Brake upgrade for gremlin

Currently a 1976 Gremlin X with manual front disc brakes. Looking for the parts or part numbers to swap it over to power front disc brakes. I've tried the "search" section but had no luck. Who has or knows what I need? Please post or PM. Thanks Steve. Sorry if this is redundant. 

I don't know Gremlins well, but most cars have a mount/bellcrank between the firewall and booster. Providing that the 76 is the same as earlier cars, you will need the booster, mount, rod to the pedal and possibly a pedal. I do not know if the PB pedal is different. I have used manual pedals on PB on Americans. Then you need a vacuum source and you might have to lengthen the lines to the master, as it will be moved further forward.
The boosters for disc brakes were different from drum boosters, but a drum booster is easier to find and will work. You might have to elongate the holes in the master cylinder a little to make it work.
Gremlins and Hornets were similar, so either might be a donor.


Edited by 6768rogues - May/09/2012 at 8:30pm

The brakes will physically interchange on ALL AMCs from 1950-1983. So yes, the later model AMC brakes will fit the Gremlin. Get everything from the spindle out (including the spindle). The catch is that the rotors are getting harder to find. Advance doesn't have a supplier who can get them, Autozone seems to keep suppliers for more older parts.. for now. Last rotor I bought two years ago was $55. Pre 79 rotors cost $100 or more each, and you may have to go to an AMC or antique auto dealer to get them.

Best bet if you have to buy parts (don't already have a parts car) is to get the Scarebird setup (www.scarebird.com). It's listed for Javelin and Rebel but will fit all AMCs that had drums on front. Several have used them on Americans here on the forum. Cost is $400-500 depending on local prices. The "kit" is a special bracket, a seal spacer, and a wheel centering spacer (for hub centric aftermarket wheels, not stock or aftermarkets that are lug centric... seldom used) along with a parts list for rotors/calipers/hoses that you pick up locally. The list gives a couple part numbers as well as original application for the parts. They are late 80s-90s parts, which should be readily available for the next 20 years at reasonable prices. Might cost a little more than a junkyard AMC parts conversion if there is a 79-83 AMC in the local pull-a-part, but in the long run it will be cheaper -- will more than make up the difference the first time the rotors need to be replaced. The AMC parts are only going to go way up in price as old stock dwindles... and be harder to find.

NAPA has always been good at supplying older car parts. They have their own warehouses and hardly ever send anything back, they'll just ship it from one warehouse to another as someone needs something until they are gone. I got one of the last sets of oversize 196 OHV pistons on the east coast that NAPA had back around 93. That's one thing they may not have any more of! 

greasygt wrote: I  thank you for all the posts so far, I already have front disc set up on the car. What I'm looking for is the correct pedal and bracket and booster to convert to power.  Does any vender have these?, or am I chasing parts from salvage? Thank you. Steve

Edited by THE MENACE - May/10/2012 at 7:46pm