Friend has a '57 Belvedere he wants to change from drum to disc brakes. Anybody done this and know what to look for or the process to accomplish the feat? Thanks, Rodney
'57/8 Belvederes are probably my favorite '50s cars. I've never heard of a brake conversion on them, although Im sure someone on here will have a solution to it. Why does he want to convert them? -Dean
Go to Forwardlook.net and check out the forum they have there. Lots of guys are doing disc brake conversions on these cars and there is a company that makes a bolt-on kit that's supposed to work really well and isn't terribly expensive. And please post pics of the car, I love plymouths with fins.
Does it have the four wheel drume brake system? You only need to convert the front wheels to disc if you want because those tires are teh most used in breaking in front engine cars. You can switch them out in 3 ways: 1you can retro-fit disc-break components from a more modern car. 2 you can install a disc break conversion kit (I don't know where close to you would sell these but when you find one it should come with a complete list of instructions) and 3. you can switch to a late model front suspension.I hope some of that helps. I love those cars. Erin
I'm putting discs on the front of my '57 Plymouth right now. AAJ offers a kit that uses B-body rotors and bearings on the original '50s Mopar spindle, with an adapter. Then you use their machined brackets to mount '70s GM calipers and hoses, and it all uses a '70s A-body master cylinder. They just came out with a rear disc conversion as well, that I believe uses late model Camaro calipers. As I see it, this is more for show than anything, as the original drums are adequate. But the original rear brakes are a terrible pain in the ass to deal with (require a unique puller to get the drums off the tapered axle shaft). Just buy the basic kit, shipping alone will kill you on getting the rest of the parts to your place. Any auto parts store can get you the parts you need. http://www.aajbrakes.bravepages.com/
Hey Guys - Thanks for the replies. I'll print them out and give them to him. This should get him going in the right direction. I haven't seen the car yet and don't have pics. I just found out about it this morning when he asked about the brakes. He mentioned he was having problems with one wheel locking up. and couldn't figure out why. We may just do some trouble shooting and try to keep it as is. He said he got it from his wife's grandfather who bought it new and it has 27,000 orig miles on it. So, I guess no hot rod here. Thanks again, Rodney
This has been very helpful any more information would be appreciated. I just got a 57 belvedere 2 days ago and am working on getting it rolling. Driver front works but pass is locked up and I dont want to cut the drum. I was thinking of a disc conversion but if it's cheaper I'd like to just get the originals working... here is a few pics of my new baby.
I know this is a old thread but 20 years ago I was parting out a 64 New Yorker and a friend grabbed all the brakes for his 57 Plymouth,said they would bolt on so there is a alternative to going with discs but finding a 64 Chrysler might be a little harder to find these days. I will have to ask him the next time I see him to see if he got around to doing that swap.
Just so everyone knows, I would love to find a solid '57 Plymouth post car. I have a '56 Hemi that needs a home!
Turman idk how far your willing to travel but when I was looking for one's forsale to get a price range I was wanting to pay for the one I got I found one in salem OR. 57 belvedere. I took a screen shot of the add a while back. Idk if the guy still has it but here it is. The price seemed low to me and it looked really nice in the pic he sent but I didn't see it in person.
Nice to see that green one get pulled out of it's mossy grave for a second chance at life. Looks like it was really clean when it got parked there, shame about the poor storage but the area above the headlights looks incredibly good yet, and that's huge on these. I have also heard that you can put the 63-64 Chrysler front drums/backing plates and hardware onto the 57-62 and while it's still drums, it's a single wheel cylinder floating type and not the goofy dual wheel cylinder bullshit they came with stock. As many of these things as I've worked with, that seems like a good idea. I've also heard that the aftermarket disc kits on stock spindles are a bit too thick and don't allow very many threads on the center nut to grab until they bottom out, basically the stock spindles aren't quite long enough, and that would scare me, although maybe that's been resolved now. Also, '73 Dodge Dart drum/drum master cylinder will bolt up without drilling the firewall and give you dual chamber, and an E-body rearend apparently fits really well and eliminates the goofy rear hubs on tapered shaft axles that these came with. Not that Challenger/Cuda rearends are easy to come by anymore either, but I've heard that. Post some pics of that big green machine once you get it home and get all the shit washed off of it. I bet it'll clean up nice.
Thank you for the info and from the sounds of things It looks I'll be hunting down some Chrysler drums... I wouldn't mind swapping the rear end out if I can find. They man I got this from got it from a auction a little over 20 years ago to save it from going to the wrecking yard. He said it smoked and ran but he just parked it. There is sat till now... I'll keep pics coming as I go.
57 and 58 Plymouths are among my all time favorite cars. I had a Artic Turquoise and white 58 Belvedere four door sedan back around 2000. Rust free California car. Like an idiot I sold it....have always wished I still had it. Anyway, I had a set of AAJ disc brakes on the front of it. Pretty simple kit to install and worked great.
Yes I love these cars to. It's my first project car and I'll be keeping this. I would love to put a aajbrake kit on it but spending 900 on just the front brakes right now while I need a motor rebuild is a hard choice
I am doing it the hard way. Turns out a first generation Dodge Dakota has the same track width as your Plymouth. I spliced a Dakota front suspension in which also gives me power rack and pinion steering....
Wow I that would be awesome... I think it's a little much for me at the moment but something I will definitelyou consider
looks like you have a good one to start with. hang in there.... it can be a bit of a challenge finding parts for these things.
Ya i figured parts won't be as available as chevy... my brother in law is in the middle of doing a mercury. So he kinda warned me
Squablow any idea if a 68 Chrysler new yorker front drums would work? I found one that was used in a derby and pretty beat that a guy is parting out. If anyone knows that would be helpful
I'm pretty sure nothing after '64 will fit on the front spindles, that was a total redesign. It was only 63 and 64 that they had the same spindles but with single wheel cylinders, and I believe only the Chryslers had it (not Imperials either). I could be wrong, but that's what I heard.
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