Re: More on Disk swap on 72 Gremlin

[Guynn <amx69@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Frank,

And the 1977 Hornet/Gremli and some small 1978s were really bad to get 
parts for. They were also Pin type. The rotors are for that small year 
segment only.

I had a new 1977 Hornet AMX with that brake set up. They had the plastic 
type pistons in the caliper.Well, I sufferred a locked up caliper which 
ruined the rotor when the car was only 2 years old. The rotor was near 
impossible to locate. The car sat for 6 weeks over locating one.

From everything I have seen before, or since in AMC disc set ups. This 
one ''wierdo'' does exist out there. I always advise folks to avoid the 
set up on 77s and most 78s.

Pacer parts also fit our cars in the brake swap department. I never see 
this mentioned in brake swap chats. We bolted a set of Pacer units on a 
1970 Machine just perfectly. That was over 10 years ago and car still 
has them in place.

Parts costs is going up all the time. On rear brakes for an example, you 
can buy a drop on drum brake set up thru Currey for the Fords. That new 
set up is complete, but runs $350.00. Plus shipping, and install, and 
fluid. Well, it does not take much to spend well over $300.00 for most 
any type of brake swap unless every part is used. I am trying to make a 
point here. If new rear/front parts are in that price range for drums, 
then it is not much more to step up to disc on front or rear. As a 
matter of fact on front swaps, one of the best deals going in my opinion 
is to get a junk yard set up, pull the needed pieces off, and spend the 
money then to just buy new rotors along with fresh re-manufactured 
loaded calipers, and then when you put it together you have nearly a new 
set up that will run , opps, brake for a very long time without worry as 
to the condition of the doner parts .

You can even get your hands on the drilled and/or slotted rotors for our 
AMCs. TRW will do them when they have an order for 10 pairs of 
rotors.Their new loaded calipers run reasonable as well. The new ones 
come gold plated with pads and new crush washers for the hose at around 
$70.00 plus $20.00 core. I think if a guy is just starting out on a 
swap, then the spindle and backing plate may be all he needs and just 
get new from there. Sometimes unless yuou got the core in hand it is 
better to just pay the core fee.

Brake systems run the whole way from $10,000.00 doller race set ups to 
junk yard dog freebies. The main things are, what is you, or your loved 
ones life worth to you when you are working on brakes on your car. If 
you have little regard for your own welfare that is your business. 
But... When/if you decide to cheap out on brakes, you then endanger 
every other soul you drive with on the roads. This means the entire 
brake system from mastercylinder, to hose, lines, fluid, shoes.pads, 
etc. Sure, fresh parts can fail, but not nearly as likely as ''some old 
parts pulled from a car not on the road in years.''

Regards,

Randy Guynn