Desert Rat
Fetch the comfy chair
I thought mine were stock Eldorado calipers Scott but don't they look identical to what yours are? Maybe TSM changes the levers before selling them. I put the pics side by side and they look exactly the same.
CK5
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who's got eldorado calipers on 14BFF? who doesn't?
- Thread starter Vee
- Start date
I'm pretty sure that is what TSM does. I can tell you from fact that i have held an Eldo caliper in my hands and there is no provision (threaded hole) for the bracket.
Here is what a Eldo rear caliper looks like with the spring attached. I was just looking at TSM's website and they offer the calipers either way.
Desert Rat
Fetch the comfy chair
You know, if you ask TSM about their products they are pretty tight lipped. I am guess that is because they source stock calipers and then just mix and match parts. They certainly know that if the average person figures out which parts they are using they will just do it for themselves much cheaper. I am also assuming that your e-brake is the newer style with the single line from the front lever to the small bar that then splits the two cables for the rear instead of my goofy long cable clamped to the single cable?
royjones
Trucker upper
From what I understand you have to make a mount for the cable on the axle or something similar to use this kind
Yes mine is what you said, a single cable from the brake pedal that goes to an "equalizer bar" then both cables attach to it but the passenger side has a threaded rod for adjustment. Not sure when GM went to this style but it is a much better design.
Desert Rat
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I'm thinking maybe I can convert mine over.
I did it to mine so there's no reason you can't either. Simply drill a hole in the proper place and grind a small flat area for the bracket to sit. If you need to look and measure from mine you're more than welcome to meet up with me at some point to do so.
Desert Rat
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I'm assuming that the front parking brake lever though is different in later models though. They used to show two different lever setups depending on the model year in the LMC catalog but I just looked and now they list the same lever for 73-91. I wonder if the newer cable will work with my lever. Placing the bracket and running the back cables shouldn't be too hard. Did you use your original rear cables or custom order them?
My whole system is original, i simply removed drums and added rotors and calipers.
Desert Rat
Fetch the comfy chair
And you were able to use the original cables? I may just have to hit Pick N Pull and yank a setup from a newer Blazer. It is strange, the LMC catalog lists the same front lever for 73-91 but then if you look at their schematic for the actual cables for a 73-83 you can see the older style lever grayed out since they don't sell it but it has a different mounting pattern than the newer style. I may have to give this a shot. My cables in the back are excessively long since I had them custom made and I screwed up the measurements.
Yes my cables are the originals still.
Desert Rat
Fetch the comfy chair
That my life could work out that easy. Looks like a junk yard run when the weather gets better. I've been to the Pick N Pull in San Jose off Berryessa. It wasn't bad but where is the best Pick N Pull in the Bay Area?
The one in Newark is pretty big and has LOTS of our trucks in there in truck, blazer AND burb form. Did i mention it's only about 4 miles from my house. 
Desert Rat
Fetch the comfy chair
Looks like I will have to get it on the calendar.
is it necessary to change the proportioning valve too?
Desert Rat
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I just bought a replacement valve from Inline Tube that they make especially for rear disk conversions and it works well.
Sounds like the biggest issue with making these calipers work is getting the cables adjusted right, then using them to keep the adjusted.
Desert Rat
Fetch the comfy chair
I think it is hit and miss. Some folks have reported that the conversion has resulted in much better stopping power and that their e-brake works ok. Some others find that there isn't enough pressure in the rear with the existing master cylinder setup to properly work. If you have hydroboost brakes, then I think it is a non-issue. If you have the standard vacuum booster, then it is a crap shoot. I am thinking of swapping over to hydroboost myself.
I was going to used this master cylinder Part Number 102754, its off a 1999 c3500 with 4wheel disc, with tsm http://www.tsmmfg.com/3120.htm Calipers.
