EBC Brakes for the Buick Riviera: Which Parts Fit

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

For the 1979-1985 Buick Riviera, the EBC parts we carry are two rear disc brake pad sets: EBC Redstuff ceramic rear pads (DP31146C) and EBC Yellowstuff rear pads (DP41146R). Both fit only Rivieras built with the optional rear disc brakes, so the first job is confirming your car has rear discs and not rear drums. Redstuff is the clean, quiet street choice; Yellowstuff is the higher-bite choice for a car that gets driven hard.

How the brakes work on the 1979-1985 Riviera

The 1979 Riviera was a clean break for Buick. It was the first Riviera to use front-wheel drive, and it moved onto the GM E-body platform alongside the Oldsmobile Toronado and Cadillac Eldorado. The basic design carried forward through 1985. Engines were an Oldsmobile-sourced 350 V8 or the Buick turbocharged 231 cubic inch (3.8L) V6.

Front disc brakes were standard. Rear disc brakes were an extra-cost option on the Riviera, so a given car can have either rear discs or rear drums. That single fact decides which rear parts fit. The EBC pads on this page are rear disc pads. If you look behind the rear wheel and see a round drum with no caliper, you need rear brake shoes instead.

On cars with four-wheel discs, the rear calipers also do the parking brake work. NHTSA recall 79V069000 covered 1979 Rivieras with four-wheel disc brakes where an incorrect parking brake adjusting spring was installed, and the remedy was replacing the caliper actuator assembly. That tells you the parking brake mechanism lives inside the rear caliper on these cars, which matters when you service the rear pads.

The EBC rear pads that fit

Redstuff: the low-dust choice

EBC describes Redstuff as a non-metallic pad with zero steel fibres, enhanced with ceramic granules, and rates it at roughly 10 to 15 percent more braking performance than original equipment. Its main selling point is dust: EBC says it leaves very little, and what it does leave washes off with a sponge. On a collector-grade Riviera with wire wheels or painted wheel covers, that alone is a good reason to pick it.

Yellowstuff: the high-friction choice

Yellowstuff is the EBC NAO (non-asbestos organic) sport pad. EBC puts it at about 15 percent over original equipment and positions it for faster street driving with occasional track days. It also asks for particular attention to bedding-in. For a turbo Riviera that sees back roads, or an owner who wants firmer braking at the rear, this is the one. For real track use EBC points buyers to its Bluestuff or racing ranges instead.

Symptoms that mean the rear pads are due

• Grinding from the rear on light braking. Pads worn to the backing plate are cutting into the rotor.
• Parking brake that will not hold or needs more lever travel. Because the parking brake works through the rear caliper, worn pads or a sticking caliper actuator show up here first.
• Uneven rear pad wear. One pad worn far more than its partner usually points to a sticking caliper piston or seized slide hardware.
• Pulsing that feels like it comes from the back of the car. Often a rear rotor with thickness variation.
• A car that has sat for years. Many of these Rivieras are stored between summers. Rust on the rotor faces and stiff caliper mechanisms are common, even with plenty of pad left.

What to replace or check at the same time

Rotors. Measure the rear rotors against the minimum thickness cast into them. EBC advises that a used rotor machined on a quality lathe can be better than a new one, as long as it stays above minimum thickness. If it is below minimum or badly scored, replace it. Browse brake rotors.

Calipers. The rear calipers on these cars are more than 40 years old and contain the parking brake mechanism. If a piston is seized, the boot is torn, or the parking brake is weak after new pads, rebuild or replace the caliper. See our brake calipers.

Hardware and hoses. Fresh clips and slide hardware keep new pads from dragging. Check the rubber hoses for cracks and swelling; old hoses can deteriorate inside and hold a caliper on. Shop brake hardware kits and brake hoses.

Fluid. Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time, and fluid in a stored classic is often long overdue. Use the DOT fluid specified on the master cylinder cap or in the owner manual, and flush the system if the fluid is dark.

How hard is the job?

Front pads on the Riviera are a straightforward driveway job. The rear pads take more care because of the parking brake mechanism inside the caliper. On this style of caliper the piston is normally rotated back into its bore rather than simply pushed straight in, and the parking brake adjustment must be checked afterward. Follow the procedure in the factory service manual for your year, and if the piston will not retract or the parking brake will not adjust, treat it as a caliper problem rather than forcing it.

After installation, bed the new pads in. EBC says full bedding takes about 400 to 600 miles, followed by further curing, and that some squeal in the first 200 to 500 miles is normal and usually goes away. Pump the pedal to seat the pistons before the first drive, then confirm the parking brake holds on a slope.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my Riviera has rear disc brakes?

Look through the rear wheel. A flat rotor with a caliper clamped over it means rear discs; a closed round drum means drums. Rear discs were optional on the Riviera, so do not assume either way from the year alone.

Will these EBC pads fit the front of my Riviera?

No. DP31146C and DP41146R are rear pad sets. For the front, browse our brake pads and match the listing to your year and axle.

Should I choose Redstuff or Yellowstuff?

Pick Redstuff if you want clean wheels and quiet stops for normal driving and shows. Pick Yellowstuff if you drive the car hard and want more bite, and you are willing to bed the pads in carefully.

Do the pads fit both the turbo V6 and the V8 cars?

Our listings are labeled for the 3.8L turbo FWD Riviera. Rear pad fit is driven by the rear caliper, so the key check is whether your car has the factory rear disc brakes. If you are unsure, compare your old pads to the listing photos before installing.

Do I need new rotors with new pads?

Not always. If the rotors are above minimum thickness and not deeply grooved, EBC recommends machining them. Replace any rotor that is below spec, cracked, or badly warped.

Why will my rear caliper piston not push back?

On rear calipers with an integrated parking brake, the piston usually has to be turned back rather than pressed. If it will not move with the correct tool, the caliper mechanism may be seized and the caliper should be rebuilt or replaced.

Sources

1. conceptcarz.com - 1979 Buick Riviera - 1979 was the first front-drive Riviera; front discs standard, rear discs optional
2. Mac's Motor City Garage - Buick Adopts Front-Wheel Drive - E-body shared with Toronado and Eldorado, 350 V8 and turbo 231 V6, design ran through 1985
3. NHTSA - Recall 79V069000 - 1979 parking brake recall on 4-wheel-disc cars; remedy was replacing the caliper actuator assembly
4. EBC Brakes - Product Focus: Redstuff - Redstuff is copper-free with ceramic granules and zero steel fibre, low dust, 10-15 percent over OE
5. EBC Brakes - Product Focus: Yellowstuff - Yellowstuff is copper-free, about 15 percent over OE, needs careful bedding-in
6. EBC Brakes - Types of Brake Pads - Ceramic-enhanced pads quieter and less dusty; Yellowstuff is an NAO pad
7. EBC Brakes - FAQs - Bedding takes 400-600 miles plus curing; early squeal in first 200-500 miles; machining used rotors