83 rear end

[Cbitz233]

Has anyone done a drum to disc brake conversion?? Are there kits available? 

[WayneC]

Since most of the stopping power is the front brakes, in my opinion its probably not worth the money and effort.

I recall seeing an Avanti with a rear conversion to disk at an Avanti car show, but that was long ago and I don't remember anything about it.

Turner had a conversion, but my understanding is that they have been out of business for some years now... http://www.studebaker-info.org/Tech/Bhend/turnerreardisk.pdf

Has been done on a '63; I don't know if 1983 has the same configuration rear axles/hubs. No kits currently available that I am aware of.

There may be info in AOAI magazine issue 134 (circa 2006) about the '63 conversion, which was also written up here (starts after the front brake conversion):

   http://www.studebaker-info.org/Tech/sbca96/Cobradisk/cobradiskm.html

I believe the Avanti used a Dana 44 rear axle assembly, and Summit offers some conversion kits for them (dunno if they work on an Avanti):

    https://www.summitracing.com/search/product-line/ssbc-drum-to-disc-brake-conversion-kits/axle-model/dana-44

Here is a Youtube video about a conversion on a Jeep Dana 44:

 

[Jim78]

Turner Brake is still in business and offers the rear disk kit.

.  http://www.turnerbrake.com/reardisckits.html

 

[StingrayHawaii]

Seems like an adjustable proportioning valve would be my first item to improve braking.  My rears lock up first in a hard stop!

 

[Cbitz233]

Okay how about this. Are there any rear ends you think of with disc brakes i can replace the dana 44 with? 

[Avanti83]

On 2/7/2019 at 8:01 PM, Cbitz233 said:

Okay how about this. Are there any rear ends you think of with disc brakes i can replace the dana 44 with? 

Of course there are, probably from the newer class of 8" Ford products but why. Any axle from another vehicle would need to be modified with the brackets to mount to the Avanti which has a very narrow track compared to today's vehicles at a minimum. Drive shaft connection would also need to be modified and most axles will be too wide in track width. 

Take a walk through a local wrecking yard and start looking under rear drive vehicles and see what will fit. Be sure to check wheel lug spec also. 

With the Turner setup available why raise the degree of difficulty for little to no gain. My 83 and 74 both have either Levesque or Turner front disc conversions and stop quite well. Also know that the N/A cars went to larger rear brakes from a Chevrolet pickup by the time both my 74 and 83's were put on the road. Stopping this things is not a major problem when everything is in good operating shape.

I'm running way more engine in both my cars than most folks and I'm not coming close to converting to rear discs. 

[Cbitz233]

The owner of the body shop i work at has a ls hookup and im most likely going with a ls & single turbo setup

Edited February 9, 2019 by Cbitz233

[Avanti83]

If you feel the 44 won't have the strength, have a Ford 9" built with the correct width and disc setup. That will handle the horsepower and the stopping if you believe the discs are necessary.

By the time you find one strong enough from an existing vehicle and modify it to fit, you'll probably have a major down payment on a 9" setup. Personally, I probably start with the 44 if it's in good nick and get the LS installed. Drive it for a while as it will take a fair amount of abuse with street tires and see if the car stops and handles adequately. 

If it needs better stopping and it has the original Dunlop setup consider either a Turner or this setup https://hotrodsandbrakes.com/ or talk to Tom about his adapters http://www.studebaker-info.org/Tech/sbca96/Cobradisk/cobradiskm.html

Or maybe just go to something better. You can find a couple of folks that supply upgraded frames and suspensions if you Google them but here's one from Ebay

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Avanti-Studebaker-Chassis-Conversion-/263096998485

There is any number of solutions but until you get one up and running you won't quite know how far you need to go. If you want to improve everything to a 2019 performance level it will get pricey quick. It only takes money and only you know your budget.