I am building my first "traditional" rod of sorts. My truck is being built to drive several miles this summer. I currently have the early 40s drum brakes on it,and they will have to be all worked over. Been sitting around a long time. I have priced the parts and realize to convert over to disc brakes with the big five bolt pattern on my ford axle would be cheaper than rebuilding whats on it. Will you all give me some insite on how user freindly the drum brakes are? I want this to be safe and fun,and retain the older look. All input welcome.
My '30 A pickup had drums and they work very well. It had the '46 Ford hydraulic brakes and a '65 Mustang master cylinder, plus '64 Falcon rear axle and brakes and worked very well. Not like a new car, but good enough that they will go back on during the next rebuild.
I currently have a thread going on exactly this issue. The drum brakes will stop you just fine. Do not have any concerns, I have been driving the car in my avatar with 40 ford spindles and drums for 5 years now with no problems. (S10 drums on rearend)---BUT I now have a front drum out of round. These old 40 Ford brakes are not self energizing, are a royal pain in the ass to adjust and keep adjusted, and the technology is 70 years old. Rather than screw around trying to repair 70 year old technology, I an going to install a "bolt on front disc brake kit". I don't really expect the car to stop any better---if it does, well thats a bonus. I just want good brakes that don't constantly need adjusting, and if a rotor or pad goes bad, I can replace it at any Auto-Zone or similar parts store. I am running a manual brake system, no power booster.---Brian http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=350084
Got F 1's and mavericks on my 5w. 12 years and no problems. Did upgrade to a dual master cyl a couple of years ago. The 32 panel has the same set up. $0.02
If you're goin for traditional looks, stick with drums. You can always run modern style guts. If you don't care about looks, and want pure performance, run discs on all 4 corners FTW!
My experience is that disks stop noticeably better but old Ford drum brakes are marginally adequate on a lightweight car if you drive defensively. I recommend that you consider F100 or 39 Lincoln Brakes (avail. from Wilson Welding). They both look period-correct, are self-energizing Bendix style and probably cost less than disks. just my 2 cents. Good luck.
its open wheel??? use the drums. if it were heavier,, a kustom or something, disc's definately work better,,, but on an open wheeled car... don't do the disc.
I have drum brakes on my '34 roadster and they work fine. I've had to panic stop a couple of times and they stop as good as the Wilwood discs I had on my coupe. My only problem with them is getting them adjusted right so that they don't pull to one side.It just takes a few adjustments to get them right.
Forty Ford brakes work very well for seventy year old design. The whole thing is knowing how to adjust them right and adjusting them is very easy. There is two cams at the bottom of the brakes you adjust first to drag just a little, then you adjust the two egg drums at 10 & 2 o'clock to drag a little and your done. They are easy to check before taking off on a long cruise, jack up the front end and adjusted as said above. I would up great the wheel cylinder of the 40 brakes with an 47/48 Ford wheel cylinder there a little bigger bore which will help at the pedal. Look around and you can find someone to re-shoe the brake pads for you. This is really simple and doesn't cost that much to redo the 40 Ford brakes. Disc brakes are great and modern, but your going for traditional. If you go for the 40 Ford brakes let me know and I'll try to find the actical on how to adjust them right for you. CRUISER
If you want to build a traditional car used drums. Parts are not that bad if the ID if the drums is close to 12" you can just have a local shop turn them for you. Most Big Rig shops will be able to re line your break shoes for you, and Call a place like Early Ford Reproductions for the other parts(518) 884-2824. master cylinder wheel cylinders springs etc. I think discs look stupid on cars with no fenders. and the drums will stop you just fine. Your car is going to weigh less than 3000lbs so you should be able to just drag your feet on the ground if you get in trouble. Good luck. If you decide to go with something els for breaks pm me and I will buy your 40's off ya'.
I would keep the drums because they do work very well . I have a 55 Ford with drums and they stop with no problems at all . However , disc are user friendly and stop when wet but don't look traditional at all ! One other thing to consider is How much money you have for the job . Depending on the difference you could use that money on something else . Just my 2 cents worth !
If you want traditional look and feel, I'd stick with drums. The only reasons I'm converting my Royal to front disc are that parts will be easier to find and it is a heavy car (will be even heavier when I get the big block in it) so discs will help it stop. I also tend to drive more offensively than defensively, so discs help for this to. DRuss32, where did you get your disc kit? The only one I've been able to find so far is the AAJ one, and it's 900 bucks.
What are your normal driving habits, what is your daily and will anyone else be driving the car? With drums on all fours defensive driving is an absolute must when you are running the roads with new cars with serious four wheel disks with antilocks. With the 48 I always look for an excape route if the car in front locks up the brakes and I give myself plenty of room to stop. In the upcoming rebuild it is getting four wheel disks because I am tired of thn ane constant worry about not being able to stop quick enough. Plan on giving yourself and extra couple of car lengths behind the car in front of you in any situation and more if it is a new performance car with big brakes.
i'm actually in the process of installing disc front on my 52 ford... its my only car and daily driver... i drive defensively but have had too many damn near accidents because of idiots that tend to always pull out of driveways as im coming down the road... so we'll see how the disc's work... hopefully i didnt spend money for nuthin.
Drums. My preference for a Traditional Jalopy. If you want to argue the traditional/non traditional, I can't believe that anybody would honestly stand on the premise that discs would be considered on a traditional hotrod/custom representing anything before 1970! For normal driving drums work good and last a long time.(mine have been keepin' on-keepin' on, since 1929 see avitar) When driving thru deep water ride the brakes to help keep them dry or they will be inadequate until they have been dried off. (riding the pedal for 10 to 20 seconds will do that.) Somebody advised you wrong if they said converting is cheaper. New bands at local brake and clutch shop, $40. Polish the cylinder, New rubber cups $15, then go.
http://www.Praisedynobrake.com I usually convert to disc if I can because I drive 30+ miles a day in Pennsylvania mountain country... For an open fendered car I would use the above website's goodies.. BTW, what about discs with those finned Buick drum-looking covers? How do they work/price?
I have Camaro disc on the front and Olds calipers on the rear of my 32, I went performance on it. With the 37 project I'm building now I want the vintage drum look, it's 46 Ford up front and 68 Ford out back. My 62 Chevy II has drum all around and stops just fine. Go with drums.
Fenders ----Disk, easy install, no maint. No fenders-----Drum Although this is a traditional site I dont think most people would give you a hard time with disk brakes Gary
I did the disk covers as per DRUSS's tech its a good comprimise they dont scream disk brakes (alot of people dont even notice) but you still have the peace of mind knowing you've got a set of disc's up front if you need em. On my AV8 I'm running drums Its not nearly as quick and I dont plan on driving it hard anyways
I wonder if it's traditional to be a coward and afraid to drive the car you build. Probably not, I think that's a new thing. If you can't handle drum brakes, don't drive old cars. This is a traditional site, and disk brakes are NOT traditional. Do you disc brake guys wear helmets as well? You know, just in case. Next thing you know there will be a thread showing how to put an airbag in a '40 Ford wheel. Take a fucking chance, or go buy a Volvo. Jeezus.
Yeah it has, a little too far apparently. Comparing discs to drums is like comparing blue jeans to spandex pants. I would pay a thousand dollars extra for the drums anyday. When it comes to hot rods and customs, it's always kind of been about attitude, hasn't it?
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