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.
 

        (or if the donor car has good ones, just get them cleaned up/turned)


Optional


For a full 4 wheel conversion, need rear brakes/MC parts for a 76-78 Cadillac Eldorado

     (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)      (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.