This sheet will cover the installation of two different applications of full size Buicks. The breakdown is as follows: 1961-64 All, 1965 Riviera, and 65-70 LeSabre, Wildcat, Electra and 66-70 Rivvy.

1. Crack lug nuts loose on front wheels. Chock up rear wheels. Jack up front end and place jackstands under frame of Buick. Lower and remove jack, check to make sure car is solidly on stands. Do not do this on gravel or grass, nor use cinderblocks or other items than jackstands. Remove lugnuts and wheels.

2. Remove dust cap and cotter pin, nut, washer and outer bearing. Slide off drum and set aside. Use a little pentrant oil, such as Kano Labs AeroKroil on backing plate retaining nuts, bolts, and hydraulic line nut (the one going into the flex line). Carefully remove hardline nut with a flare wrench. Pull off flex line retaining clip. Undo drum backing plate bolts and nut, remove backing plate as an assembly.



3. Clean off spindle with shop rags and solvent. Ensure mounting surfaces are free of dirt or grease that may interfere with bracket mounting. Bracket mounts with caliper opening to the rear, and caliper mounting nut welds to the inside. As you see, the top part mounts over the upper boss, while the lower mounts behind, between the spindle and steering arm. Due to this, you will need to adjust the toe-in on your alignment, this should take 2-1/4 turns to accomplish. Test fit first, check to see if lower bolts are long enough. if not, time to head to the hardware store. If all mounts correctly, back off upper bolt provided and add a few drops of Lok-Tite. This bolt has been machined to a lower profile for disc clearance, so be careful not to round corners with a socket or box wrench; use a good quality open end and tighten to around 75 ft-lbs. Torque lowers to stock specs.






4. We use the 1971-76 Riviera rotor and 1969-78 Cadillac Eldorado caliper on this conversion (1990-2002 Astro Van AWD caliper for 1965-70 ex 65 Riv). Take the rotor and lay on flat, clean surface. Grab spacer rings and verify rims have the larger centering holes (3.48"). The 1965 Riviera will not have this, they use the normal GM 3.08" register. If so, tap one ring on each rotor register till seated on the bottom, this will properly center your rims. Flip rotors over, grease up both inner and outer wheel bearings (NAPA # BR5) correctly. Place greased inner bearing in rotor and install correct seal (NAPA # 19753). Wipe off hands. Pick up rotors, set on spindle. Place outer bearing, washer and nut on. Wipe hands. Tighten nut with wrench while turning rotor. back off nut 1 turn, then tighten with fingers. Slip in new cotter pin. Test rotor rotation; it should spin freely but with no play. If satisfied, bend cotter and replace dust cap.

5. Wash hands well. Sparingly lube brake pad rub points on caliper with anti-seize or silicone grease. Wash hands again. Install pads, and slide assemble onto rotor and bracket, making sure, unlike in the picture, that the bleed screw faces upward. Slide in and tighten pin bolts to 35 ft-lbs. Check fit, rotate rotor to ensure all works properly. Install new hoses. If installing a new master cylinder, bench bleed it first. Gravity bleed once installed for best results. If you pump bleed it with empty lines, the brake hydraulic warning switch may jam. Reassemble wheels, tight lugs to spec and lower vehicle. When testing, use the 30-30-30 rule: 30 stops from 30 mph and 30 seconds to cool between stops. This will bed in the pads properly.


Currently, the best hose we have found is the 1959 Chrysler Imperial front hose. It is approximately 15" in length. 1961-66 Buicks were equipped with single chamber master cylinders. Some customers have used these with success, but keep a CAREFUL eye on the fluid level, for as the pads wear, they displace much fluid and the reservoir is rather small.