Scarebird Disks - 68 A108?

Hi all,

I need to completely overhaul the brakes on a 68 A108 camper - If I am ever going to upgrade to disks now is the time.  

Although there is a lot of chat regarding the Scarebird brackets (Scarebird) I am yet to find a definitive parts list or how to?

1. Do scare bird give you a comprehensive list of everything needed for the conversion?

A quick look on there website and it says:

"These brackets will currently only work with the 2200# front axle, and will NOT fit the 13" rims nor 1967-70 A108."  

2. Does this mean I cannot use the brackets?  (I have not read this anywhere else?)

Being a 68 A108 do I have the 2500lbs front Axle?




Being in the UK everything will need to be shipped basically doubling the cost and not being able to walk into the local Nappa/Autozone etc… makes it more challenging.  Any information on fitting disks much appreciated,

If the brackets do work with my van…

I was planning on buying a new stock 68 A108 Master Cylinder as the current one will be toast but fitting a remote vacuum operated brake booster inside the van.

My Dad has fitted the brake booster to his Xplorer with drums which has helped a lot.

Will what I have planned work?

- Stock Master Cylinder
- Remote Booster
- Scarebird brackets + bits needed for disks (Rotors)

This is my 67 A108 this is the heavy axle, you will need 15" wheels though, some aftermarket 14" aluminum may fit. Also do a search on this site, there is a huge thread all about Scarebird.

Thanks Busman - Good to see a picture on an A108.



Im a little confused now - Scarebird emailed me back recommending an altogether different bracket due to the A108 having different spindles:






"Steve,

We have found the car kit FRY is the one to use.

Web link https://scarebird.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=64&product_id=100

Information sheet attached."




1957-61, 1965-72 “C” body, 1962-72 B and E body front disc brake

FRY

Part Application
Rotor (2) 1970-72 Ford Galaxie front
Caliper 1994-99 Dodge Ram ½ ton, 1992-99 Chevy, GMC ½ ton
Disc Pads 1994-99 Dodge Ram ½ ton, 1992-99 Chevy, GMC ½ ton
Hose (12”) 1979-84 Buick Electra front
Hose (15”) 1979-81 Chevy Camaro, Pontiac Firebird front
Hose, (17”) 1979-85 Cadillac Eldorado
Inner Bearing 1970-72 Plymouth Fury
Outer Bearing 1965-72 Plymouth Fury
Wheel Seal 1970-72 Ford Galaxie
Dust cap 1970-72 Ford Galaxie





Now I am confused? Never heard of the above in any other posts but came from the Horses mouth.

Has anybody with an A108 used the FRY kit?

Something must of changed, now my calipers are mounted forward, not ready to strip the rotors & spindles off but I seem to recall that the bracket he provided had two sets of bottom holes, one set for the small spindle and one set for the large spindle. May have to email him and find out "WHY".

I emailed Scarebird, so far the only response is he asked if I had a sway bar, which is a yes so i suspect where this is going. With the calipers mounted forward since they can not go to the rear with the larger spindle the upper part of the sway bar links gets in the way of the caliper when turning. Now I made new links for my van, they are longer, no clearance issues. Will confirm this when he responds again.

What did you ask them?

So I assume you have the brackets listed as A100 ones?


Would I be fine going with the FRY ones?

Also can I used the original master cylinder (possibly a stupid question....?)

I am hoping to fit a remote booster,

Thanks,

- Your setup looks tidy

The horses mouth being Scarebird? If it is then the FRY is the way to go. Looking over the parts it seems to be a nice set up for the caliper has a smaller profile. Wonder if the caliper goes forward or to the rear with the FRY kit.

When I bought my setup the bracket would fit both spindles, obviously that is no longer the case. Will have to wait for a answer from Scarebird.

Original master cylinder will not work, well in a pinch you could use it, will need proportioning valve. Use the later B-Van master cylinder it is already set up for Disk/Drum.

Ah I understand, think I have read about the master cylinder in the other thread.


- Yes I emailed Scarebird, they responded like I put in quotes. I did email them back to double check as well.


Has anybody else used the FRY kit?

Response received from Mark at Scarebird:

"we use our 65-72 C body kit for 108/110's, but have had issues with sway bar interference"

Additional information from Scarebird received as email.

"Dogs were a Crown Vic rotor, much more than required for a light van. The Pups are a smaller rotr more appropriate for the size of the van. C body is even heavier than a Dog; main thing is that the spindle "footprint" is the same as a C body."

Which translates to:

When I bought mine the kit was called DOG, it fit both the small and large spindles, it is no longer available.

The PUP kit will fit the small spindle A100's

The FRY will fit the large spindle A108's but still have clearance issues with the sway bar if your van has one.

Thanks again for sharing the info - I am beginning to understand!


My van is definitely the 2500 axel,

Does everybody with a sway bar have issues?

(I assume some a100s did not have sway bars from factory?)

Are there any solutions to this, how bad of an interference is it?

Thanks,

Steve

I made the sway bar links longer, Mark at Scarebird also recommended using shorter caliper mounting bolts, NAPA 82458W which is the bolts used on 84-88 Fiero's, 11mmx1.5mmx2.55"

Hi Busman,

Changing the sway bar end links gave you some extra clearance, would changing the length alter the geometry/how well they work or was it more to it than that?

I have bitten the bullet and ordered the FRY kit - I imagine in a few months I will have a load on nice shiny new kit fitted but with clearance issues and a problem to solve!

Thanks for the help so far,

I also ordered new Sway bars end links and shocks, on a suspension/brake refresh mission.

The length of the link has no effect on geometry, in fact a sway bar has no effect on geometry at all, by adding a little to each link may of reduced the overall distance the bar could possibly travel, since this van will not be doing any pro-rallies I suspect I will never notice it.

I see,


- What flexi hose did you use, do you know how long it is?
The Fry kit gives you an option of three different lengths...




What did you use to paint your leaf springs?

Did you replace any of the rubber bushes/mounts with the leaf springs?

Anything else on the front suspension you would recommend replacing while I am at it?


Best regards,

Steve,

Flex lines are 23" +/- end to end, I used BH102464 & BH98922, these have 90* ends that mount to the calipers. Not sure will work with the type of caliper the FRY kit requires.
Springs were sand blasted then painted with Eastwood Extreme Chassis
New spring & shackle bushings
New drag link, tie rods and tie rod link
New shocks
New sway bar bushings & links