick part of the ES412 tie rod end. So, what I did on a car was
to install the tie rod, put several appropriately-sized stainless steel
washers onto the exposed end of the bolt shaft to fill the gap up to the
beginning of the threads, then torqued down the nut and cotterpin as usual.
The tie rod end is thus completely seated as it should be, held tightly
in place, and the cotterpin working as it should.
Some parts come from the junkyard. The new or rebuilt ones can be found
at parts stores, online stores, Kanter, etc.
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Knuckles (get from junkyard, keep the hubs)
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Loaded calipers (left and right)
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Front brake hoses United Brake Parts 36674 left, 36675 right
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Rotors Wagner BD60407 Bendix 141007 Raybestos 5802 Delco 18A1
(or if the donor car has good
ones, just get them cleaned up/turned)
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Wheel bearings & seals (or if the donor car has good ones, just use
them)
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Master cylinder and booster. Need one for disk-drum system, like
a 69 or 70 disk Toro (you can get separate or loaded MC/booster combo).
If your booster is original, save the aggravation and get the combo.
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Distribution block junkyard
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Adjustable proportioning valve Generic unit e.g., Stainless Steel
Brakes Corp
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Disk brake compatible wheels--Use Toro disk wheels or Eldorado disk wheels
Optional
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Front end parts--inner tie rod ends, outer tie rod ends, idler arm, upper
and lower control arm bushings, Pitman arm, sway bar endlinks and frame
bushings
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Rebuilt front axles--you can use 67-78 Toro/Eldo axles, e.g. TRW 22268R
(This requires two solid axles--replacing the RH damper one which is trouble
prone and not available anywhere)
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Axle spacer rings Bolting the '67 forward
axles to '66 output shaft requires spacer rings made by Dick Taschenberg
as well as the '67-forward 12-point flange bolts which are longer than
the '66 bolts--use Grade 8 !!!
For a full 4 wheel conversion, need rear brakes/MC parts for a 76-78
Cadillac Eldorado
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Brake backing plates junkyard (label sides clearly when you pull)
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Parking brake actuator levers junkyard (label sides clearly when
you pull)
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Actuator lever return springs junkyard (label sides clearly when
you pull)
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Hubs junkyard (or machine 3/8 inch off the diameter of
the Toro rear hubs)
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Rear calipers '77 is Wagner L116349 (left), L116348 (right)
loaded ones
(must remove and swap piston/actuator assembly;
be sure to align notch/hole in piston
in same position to locate the brake
pads (must swap levers as well)
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Rotors (same part number as front)
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Master cylinder '76-78 Cadillac Eldorado
(since this is from Hydro-boost system, it lacks
the depression at the booster end to
accommodate the rubber seal that protrudes
from the booster. So, you should carefully
trim the lip of that seal so that the MC will
fit snugly against the booster. Do not shim the
MC outward, since this places undue pressure
on the bolthole flanges when braking.
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Wheel bearings inner & outer