Time To Replace The Front & Rear Brake Shoes & New Front Timken Wheel Bearings On The 63 Pontiac Gp

B&R Racing

solid fixture here in the forum
Been wanting to Replace the '63 Pontiac Gp Front and Rear Brake shoes and front wheel bearings.
I have the parts bought.
Dug them out of storage this morning going to be a project this week to complete.
I last replaced the brake shoes in 1998.
Lasted a long time.
No grinding but they are thin the linings when I checked a few days ago.
Bought NOS Good Old Vintage USA and they are True 100% Asbestos linings.
Timken wheel bearings along with the Red Premium Timken wheel bearing grease.
 
https://pin.it/5Fm4FOH

The Castrol Dot 4 Brake Fluid 2 quarts came in .
I bought it from an Independent seller in Amazon.
Made in Germany and packaged in the USA back bottle label states.

Weather is Beautiful here in Illinois almost like a Fall day but in low 80s.
Have to go buy some cleaning supplies again today.
Want to install new brake shoes on the 63 Gp this weekend and install new wheel bearings up front.
 
I have a gallon jug of Castrol Dot 3 & 4 BF. Along with several auto maker brands. Is there really a difference? On the subject - I have a vacuum sealer for keep air and moisture out of certain things, works great too! I modified a setup I saw at an auto paint shop a couple years ago. The owner has a modified safe from 1911. He stores aerosol cans in it. The door seals air tight then pumps the equivalent of 18 psi into it. Guaranteed the cans won’t lose pressure. Wish I had that some years back, I have several cases from Eastwood (BOGO sale) that are brand new and can’t use them. It just happens to Eastwood cans, they lose all pressure and become worthless after 18 months. The store wouldn’t take them back when they were a year old. I boycotted them until recently when I really needed something I could only get through them. No matter what I tried I couldn’t get a message through to their president. He’s never seen in public representing Eastwood.
 
I have a gallon jug of Castrol Dot 3 & 4 BF. Along with several auto maker brands. Is there really a difference? On the subject - I have a vacuum sealer for keep air and moisture out of certain things, works great too! I modified a setup I saw at an auto paint shop a couple years ago. The owner has a modified safe from 1911. He stores aerosol cans in it. The door seals air tight then pumps the equivalent of 18 psi into it. Guaranteed the cans won’t lose pressure. Wish I had that some years back, I have several cases from Eastwood (BOGO sale) that are brand new and can’t use them. It just happens to Eastwood cans, they lose all pressure and become worthless after 18 months. The store wouldn’t take them back when they were a year old. I boycotted them until recently when I really needed something I could only get through them. No matter what I tried I couldn’t get a message through to their president. He’s never seen in public representing Eastwood.
I think fresh brake fluid helps
I think there is a difference in brake fluid quality get what you paid for.
Some of those high end Racing brake fluids are around $70-90 a quart too expensive for me.
To really test have to perform several 70-0 mph stops back to back.
Get the brakes smoking hot.
Car like a C4 and newer Corvette do a couple of 140-0 stops testing.

Grand Prix I recall had more powerful brakes, able to do 100-0 mph stops 2 times back to back before brakes got too hot and faded bad.
4-wheel drum only 1963 year but they are much larger brakes than 1964-72 GTO had 4-wheel drum A-body.
 
59C90B46-D19E-4525-8D4B-0A3277307787.jpeg The prior owner of my Cat replaced the rear, possibly the whole axle Assembly. How can I tell which brakes and wheel cylinders to buy?
 
View attachment 15953 The prior owner of my Cat replaced the rear, possibly the whole axle Assembly. How can I tell which brakes and wheel cylinders to buy?
You bought a Rear Disc brake Kit for your Catalina you told me last night so Rear Wheel cylinders are Irrelevant now.

It's a GM 8.5 inch Differential not stock .
I told you that 6 years ago I remember.
Your 1968 Catalina is supposed to have GM 8.2 or Pontiac only 10-bolt 8.875" Differential only used in Full Size Pontiacs 1965-67-68.
What the 8.5" Differential not stock Original application is anyone's guess.
 
I have enough on my plate right now, working on cars is not my whole life every day. I’m faced with needing to move this car around and I can’t do that with no wheel cylinders and fluid soaked shoes. It’s cheap enough to fix it up for now and get to the conversion later.
 
I have enough on my plate right now, working on cars is not my whole life every day. I’m faced with needing to move this car around and I can’t do that with no wheel cylinders and fluid soaked shoes. It’s cheap enough to fix it up for now and get to the conversion later.
The only way to Determine what the wheel cylinder is exactly is remove them from the Catalina.
Then pry off the Rubber boot and the inner pistons and cup plugs.
The sealing rubber cup plugs have the Wheel cylinder bore size or diameter molded into it
Or you can measure with a Digital or dial veneer caliper.
Try and match up at the parts store.
Or purchase that size wheel cylinder rebuild kit.
 
I have enough on my plate right now, working on cars is not my whole life every day. I’m faced with needing to move this car around and I can’t do that with no wheel cylinders and fluid soaked shoes. It’s cheap enough to fix it up for now and get to the conversion later.
All I have been doing is working on my cars nonstop for 1 month now.
Just have to do it.
Now because we are SOL No parts already going on in the USA Nationwide .
Dont know what we are going to do till 2024.
 
I have enough on my plate right now, working on cars is not my whole life every day. I’m faced with needing to move this car around and I can’t do that with no wheel cylinders and fluid soaked shoes. It’s cheap enough to fix it up for now and get to the conversion later.
Bitching or complaining has to end soon just get it done.
Like The US NAVY AND MILITARY.
 
https://pin.it/BJKg7RK

Took all day into the night but I have New Front and Rear Brake shoes, Return Spring Hardware Kit, and New Timken Front Tapered Roller Wherl Bearings.
Cleaned up wire wheeling and with a 3M Rolac bristle cleaning discs.
Painted the drum backing plates and hardware with VHT Epoxy and VHT Brake Caliper Blue paint the drums.

Tomarrow I will flush the brake system with the Castrol Dot 4 brake fluid I bought.

The Drum Brake Spring Hardware Kit can only be found complete correct for my 1963 Pontiac Gp bought from OPG Original Part Group Restoration company.
 
what fluid did we used to use in the power steering I know back in the day I used to see everyone use ATF I think but in my braindead mind and memoryless memory I cant remember. I went to check the fluids in my old car to move it around and didn't have any power steering fluid so I was going to do what I did back in the 60s and just couldn't remember
 
what fluid did we used to use in the power steering I know back in the day I used to see everyone use ATF I think but in my braindead mind and memoryless memory I cant remember. I went to check the fluids in my old car to move it around and didn't have any power steering fluid so I was going to do what I did back in the 60s and just couldn't remember
Any parts store Power Steering Fluid is Ok to use.
Prestone makes a Universal power Steering fluid with a stop leak I have used no issues has rubber seal conditioners in it.
Dexton 3 Automatic Transmission fluid could be used I have used it in GM Power Steering systems.
They make synthetic power steering fluids I used Royal Purple Power Steering fluid in my 87 Corvette Convertible.
Price is too high to use again . RP was a good deal when it was still sold by quart.

Probably the Highest quality Hydraulic fluid is Hytran Fluid used in Farm implement Tractors what I use in the Hydraulica lift arms of my 1952 Allis Chamlers WD Tractor. I haven't tried for Auto use yet.
Drag Racers use Farmers Hytran in thier Turbo 400 and Powerglides.
One friend in NY uses Hytran fluid in his 700R4 Transmission in his 1972 Chevelle.

My Favorite ATF Trans Fluid is Castrol Dextron/Mercon buy it for $21 per 1 gallon container.
Works just as good as best Synthetic ATF at much lower costs per quart.
I have no issues using in Auto Power Steering systems.

Honda cars and the CRV 4x4 SUV takes thier own Honda specific Formula Power Steering fluid, some super high grade stuff I find on Ebay and buy it for the Wifes 1999 Honda CRV.

Best to replace power steeing hoses, rebuild the power steering box, and power steering box to repair all leaks.
It's easier just to add Power Steering fluid occassionally.

I have had Small leaks stop with a fluid change
 
https://pin.it/1kHOvQP

Brake Bleeder Screw size used on my 1963 Pontiac Grand Prix 5/16" -24 tpi.

Crosses over to many Later GM Musclecars and into the 1970s.

Russell Speed Bleeders be nice but unavailable with parts shortages or gone now.
Some items I have been waiting since January 2021 to come back gone still.

I have the bleeder screw size
Pick up 4 new ones local today.

I remember buying new brake bleeder screws back in 2011 and installed on the 63 Gp.
Looking a little crusty from sitting.
Should come free I always use Nickle High Temp Antisieze on the the threads.
 
I had to order my 5/16"-24 TPI x 1.000" long wheel cylinder bleeder screws from O'Reilly Auto.

Will be in Tuesday morning from Chicago.
Buying 10 so I have 6 spares.
 
Son of a bee’s butt! Took the diff cover off, no C clip! Looks like someone welded something in there. Just as well. The backing/dust plate for behind the caliper mounting bracket doesn’t look right. I thought his rear was for an Impala of the same year, guess I was wrong there as well.
The prior last two owners won’t return my calls despite that I prefaced my request stating No matter what, I’m not about to complain or give anyone a hard time over anything.
 
Son of a bee’s butt! Took the diff cover off, no C clip! Looks like someone welded something in there. Just as well. The backing/dust plate for behind the caliper mounting bracket doesn’t look right. I thought his rear was for an Impala of the same year, guess I was wrong there as well.
The prior last two owners won’t return my calls despite that I prefaced my request stating No matter what, I’m not about to complain or give anyone a hard time over anything.
Thinking it over now its probably a GM 8.5 / 8-1/2" inch Rear Differential from a 1973 -1977 Lemans, 1973 GTO, 1971-1977 Grand Prix.
They all had 4-link lower and upper control arm layout like my old 63 Pontiac has.
I think the Rear Track width is same as mine at 64.0" inches.
You can check my measurements from center of left rear tire to center of right rear tire with a tape measure.
Rear track measurement that way will be within 1/4 " accurate.

Axle shafts bolt In on Coil spring suspension GM 8.5 Diffs.
My 63 Pontiac same way.
Should be a hole in axle flange for socket to pass though to reach Retaining nuts on backing plate.
If not use a an offset wrench 9/16" hex size.
 
It could be from a 1977-78 Buick Electra too, recall it was last coil spring Fullsize with bolt in axle shafts.

Remember right now Chevrolet Caprice Classic also used GM 8.5 Diffs.
And 1990s SS Impala usually had Factory disc brakes stock on the 8.5 diff.
They were C-clip axles.
 
Back
Top