The Dodge Challenger Message Board

Just bolted up an SSBC drum to disc kit to my 72 challenger. The kit fit fine, but in installing the rotors, I mounted them at the 10:00 position, instead of the 2:00 position (as noted when facing the wheel), mostly because from my dodge service manual, it looked like they were in the 10:00 position, plus the routing of the flex line seemed safer at 10 versus 2, where it would have to route behind the spindle.

SSBC is saying that the 2:00 is preferred. Any thoughts on if mounting at 10 will cause any real problems?

Thanks for all the input.

Do you mean the calipers? If so I would NOT change them for two reasons. 1).Safety, the hose will be re-routed and you dont want that hose rubbing at all on anything,or it will burst eventually trust me on this.2). Servicibilty, will you be able to bleed or access the brake nipple bleeder this way?

I'm assuming you're talking about the drivers side wheel. It's supposed to be better braking at the 2:00 position because its easier to stop the rotor on the way up instead of the way down. Kinda like those backwards thread lugnut deals on plymouth, maybe it works, maybe it doesnt.

It will work either way but be aware that some brake pads have a leading edge so they are left and right handed. Make sure the leading edge of each pad faces against the direction of rotation.

Oh. And also make sure the bleed nipple is placed at the top so you can get all the air out of them.

Thanks everyone for the quick responses, this forum is great.

dave-r, on the "leading edge" comment, do you mean there is a bevel in the pad, and that bevel should face the rear of the car (i.e. - direction of the rotor while moving forward)? Thanks again.

Something like that. I know Viper brakes are like that for example. But I don't know which end is the leading end. If it matters which way they face they will be marked in some way i.e. LI and LO for left inner and left outer. But of course this refers to their location on the original application.

However, thinking about it, i don't think it matters because you are still using the calipers on the same side and just swapping the caliper adaptors from side to side yes??

Moparman1972 wrote:It's supposed to be better braking at the 2:00 position because its easier to stop the rotor on the way up instead of the way down.

Bullshit. On a circular motion, it's as hard to stop the disc from any angle, the only factor in that regard is the distance to the center.

The real factors in caliper position are caliper clearance on suspension parts (should be OK at either 10 o 2 o'clock positions), hose routing (even stainless steel braided hose wil fail if they rub on anything), and the position of the bleeding screw. It must be up, if you want to get rid of air bubbles when you bleed the calipers.

dave-r and others,

The caliper adaptors actually just flip flop on the same spindle. So if you have it one way, the two mounting holes for the caliper will be at the 10 o'clock position. If you remove the adaptor and flip it over on the same spindle, the two mounting holes will now be at the 2:00 o'clock position.

I think from everything I have read, the real key is (1) the bleeder valve and keeping it at the top of the caliper (2) making certain that the routing of the hose will not result in rubbing on any other parts.

Since these kits are for B/E and A bodies, and therefore somewhat universal, shouldn't they just have put a bleeder screw at both ends of the caliper, so it doesn't matter which side (i.e. - 10 o'clock or 2 o'clock) you mount the caliper? Putting the calipers at the 2:00 o'clock potion, I believe (can't confirm becuase my garage is not heated (nasty Cleveland weather), and the wife's car is in there too) puts the bleeder at the top, but the routing of the flexible brake hose has to go through the UCA, LCA, behind the spindle and around the shock, seems like a bad routing pattern to me. At 10:00, there would be no interference. Is there any way to bleed these without having the bleeder valve at the top?

Thanks again for all the responses.

If you swap the calipers over from side to side on the car does this not give you the bleed nipple at the top?