Re: [Amc-list] Cheap brake conversion (big Bendix brakes)

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

Big bearing brakes use a different size spindle, so you can't put them on the small bearing spindles. The inside diameter of the bearings are different (big bearings = bigger ID). 

All 75-78 AMC cars used big bearing spindles. All 75-76 used big Bendix (3.1" caliper piston) front disc brakes. 77-78 small cars used the big bearing spindle but small Bendix (2.6" caliper piston) disc brakes. 77-78 Matadors continued using the 3.1" calipers. 

The big Bendix rotors are just over 1" thick for better heat dissipation. All small Bendix brake rotors are just under 1" thick. 

The odd 77-78 big bearing/small caliper rotor is what makes those year small car brakes a bad choice for an upgrade of earlier models. I've also been told that those calipers had phenolic pistons that were prone to leaks, but I have to believe that they would have been replaced a long time before that year/model ended up in a salvage yard, especially now! 

------------
Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:10:32 -0700
From: Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>

Sandwich Maker wrote:
> i have a possible availability upgrade for the '74-8 bendix spindle
> with the big bearings, a mopar part.


Ooh, nice find!

So what exactly was the "big bearing" application in AMC? Most of 'em 
are the "smalls", SET2 and SET6, right? I've never seen a big-bearing setup.

Is big vs. small the ID of the bearing, or the OD? What I'm asking is, 
could I put big-bearing rotating parts on small-bearing spindles?

-- 
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars" 
Magazine (AMC)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html
(free download available!)

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