1973/1974 Z07 Rear Sway Bar/Rear Heavy Duty Brakes BB Only ?

[Joe L.]

Re: 1973/1974 Z07 Rear Sway Bar/Rear Heavy Duty Brakes BB Only ?

Very informative thread. Were there any rotor differences for the HD brakes ?. Also at 19k the car would likely have it's original rear pads-no ?

John-----


Rotors, front and rear, were the same for standard, J-50, and J-56. I would expect that the rear pads would be original at 19K miles. In fact, unless the car has been driven hard in a racing environment, I would expect the front pads to be original, too.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1973/1974 Z07 Rear Sway Bar/Rear Heavy Duty Brakes BB Only ?

Thanks for filling in all the details, Joe. The 352596 front bar is listed in the Chevrolet Power Manuals from the seventies as 1 1/8". Though many are discontinued they can probably be sourced, used, from the usual used parts vendors if anyone wants to do some chassis tuning. Also different size bars require different pillow block bushings (also listed in the Power Manuals and parts catalogs), but most of them are probably discontinued, too, so used, repros (if available,) or roll your own are the choices.

Duke

Duke------


These bars usually have a rather irregular surface, often with scale from the forging process. So, measuring a precise OD is difficult.

[Duke W.]

Re: 1973/1974 Z07 Rear Sway Bar/Rear Heavy Duty Brakes BB Only ?

Yes. Also since forming the bends results in some deformation of the round bar stock, the diameter should always be measured on a portion that is straight in at least a couple of places.

Duke

[James G.]

Re: 1973/1974 Z07 Rear Sway Bar/Rear Heavy Duty Brakes BB Only ?

John-----


Rotors, front and rear, were the same for standard, J-50, and J-56. I would expect that the rear pads would be original at 19K miles. In fact, unless the car has been driven hard in a racing environment, I would expect the front pads to be original, too.

there are specific break-in procedures for the HD pads - it goes something like you have to drive at half throttle using the brakes to limit your speed to 20 miles an hour or something like that for 1 or 2 miles. -

FWIW DO NOT DISCARD the ICONEL backers they can be relined and are VALUABLE to vintage racers.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1973/1974 Z07 Rear Sway Bar/Rear Heavy Duty Brakes BB Only ?

there are specific break-in procedures for the HD pads - it goes something like you have to drive at half throttle using the brakes to limit your speed to 20 miles an hour or something like that for 1 or 2 miles. -

FWIW DO NOT DISCARD the ICONEL backers they can be relined and are VALUABLE to vintage racers.

James-------


I don't think the original 1965-68 J-56 front pads, GM #5463160, were of inconel backing plate material. I'm not even sure if these were bonded but they were of special friction material. The 1969-75 J-56 pads, GM #5468882, replaced the 5463160 in December, 1968. These pads definitely were of the inconel backing plate and were bonded.

The rear J-56 pads, GM #5452515, were single pin. I do not think they were ever of inconel backing plate but they were of bonded construction.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1973/1974 Z07 Rear Sway Bar/Rear Heavy Duty Brakes BB Only ?

Also different size bars require different pillow block bushings (also listed in the Power Manuals and parts catalogs), but most of them are probably discontinued, too, so used, repros (if available,) or roll your own are the choices.

Duke

Duke------


Yes, with one exception all of the stabilizer bar bushings are discontinued. The exception is the bushing for the rear stabilizer bar for 1968-74 big blocks but the one currently available is supercessive to the original part number. The currently available bushing is GM #481432. All of the others, and there were many, are "dead".

[Richard F.]

Re: 1973/1974 Z07 Rear Sway Bar/Rear Heavy Duty Brakes BB Only ?

Joe

My original 1974 Z07 SB (19,000mi) has original front pads bonded to inconel backing plate as you stated but the original rear single pin pads were steel backing plate as you suggest.

Rich

James-------


I don't think the original 1965-68 J-56 front pads, GM #5463160, were of inconel backing plate material. I'm not even sure if these were bonded but they were of special friction material. The 1969-75 J-56 pads, GM #5468882, replaced the 5463160 in December, 1968. These pads definitely were of the inconel backing plate and were bonded.

The rear J-56 pads, GM #5452515, were single pin. I do not think they were ever of inconel backing plate but they were of bonded construction.