1967 Eldo front brake rotors

[Roger Zimmermann]

A friend of mine is asking if I could supply a set of front brake rotors (discs) for his 1967 Eldorado. I know that those parts are not easy to find, but who knows: do you know who may have one set for sale?
The owner fond an offer on eBay for $ 3000.00, but including the bearings; however, he is searching for a less expensive proposition, without bearings (which are also hard to get).
Any idea?

[James Landi]

 If memory serves, the 1967 Eldorado had front wheel bearings that were a "one year only" design, and were very expensive when I had to replace one on my car in the early 1980's.  I think it was a single large bearing, and that was replaced with a two bearing set up that became standard thereafter.  Please correct me if I'm wrong. Yes, the front disc brakes were an option, and in my opinion SHOULD have been standard... (my major disappointment with the design).

[Roger Zimmermann]

That's right, James. In my opinion, the owner should jump at the eBay offer...

[TJ Hopland]

Can you treat it like a drum swap and if you can find a 69-70 donor car swap it all?  Or were those rotors tough too?

[Roger Zimmermann]

It's what I suggested to the owner. However, for a car located in Europe, those swaps are almost as difficult as to find the original parts.

[Highwayman68]

Are these rotors the same as what is on the 68 Eldorado?

[Roger Zimmermann]

I don't know, I'm not at home for some days; I'm not traveling with my parts books!

[bcroe]

Those brake systems were standardized and built in
much larger numbers for the 70-78 Eldo and Toro. 
An entire system can be swapped on including the
dual master cylinder, a commion upgrade on the 60s
E cars.  In the past I collected those parts for
owners from cars on the way to the crusher, but
never did the actual conversion myself. 
good luck, Bruce Roe

["Cadillac Kid" Greg Surfas 15364]

Bruce,
How much needs to be changed? Will the later (say 1976) knuckles fit the older a-arms, and/or will the later a arms and knuckles fit the older frame?
Greg Surfas

[Carfreak]

I don't know, I'm not at home for some days; I'm not traveling with my parts books!

Not sure if this will help; Master Parts List & Illustrated Parts Catalog on the CLC Modified Chapter website:  https://www.modifiedcadillac.org/documents/Shop_Manuals_and_Illus_Catalogs/

[tcom2027]

Here are a few possible sources for the rotors. GIven their rarity it may be a fools errand but ya never know. Worth making a couple of phone calls or Internet searches. A pair with the bearings ready to install is probably the best option, rather than trying to find the individual parts. Buy them and you have them forever. THe pain of the purchase is nothing like the pain of missing out on them and not finding another. It may be a long time before they turn up again.

I learned that lesson the hard way sourcing the correct jack and stand for my first restoration, a '41 6227 coupe. I didn't make the mistake again when I found an NOS back up light and horn button in their original packaging.  On the rainy cold day in January. at the big Ford V8 swap meet at Turlock, Ca.  quite a number of pictures of Ben Franklin and General Grant saw  the light of day momentarily.



A&A Auto Parts,Brentwood CA
925 634 1188
THey have a website


Arizona Vintage Auto
800 443 9977
azvintageparts.com

Browne & Sons' Auto SAlvage
940 393 2469
Sunset Tx.

Cadillac Recycling
800 368 2223
Rancho Cordova,CA.

Faded Fins
519 586 9882
Ontario, CAnada
No idea if they are still in business

Lauricellas' Cars of the past
Lyndonville, NY
585 765 9106 (Paul)


tony

[Warren Rauch #4286]

    With the discs so hard to find,can they  be  Saved?                                                the specs to repair.
     Serviceman 1968 page 16
Rotors with surface scoring of up .020 inch in depth are not detrimental to                           brake operation and may be used with new lining.
  On Eldorado Lateral runout must not be in excess of .oo3" and parallelism in excess of .0005, if it is ,replace rotor.

Serviceman  1970 page 22
   Refinishing Rotors - Current and Past Model Cadillacs

   Production Thickness 1.230-1.250 inchs
  Maximum Thickness Variation c-cars .0007, Eldorado .0005
  Previous Recommended min Thickness 1.230
  New Recommended min Thickness  1.220
  Maximum Worn Thickness 1.215
  Maximum Scoring .020

Group 5.809  Front hub and disc assembly
  67-69347 (Eldorado) w/disc brakes   351 4258 (late 67 book)
number change 3/69
  67-68 Eldo w/disc                    396604

 In May 1967 ,the Cadillac roundtable subject was Eldorado Disc brakes. My copy of handout should be with the film and record ,some miles away.

Warren


 

[bcroe]

Bruce,
How much needs to be changed? Will the later (say 1976) knuckles fit the older a-arms, and/or will the later a arms and knuckles fit the older frame?  Greg Surfas

It was my practice to unbolt the A arms from the
frame along with the steering box, etc.  Not hard
to do.  I am pretty sure the A arms will bolt up
for all before the 79 downsize.  But not having
done the actual work, I cannot say how individual
pieces might join up.  Bruce Roe

["Cadillac Kid" Greg Surfas 15364]

Well if anyone out there is interested I've got a complete low mileage 76 Eldo entire front suspension including knuckles, a arms hubs and bearings from a rear ended total
Greg Surfas

[TJ Hopland]

Someone should know for sure but when I was into and considering those early cars with drums there was never talk about 71+ parts other than rims.  There is also something rattling around my brain about maybe the angle of the control arm or how or where the torsion bar goes into it. 

[Roger Zimmermann]

Thanks to all for their thinkings and suggestions. Don't forget: it's not my car and I not even know the owner!
Once is sure: I would jump at the eBay offer; it's what I suggested...
I will pass the various addresses to the owner; after all he may also help himself!

[TJ Hopland]

Has anyone got any of these rotors in their collection and even better have the later versions too?  It would be interesting to see them side by side to see what's different.  Ya kinda wonder if maybe there are more recent options that could be easily modified.   

[TJ Hopland]

Thinking about it the big difference has to be the offset from the hub flange to the brake surface.  The later ones used the single piston floating calipers so all that had to be 'in front' was the pad and enough material to support it so like maybe an inch?

The early brakes were the multi piston so a piston on both sides.  I don't believe they were anywhere near as deep as the single pistons but I would think we have to be talking at least 2 1/2" sort of thing so this would explain why they were so different.  That dimension isn't the sort of thing you can do anything about. 

[billyoung]

I have owned 5 1967 Eldorado's. One had front discs it was in the early eighty's, My Friend who was a professional mechanic finally tracked down the parts. It was expensive and uncommon to find them then. Eldorado George in Florida said driving a 1967 Eldorado on the road today is a very expensive proposition. He however does have parts and he reproduces some also. He said the 1967 is the most expensive to keep on the road followed by the 1968, the 1969 and 70 not so much. If it were me and I want to drive the car I would convert the car back to drum brakes. That will be bad enough.