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Can I run no front brakes on a street car?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by RoadFarmer, Jan 22, 2011.

  1. I'm looking at set of Spindle Mount American Magnesium front wheels. I'm trying to collect parts for a '55 Chevy g***er build......Would rear disc brakes on that big of a car be good enough? Or am I asking for trouble? I'd want to be able to drive it. I know it'd look really cool, but thought it'd be better to ask you guys. Thanks for the help.
     
  2. Da Tinman
    Joined: Dec 29, 2005
    Posts: 4,222

    Da Tinman
    Member

    asking for trouble, thats a big car and needs all the brakes it can get.
     
  3. arkiehotrods
    Joined: Mar 9, 2006
    Posts: 6,802

    arkiehotrods
    Member

    The front brakes do the majority of the stopping due to the weight of the car shifting forward when braking. Looks cool, but not safe.
     
  4. ok, thanks.... I'll p*** on these ones then
     
  5. outlaw256
    Joined: Jun 26, 2008
    Posts: 2,022

    outlaw256
    Member

    when i had my 55 i couldnt wait to drive it down the road. i had just got my fresh 327 running and boy was i excited!! didnt have any front brakes due to a leaking wheel cyl., blocked off the front got rears and went for a ride around the block. damn that car was fast. but i couldnt stop that thing for ****.stop sign comin up and the road tee<d right there. left turn ,my house go straight and i would run into a school driveway, which was about 500ft long from the road to the school. i ended up in the schools back yard.over 1500 ft with my foot on the brake the whole way and still went straight past the stop sign and 500ft up the school drive and went to the side of the building and came to a stop in the back of it.glad nothing was comin when i ran that sign. after i changed my pants.i fixed the front brakes. but maybe you will have better luck than me!!im not pullin one out of the shop now until its got brakes on all four corners and they throw you threw the windsheild. ken
     
  6. not only that but you'ld be held libil in the event of an accident- unsafe for street blaa blaaa blaa
     
  7. Francisco Plumbero
    Joined: May 6, 2010
    Posts: 2,533

    Francisco Plumbero
    Member
    from il.

    Legally no. And in theory not really, the weight comes off the back causing sliding and you will die in a wreck.
     
  8. Gotgas
    Joined: Jul 22, 2004
    Posts: 7,250

    Gotgas
    Member
    from DFW USA

    Do you want someone following your mom around in a hot rodded '55 Chevy with no front brakes?





    Well neither do I...
     
  9. doctorZ
    Joined: Apr 10, 2006
    Posts: 1,271

    doctorZ
    Member

    Darwin says you can!
     
  10. PhilJohnson
    Joined: Oct 13, 2009
    Posts: 906

    PhilJohnson
    Member

    Bad idea, way too much weight for rear brakes only. Heck even if was 1000 pounds I'd still want front brakes.
     
  11. 0154Cobra
    Joined: Jan 20, 2011
    Posts: 15

    0154Cobra
    Member

    I wouldnt do it if it were me.
     
  12. 30dodge
    Joined: Jan 3, 2007
    Posts: 498

    30dodge
    Member
    from Pahrump nv

    For a test run, do 60 MPH and stop quick with your E brake
     
  13. dmc3113
    Joined: Jul 28, 2007
    Posts: 235

    dmc3113
    Member

    E-T makes a bolt on ten spoke wheel that you run with front brakes. Might not be as neat loking as the Ameicans, but a lot safer.
     
  14. 68Caddy
    Joined: Apr 20, 2008
    Posts: 174

    68Caddy
    Member

    As long as you have a parachute, you should be fine.
     
  15. olskoolspeed
    Joined: Mar 2, 2009
    Posts: 476

    olskoolspeed
    Member
    from Ohio


    .......or a big anchor.
     
  16. newsomtravis
    Joined: Jun 1, 2009
    Posts: 562

    newsomtravis
    Member
    from pville, ca

    70 percent front, 30 percent rear......also with only rear brakes, turn a corner hit the brakes instant spin....done it....
     
  17. 71buickfreak
    Joined: Sep 26, 2006
    Posts: 610

    71buickfreak
    Member
    from Oklahoma

    You might be able to get away with fronts and no rears, but definitely not the other way around, unless killing people is your idea of being a hot rodder!

    Honest question, but no. Even an ultralight like a T-bucket would be scary without front brakes.
     
  18. jimbo121
    Joined: Jun 15, 2006
    Posts: 126

    jimbo121
    Member

    Not a good idea. Function over form.
     
  19. hotrod1940
    Joined: Aug 2, 2005
    Posts: 4,064

    hotrod1940
    Member

    The answer to this one is so obvious that I can't believe how many times it comes up.
     
  20. 23 bucket-t
    Joined: Aug 27, 2005
    Posts: 1,366

    23 bucket-t
    Member

    Yes you can, as long as you drive uphill both ways.
     
  21. 39 chevy kustom
    Joined: Aug 9, 2008
    Posts: 427

    39 chevy kustom
    Member

    Great idea , thin out the gene pool !!!!!!!!!
     
    Flathead Dave and partsdawg like this.
  22. I was asking a genuine question.....some of you guys are pretty funny. But it's starting to get rude now.
     
  23. 26 roadster
    Joined: Apr 21, 2008
    Posts: 2,020

    26 roadster
    Member

    I almost killed my family in a T with no brakes and spindle mounts, never again. you can adapt discs to spindle mounts though. Similar to T wire wheels, I love the look but everyone is right not on the street, you can't drive that far ahead.
     
  24. Mr_Roboto
    Joined: Jan 4, 2011
    Posts: 24

    Mr_Roboto
    Member
    from Joliet, IL

    The other thing someone has not mentioned is that if you even go to a "mildly" modern brake system they have redundancy built in. Sure it's not pretty but you CAN ultimately stop if you lose fronts or rears.
     
  25. Warpspeed
    Joined: Nov 4, 2008
    Posts: 532

    Warpspeed
    Member

    Only way it could work is with very long wheelbase, and about 99% of the weight on the rear wheels, as in a slingshot dragster.

    For any type of road car, forget it.
     
  26. "Can I run no front brakes on a street car? "
    NO - extremely bad idea for all the reasons listed above.

    "I'm looking at set of Spindle Mount American Magnesium front wheels."
    You didn't ask but, you can add brakes to some spindle mounts.

    Don't know which AR magnesium spindle mount you are looking at for your project but American racing has reproduced the 5 spoke spindle mounts and also a version with lug nuts and brakes like any other wheel. Its in their "pro" series and about 750- ish each.

    http://www.summitracing.com/search/?keyword=pro series torqe thrust&dds=1
     
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2011
  27. falcongeorge
    Joined: Aug 26, 2010
    Posts: 18,339

    falcongeorge
    Member
    from BC

    Hey, its a "g***er", dont let these guys tell you how to build your car, build it your way. Function, safety, old man stuff. Fashion first. The obligatory non-functional moon tank zip-tied to the grill will absorb most of the impact anyway...
     
  28. HELLVIS
    Joined: Dec 10, 2010
    Posts: 324

    HELLVIS
    Member

    driveshaft brake
     
  29. Jeff Norwell
    Joined: Aug 20, 2003
    Posts: 15,280

    Jeff Norwell
    MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    Run a Airheart or Wilwood disc with the spindle mounts and all will be good Steve.. spendy...... but good.
     
    JimSibley likes this.
  30. crashbox
    Joined: Dec 21, 2006
    Posts: 148

    crashbox
    Member

    Sure, build it with no front brakes so that the first time some pimple faced 16 year old cuts you off in his mothers civic you can smash the dog**** out of both cars.
     

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