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'81 Chevy G20 brake rebuild
#772092 February 28th 2021 11:53 pm
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vvalt Offline OP
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hi all,
proud 'new' owner of an '81 Chevy G20 here, looking to order a bunch of parts to do a full brake rebuild front and rear.

As I'm in New Zealand I'm looking to order things via rockauto.com, and am trying to get some advice on miscellaneous stuff that I might be overlooking when ordering (as it'll take a good 4-6 weeks for things to arrive...)

Apart from the obvious - front calipers, discs+pads, master cylinder, and new shoes for the rear drums - what else should I be getting to ensure an easy install?
Additional hardware, hoses, fittings, etc. - any advice and suggestions would be much appreciated!

cheers,
vvalt

Re: '81 Chevy G20 brake rebuild
vvalt #772100 March 01st 2021 2:38 am
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Uncle Rust N Dents
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I'd definitely get the drum brake hardware kit (the big one that includes everything), the front hoses, the clips for the front hoses, maybe the rear hose...
I would probably get new rear wheel cylinders and check to see if you need new pins (the piece between the wheel cylinder and the brake shoe).

That's all I can think of at the moment.
Good luck and enjoy your new van!


[Linked Image from farm3.staticflickr.com]
Re: '81 Chevy G20 brake rebuild
vvalt #772107 March 01st 2021 10:00 am
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I'll echo what rusty says, get the rebuild kit with all the springs, and you should probably get the adjuster wheel kit too. They're real cheap.

Oh and a bunch of brake cleaner. I don't know how bad yours are, but mine were toast. I rounded off a brake line fastener in the process. I went to napa and got a ni cop one, which you can bend by hand.

Make sure you got a mini sledge on hand. It took me 20 minutes to get one of my drums off.


1987 G20
1993 Jeep Cherokee
2010 BMW station wagon
Re: '81 Chevy G20 brake rebuild
Rusty Pancelode #772114 March 01st 2021 3:59 pm
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Thanks Rusty, all very helpful tips!
Would the clips for the front hoses come with the hoses themselves? Can't see them listed separately anywhere...
Also, sry if dumb question, the big drum brake hardware kit is for the pair, or for one wheel only? The pictures seem to suggest it's for both wheels but thought I'd better check to make sure ;)

The pins you mention "(the piece between the wheel cylinder and the brake shoe)" would they come with the wheel cylinders or are they also listed separately?

cheers!

Re: '81 Chevy G20 brake rebuild
DrCaldre #772116 March 01st 2021 4:01 pm
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Originally Posted by DrCaldre
I rounded off a brake line fastener in the process. I went to napa and got a ni cop one, which you can bend by hand.

Thanks for pitching in DrCaldre!
could you elaborate on the (ni cop?) brake line fastener plz? Not entirely sure what/which you mean...

Re: '81 Chevy G20 brake rebuild
vvalt #772119 March 01st 2021 6:50 pm
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Originally Posted by vvalt
Originally Posted by DrCaldre
I rounded off a brake line fastener in the process. I went to napa and got a ni cop one, which you can bend by hand.

Thanks for pitching in DrCaldre!
could you elaborate on the (ni cop?) brake line fastener plz? Not entirely sure what/which you mean...

https://www.jegs.com/p/JEGS/JEGS-NiCopp-Nickel-Copper-Brake-Fuel-Transmission-Lines/2111534/10002/-1

Re: '81 Chevy G20 brake rebuild
vvalt #772120 March 01st 2021 6:59 pm
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Would the clips for the front hoses come with the hoses themselves? Can't see them listed separately anywhere...

They did on the one's I got which I think were Raybestos (not 100% sure though). Have a look on rockauto for them as they usually have an info button for pics.


79 chevy G30 cobra camper conversion.
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Re: '81 Chevy G20 brake rebuild
vvalt #772122 March 01st 2021 8:31 pm
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Uncle Rust N Dents
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All the clips for brake line hoses that I've ever bought from Rock Auto were sold separately, but I never bought my van brake stuff from there.
If Shaggy says he got some with his hoses, try to get the same ones he got.
I've bought Centric and they do NOT come with clips.
If your van has 1" clips, those are the ones that always seem to come when I order them (no matter what vehicle I order them for).

I looked on their site, and I couldn't find the pins either.
That one's not that critical to buy new, though.
You can usually just wire brush the ones you have unless they are really pitted with rust.


[Linked Image from farm3.staticflickr.com]
Re: '81 Chevy G20 brake rebuild
vvalt #772128 March 01st 2021 9:58 pm
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My rear brakes had steel lines with the nuts that sit around them, which you can't remove from the line. If you destroy the fastener, you have to replace the line. A friend told me to just get the ni cop ones because you can bend them by hand. Worked a dream.

Edit: I actually split one of those pins in half hammering the drum off. If you're really two weeks out on parts, maybe try and find two of those pins just in case. They may be called 'drum brake pistons'. They don't come in the rebuild kit. Look at pictures of them when you buy. It was hard enough finding one of those suckers here in the US.

Last edited by DrCaldre; March 01st 2021 10:17 pm.

1987 G20
1993 Jeep Cherokee
2010 BMW station wagon
Re: '81 Chevy G20 brake rebuild
vvalt #772248 March 04th 2021 12:35 pm
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I had EVERYTHING replaced on my '93 up to and including rotors, wheel bearings & seals, and drums. The only I didn't have replaced were the steel lines because they were still solid.


Nate Breece
Re: '81 Chevy G20 brake rebuild
vvalt #772998 March 17th 2021 6:18 pm
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hey thanks again for all the replies guys, it's been super helpful and I pretty much have my shopping list ready smile

one more thing is, a mechanic friend the other day suggested I should be replacing 'all the hoses' on my engine as they appear rather worn. Do you guys have some tips on this one as well in terms of what to get via Rockauto?

Or better make a new thread/topic for this?

cheers

Last edited by vvalt; March 17th 2021 6:18 pm.
Re: '81 Chevy G20 brake rebuild
vvalt #773049 March 18th 2021 8:04 am
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I recommend Gates brand hoses, just my opinion as I've had great luck with them in terms of quality. Change the thermostat too while you're in there.

I think the heater hoses are just bulk hose that you can probably get from a local auto supply house.

Replace all the clamps with high-quality stainless steel.


Nate Breece
Re: '81 Chevy G20 brake rebuild
vvalt #773072 March 18th 2021 1:16 pm
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Also depending on miles, when you are doing all the coolant hoses, you might want to put in a new water pump.

Re: '81 Chevy G20 brake rebuild
vvalt #773082 March 18th 2021 5:16 pm
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so...
heater hoses + thermostat,
coolant hoses + water pump,
anything else hose-wise?

cheers

Re: '81 Chevy G20 brake rebuild
vvalt #773088 March 18th 2021 5:38 pm
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Vacuum lines as alot of things depend on vacuum to operate on Chevys


SUNSHINE VANS-VAN DIEGO
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'93 CHEVY G30 454 4X4 SPORTVAN EXT 146" WB
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