Date: Tue, 15 May 2001
Dear Glenn,
I need your advice on converting my '62 Jensen brakes to later brakes. I cannot do the work myself, I don't think. But my mechanic said for me to get everything I need for the conversion and he will do it. Would you mind e-mailing me a list of exactly by part # what I need to get from Boston Volvo? I'm sorry to ask you to do this but I know I will get the correct information. I'm a little confused as to exactly what I need. Do I also need to change my rear brakes? or no?
Regards,
Vinny
Vinny - To change from pre-chassis-number-7000 to mid-production front brakes, you'll need rotors, spacer blocks (Volvo calls them brackets), caliper bolts, and backing plates. This is a convenient time to replace the wheel bearings, too. I did this job many years ago, so there may be some parts I've forgotten. If you manage to find all these parts, your mechanic should be able to tell if anything's missing. Of course, you'll also want new pads. I recommend PBR pads, available from IPD (http://www.ipdusa.com). The Volvo pads nowadays have no asbestos in them, which is good for health, but the material they are made of makes more dust than traditional pads, and it seems to wear faster.
I did this conversion on my car simply because early rotors were not available new at that time. From what I've heard lately, the mid-production rotors are very hard to find now, and are very expensive. I would encourage you to try to use the existing equipment on your car before you decide to switch. It is possible your rotors could be machined to proper specs. It is also possible that someone has produced a run of early rotors. Check with some Volvo parts specialists. If the rotors are too far gone, you may find that the parts listed below are no longer available from Volvo. If that's the case, I'd recommend purchasing them used from an 1800 specialist such as Don Thibault (508-888-9715).
If you have drum brakes on the front, none of this applies. I have no experience with rear brake conversions, and the rear brakes on my '63 work well if I adjust them every 4,000 miles. -Glenn.
Parts needed to convert front brakes from early disk to mid-production disk:
rotors - 2 required - 666525-1
left bracket - 666528-5 - The left caliper mounts to this part.
right bracket - 666529-3 - The right caliper mounts to this part.
caliper bolts - 4 required - 668905-3
left backing plate - 669015-0 or 668333-0
right backing plate - 669016-8 or 668334-8
grease seals - 2 required - 88640-8
wheel bearings - 2 of each part - SKF number may be cross-referenced at any bearing supply shop:
18448-1 (SKF 2K-09074)
181457-3 (SKF SK-09195)
181458-1 (SKF SK-15245)
181130-6 (SKF 2K-15112)