Has anyone on here purchased, received or used the Walden Kinmont brakes on the front or rear of their car? Thinking of purchasing some but am curious how they work? Thanks
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/cody-walls-builds-32-ford-3-window-coupe-“the-ardun-killer-“.1161976/page-11 haven’t used these. I have checked out the originals. Very interesting. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/kinmont-brakes.1149346/
I have no experience with them but they appear to be Wilwood disc brakes inside a housing that looks like Kinmonts.
Paul Carrol of San Dimas started Functional Fakes which was the first Buick Finned disc type set up, So Cal copied his idea and ran with it. Paul reengineered his Buick line and also created the Kinmonts, http://hotrodbrakeco.com/ he sold the company to Walden.
I think I got confused on the Wilson / Walden. this should be the Walden set up Looks like Wilson is out of the game now.
as far as how the work, I’ve installed the Buick styled set up. A little aggravating to bleed but they worked well. I have a friend that has installed the Kinmont version from JHRS. He said they were easier to bleed than the Buicks and also worked well.
All those new "Kinmont" and "Buick" brakes are just covers over some regular disk and caliper setup. They aren't anywhere close to the real thing. Kinda like putting Oldsmobile valve covers on your SBC. Or a hollow 6-71 over a Quadrajet.
I have seen them personally and the quality is there. I have also seen the other brand maker of these and the difference is night and day. Waldens are top notch! Sure they are a cover disc set up but at the price and rarity of real kinmonts id go this route from Waldens any day.
I took a few hot laps in a car with them back in the mid 50's. They worked every bit as well as Halibrands, the only other option for discs back then.
Love ya Pete1! you were there and "been there, done that"! salt drags and circle track!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
These look to be of the highest quality. Walden is known for their attention to detail and quality and they applied the same principles to these brake kits. I am sure they are better brakes than any of the real Kinmont brakes ever were and the appearance is almost identical. I hope they sell alot.
If you like the look go for it. The car can stop as fast as it needs too. 99% of the world appreciates the look vs exposed caliper and disc. 99.9% of cars can stop faster than a car with 40 brakes and drums. Whatever can make a car safer without a street rod look is good. Some here don't like seat belts and yet about once a year someone reports here about getting messed up or a rodder killed for not wearing a seat belt. Safety is practical and in the end economical compared to the consequences.
Shouldn’t be any different than running lake pipes or bellflower tips not hooked to the exhaust Or dummy spotlights probably better since the brakes work
To me, the expense far outweighs the aesthetics. It’s a neat piece, but I could buy another project car , that I won’t work on, with that money.
Yeah, too rich for my blood. That would be the most expensive single item on my hot rod, by far. I can appreciate them, on somebody elses car.
I’m running the Walden kinmont Brakes on my 32 3 window .I LOVE THEM ! . I have put over 2000 trouble free miles on them so far on my 32 . They look an stop amazing which that’s what you want . An the quality is TOP Notch and are a easy install . I’ve put the other ones “non Walden” on a customers car about 6 years back when they were using ssbc calipers , an I had a caliper lock up an catch on fire not the other guys fault , but it was ssbc faulty caliper . And those were quite a chore to put on . But I’ve seen since then they revamped an went with wilwood as well . you can’t go wrong with wilwood . I’ve put over 30,000 miles with willwood stuff on various different cars an I’ve never had a problem .
I'm sure the Kinmont-esque covered discs stop fine; probably better than the real deal. My OG Kinmonts aren't on a running car, so I can't make any sort of comment on how well they actually stop when properly adjusted. I'd agree with that statement. I had Wilwoods on a daily driver for close to 100k miles without any issues. Just regular pad and rotor R&R. They were certainly better than the car's original floating caliper OE brakes.
Had Wilwoods on my 68 Camaro and putting them on my current 56 build. Top quality for sure and the stopping power is as good as it gets. The Walden units look amazing but the price tag with then exchange to get them up here north of the border is what would hold me back to adding them to the coupe. There's no denying the brake fade on drums can be a little ass gripping from time to time but I drive the coupe knowing it doesn't have the best stopping power.
I have had to make a decision. I will have to stick with my MT Lincoln brakes because my early Ford wires will not bolt to the Walden brakes.
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