disk brakes on a Buick

[hailheader]

I asked about the first year disc brakes were available either as an option or standard because I'm looking to buy a 1954 Buick coupe I found that has been body-transferred to a later model Buick frame with independent front suspension and front disc brakes. I say it's a Buick frame because it sure looks like a "nailhead" motor up front. I'm considering this find for a custon cruiser. At this point I have no way to determine the exact year of the frame. Any suggestions?

[rocketraider]

I'm sticking my neck out here because I'm not sure about Buick, but 1967 was the first year I know of the GM Divisions offering front disc brakes. I think Ford offered them in either 65 or 66, and Chrysler several years before that on Imperials. 66 was the last Nailhead, but 65-66 Buick frames should be very similar to 67-70, which were offered with discs so it's possible a Nailhead could be sitting in a later frame. A caveat on that- in those years every GM Division had their own marque-specific brakes and suspension, and disc brake parts for those years do not interchange between the carlines and are not easily found.

You need to know what you have before buying this car. Otherwise you'll need replacement parts down the road and won't have any idea what you need. Push the seller HARD for this information and if he can't furnish it, I'd leave it alone.

[JohnD1956]

As rocketraider suggests, the 66 year was the last of the nailheads but independent front suspension was stock in the 54 as it is today. I heard that later model full size GM frames were almost a drop on for the early model Buicks but don't know this for a fact. Here's one possible way to check.

Looking underneath, does the frame have an X pattern at all? If not you probably have a later ( 90's frame) and later disc brakes.

If so and the drive shaft pivots int the middle by the X then you may have a 60's frame. This drive shaft has a front and rear universal and the middle has a carrier bearing.

If so and the driveshaft is one piece, you still have the 54 frame and any one of a number of custom disc brake applications.

In my opinion I wouldn't worry about combo one or three. The disc brakes usually are composed of current components. If it is combo two then you gotta watch for the hard to find disc brake parts. If it is combo two you still could have a GM full sized frame or maybe an A body wagon frame. Here's what to watch for:

The full sized Buicks in 66-69 used 4 piston calipers. These have bleeder valves on each half of the caliper. The A bodies had single piston calipers just like those through the last of the rear wheel drive cars of the 80's.

Good luck.