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Thread: 1955 Special break upgrade

  1. #1

    1955 Special break upgrade

    Does anyone know if the 55' Buick front spindles and the 55' Chevy front spindles are the same? I see tons of upgrades for the Tri 5's but not much out there for the Buick. I was just wondering if I can use 55 Chevy suspension and brake parts for my Buick.

  2. #2
    Unfortunately, in one word, NO. I upgraded the drums on my '55 Special back in the late 60's with ones from a '63 Riv. Can use any Full size car from '61-'70. I used '63 because it kept the left hand threads on the left. Starting in '63 they had self-adjusting brakes. Since I'm an auto tech as my living this to me was mostly a bolt-on. Use all the parts from the donor car. Now you will go from, if I remember correctly, from 12x1 3/4 front to 12x2 1/4 front. From 12x 1 1/2 rear to 12x2 rear. Made a HUGE difference in braking potential. The only machining was the inner race needed to be cut to act as a place for the grease seal to seal on & to set the depth of the drum. We're talking almost 40 years ago so there may be some small things I've forgotten. I even used the same wheel cylinders. If I were to do it today I would space the wheel cylinders out with a piece of aluminum to make-up for the wider shoes.

  3. #3
    "I used '63 because it kept the left hand threads on the left."

    Are you refering to the lug-bolts? My '55 Model 48 Special has right-hand threads on both sides. Was there a mid-year change?

  4. #4
    No, someone has changed it. Buick had left hand threads on the left side of the big cars till 1963 as the last year. 1964 was the start of right hand from then on.

  5. #5

    brakes

    hi i put disc brakes on my 50 buick and it will work on your 55 as well.
    i bought a bracket kit from scarebird.com and they give you a list of
    parts to buy [rotors,bearings calipers,seals etc.] from your local
    oreillys,autozone etc. the whole deal was around 300.00
    here are some pics
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by idgas444; 01-17-2009 at 11:49 PM. Reason: moro pics

  6. #6
    I have also right-hand threads on both sides on my -55 Century. I think thatīs the way they came.

  7. #7
    No sir!!!!!

  8. #8
    Telriv, with all due respect and not intending to be in any manner, argumentative, but for historical accuracy purposes only, I've got to disagree. The 1940-1964 Buick Master Chassis Parts Book I have states the following:

    Group Number 6.335 Bolt - Nut, Front Wheel To Hub -
    1941-1956 - All, exc. 76X-100 - p/n 79579 - 10 req'd.

    Group Number 5.812 Bolt - Stud, Rear Wheel Hub -
    1955-1956 - All - P/N 79579 - 10 req'd.

    The first notation of right-hand or left-hand bolts, was for 1961, models 44-46-47-4800.
    -Bob

  9. #9
    It's possible you have not been around & working on these as long as I have. I started playin' with real cars around 1955 & it was a passion by 1956 & then it turned into a hobby by 1958 & then a full time job around 1960. Buick has been & still is my passion & my love as well as my hobby. Now once I can get out of the auto repair business I've been in for 40+ years it will again be my full time hobby.

    Tom

  10. #10
    If the inferrance is that I don't have any knowledge, I'm 63 and my passion has been cars, cars & more cars as long as I can remember. My dad was a mechanic and I remember helping im back when I was 6 or 7 years old, handing him tools and listening to a growing vocabulary of cuss words. None of that matters, as all I'm stating is what my Buick Parts manual shows. I also have a '55 model 48 and know several other owners of '55's. None of them have L-H threaded lug bolts.

    I'll let this die. I guess in the long run, it's just not that important and I'd rather wrench than argue.

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