Drum Conversion Fail !

In a nutshell....I order a conversion kit from SSBC that converts drum spindles to use disc brakes.
I rebuilt my front suspension, new ball joints & control arm bushings.
Installed the brake kit and had a nice firm pedal. Test drove thru parking lot and my steering won't return to center coupled with a nice grind while pushing my nice new disc brake pedal.. ($13. Ebay score)

So I left the shop , drank 4 Newcastle Browns and wallowed in failure by no fault of my own I'm sure..
Take a look at some pics for me and add what you will....
Car is on the lift with the suspension unloaded, when the car sits on the ground is when contact is made with control arms.

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj245/69proof69/IMGP2177.jpg

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj245/69proof69/IMGP2195.jpg Upper bolt scored by rotor

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj245/69proof69/IMGP2194.jpg

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj245/69proof69/IMGP2198.jpg

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj245/69proof69/IMGP2204.jpg Nice new rotor:mad:

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj245/69proof69/IMGP2199.jpg

Does not look like your fault, have you called the company yet to see what they think? They may have given you the wrong bearing or rotor? I do feel your pain as I went through a similar issue with the brakes on my car. Good luck!

Looks like you may have the wrong caliper bracket. I would call SSC and give them that bracket number, and see if it goes with the kit you ordered (drum brake spindle-to disc conversion kit). Keep your photos in case you have to show them.

I've seen where some of these kits have a spacer that goes on the spindle. I think it moves the rotor out some and thats what gives you your clearance. I still agree with everyone else, you should contact the company you bought your kit from. Good luck.

I could be wrong, but that looks to be poorly designed. My OE set up the caliper bracket sit in toward the spindle about a 1/2" and does not go under the spindle where yours is hitting the lower arm. Any other conversions require the top of the spindle to be cut so all brackets to move inward to clear the rotor. Hopefully the stand behind there product.

The steering not returning to center is an alignment issue. The caster's off.

I was looking at this place at one time. http://www.scarebird.com
Take a look at the nova section.

Also heres one of their ebay listings (Item number: 220354929885)
They also have just the brackets on ebay.

Well after two weeks of screwing around with Stainless Steel Brakes and their crappy conversion kit I finally boxed it all up and shipped it back to Summit.
S.S.B.C'S R&D tech (:bored:) said I didnt use the spacers and my cars ride height is modified ?????
So I made my own kit. Ordered disc brake spindles, caliper brackets and dust shields from C.C.P. the rotors, bearings, calipers and hoses were all off the shelf NAPA premium parts and it all came in way less than S.S.B.C'S junk.
Just had to vent as this gave me chest pains for a while.

Well after two weeks of screwing around with Stainless Steel Brakes and their crappy conversion kit I finally boxed it all up and shipped it back to Summit.
S.S.B.C'S R&D tech (:bored:) said I didnt use the spacers and my cars ride height is modified ?????
So I made my own kit. Ordered disc brake spindles, caliper brackets and dust shields from C.C.P. the rotors, bearings, calipers and hoses were all off the shelf NAPA premium parts and it all came in way less than S.S.B.C'S junk.
Just had to vent as this gave me chest pains for a while.

Now Summit calls me and they won't credit me back the full amount of the kit $559.95 because Stainless steel brakes said I installed it without the spacers....
Keep in mind they totally blew off the fact that the conversion bracket hit the lower control arms.

20 years I've been in the repair business and I purchase alot of parts from Summit through my shop. Being A.S.E certified in brake systems meant nothing either.

Good post but lets make sure it does not turn into a vendor bash :)
Tg

call your credit card company and file a complaint about the charge, tell them you returned the item and you want the charges reversed.

Miles

I am not familiar with this paticular kit from SS.... If you put a spacer on the spindle to move the rotor out then the cotter pin would not fit in the spindle nut on the the axle? If you put a spacer between the bracket and the spindle, it would have caused even more interfernce. Where does the spacer go?

Danny Nix
CPP

Spacer goes on spindle first so its behind the inner bearing.(You can see it in my pics)3rd pic from top
Their solution for the spindle nut was to include a short style castle nut.
However they told me I left the spacers out because they looked at the other spindle pic without the spacer installed (1st pic) and only offered a partial refund.....yeah
I'm out $205. because of their poor design.
I had several people come look at my problem and they couldn't believe I paid $559.95 for some cheesy homemade conversion kit.
The kit was being marketed as new (just released) by a major racing equipment parts company who shall remain nameless........
I purchased the kit not actually seeing a picture of it. When it arrived I realized it was just a bunch of off the shelf reman parts
and someones homemade looking conversion bracket......

Good post but lets make sure it does not turn into a vendor bash :)
Tg

I dont think vendor bashing was the intent here.This is valuable information that potential buyers need to know. If a company isnt producing a quality product, im thankful others our posting their shortcomings. Is there a forum on the site that vendors are rated ???
Im searching this forum for info on disc-brake conversions and i will not consider SSBC now.

Ah hah!!! Ratings and Reviews.I answered my own question.:D