Working on a 61 Pioneer, it's got front drums with 2 wheel cyl. per side. I am gettting rid of the single reservoir master, and replacing it with a dual res. GM manual drum-drum master. Physically, it's mounted, and working. But I can't get the front brakes to engage. The rears are fine, single wheel cyl. per side. Do the fronts need extra volume, or something to work the dual cylinders? I've use 3 different masters, 2 were new or rebuilt. Pressure bled, all new rubber hoses, and hard lines installed. Actuator rod is fine, with full throw into the master, and full return. Option #1: OK, I am considering just changing it to discs. Are there any available Chrysler spindles that will swap over easily? Cost is an issue here, I know custom set-ups can be $1000 or so. I'd rather junkyard/parts store it. Option #2: I grabbed a set of 80 Camaro spindles I had laying around. Physically pretty close in the major dimensions, just the steering arm is shorter by 1 1/2". Other than that, it looks like it would be an easy swap, EXCEPT, the ball joint holes, and tie rod holes are too small. I know they're tapered, but can you buy a tapered drill, or reamer to hog them out to the right dimensions? This would be the cheapest way out, as I have a good set-up already. Anyone have any experience with these cars? I have a 56 Ford PU with a Volare front end in it, I'm tempted to pull off the spindle to check it out, should I even bother to try?
there was a guy on the classifieds advertising disc brake kits a little while back. search the forum and send him a pm, i guess he puts kits together on an as-needed basis for guys with old mopars.
I'd get the AA+J brakes brackets, they're around $200 or so, use GM calipers and stuff. Some '70's Mopar spindles do bolt on. Trouble is, tried finding one of those in a junkyard lately? They're hot for demo cars. Was my understanding too that it had to be the Imperial spindle, which has a 5x5 bolt pattern... I would like to offer one suggestion. Toss the rearend too, get a later Mopar unit that doesn't use tapered axles. Then you don't need a heavy puller to get the rear drums off -
[ Aerospace makes a set for that Dodge...we just put a set of thier custom street disc brakes on a 55 Plymouth and earlier last year they did us a set for a 61 Plymouth...same as the Dodge...bolts on...I am an aerospace dealer...call me.. I think my cost for this street setup is around 700 bucks..but it bolts on and works great. Mark Artis 972.712.6558 www.texasthunderperformance.com www.texasoutsiders.com QUOTE=chopolds]Working on a 61 Pioneer, it's got front drums with 2 wheel cyl. per side. I am gettting rid of the single reservoir master, and replacing it with a dual res. GM manual drum-drum master. Physically, it's mounted, and working. But I can't get the front brakes to engage. The rears are fine, single wheel cyl. per side. Do the fronts need extra volume, or something to work the dual cylinders? I've use 3 different masters, 2 were new or rebuilt. Pressure bled, all new rubber hoses, and hard lines installed. Actuator rod is fine, with full throw into the master, and full return. Option #1: OK, I am considering just changing it to discs. Are there any available Chrysler spindles that will swap over easily? Cost is an issue here, I know custom set-ups can be $1000 or so. I'd rather junkyard/parts store it. Option #2: I grabbed a set of 80 Camaro spindles I had laying around. Physically pretty close in the major dimensions, just the steering arm is shorter by 1 1/2". Other than that, it looks like it would be an easy swap, EXCEPT, the ball joint holes, and tie rod holes are too small. I know they're tapered, but can you buy a tapered drill, or reamer to hog them out to the right dimensions? This would be the cheapest way out, as I have a good set-up already. Anyone have any experience with these cars? I have a 56 Ford PU with a Volare front end in it, I'm tempted to pull off the spindle to check it out, should I even bother to try?[/QUOTE]
A close friend of mine has a '61 Valient to which he added late model Duster disc brakes to the front. He and I never got into the actual swap, but the Duster brakes probably came from a '70's era Duster. Knowing him he probably switched out the spindles. Both cars from this era had torsion bar front suspensions. That's what I know, maybe some others here know some more.
mocked up some 76 dodge aspen spindles on my '58 dodge wagon,to include rotors and bearings. a true bolt on. grab you one from a junkyard and see for yourself. only downside i could see was small rotor size,and that should not be a problem if you are not autocrossing! i have not investigated the rotor swap upgrade.
Mark, I totally forgot about the guy who posted conversion information on the HAMB. I have his information saved at home... I'll put it up on here tonight. Ed PS- I still say AAJ... buy their bracket and pick everything else up at the parts store... seems like an easy job for someone like you
Using C body caliper brackets and Cop rotors will get you a larger brakes. Also, any 67 up to late 70's Mopar disc dual res MC should bolt right on.
That's perfect, stealth, I would prefer the smaller rotors, so I can keep my 14" Astros! Thanks to all for your tips, contacts, and links!
not to hijack a thread, but will the volare/aspen conversion also work on a 63 dodge (fullsize 880)? i know this was the year changing from the tapered crappy axles to the 8 3/4, dont know if any changes occurred up front as well. thanx so much!
Not too sure. What platform is the 880 under? If its a b-body, than yes, if its C, you may have to find 70's C to get spindles from, I believe.
thank you young man! i'll scope that out next time at pull-a-part. i'll take some wheel bearings with me,that should do it,don't ya' think?
Couldn't find the exact year/model spindles that 'Forward Looks' articles mentioned. But got a 'free' set of early 80's New Yorker spindles (maybe???). Has the smaller rotors, WILL fit the 14 Astros with no interference, and are a direct bolt onto the 61 ball joints, and tie rod. The 2 differences I noted were the spindle height (ball joint mount to mount) was about 1 in shorter, and the steering arm was abput 3/4" shorter. I'm going to give them a try.
I don't know much about MOPARs; however, here is a great website: http://www.scarebird.com/4436.html They make disc brake conversion kits for quite a few applications. The cool thing is that they don't do custom kits, they just give you instructions on how to do the conversion with existing parts (ie. OEM parts from different makes and models). The fabricating involved looks pretty easy too, and I have trouble doing that kind of stuff. Good luck!
Yup! See what you miss when you don't show up JUST ONE day!!!!!!!!!! Almost half the ugly Dodge is stripped to bare metal, as well....may have to do some lead work on it!
Lead?! Half naked cars?! Geez I did miss a lot! Is the "correct" year spindle any taller? Maybe measure it against the Volare subframe in Stan's truck? That 1" difference may lead to some quirky handling. I'm hoping to get under my truck and measure for a power booster. All of the aftermarket brackets are for 7" booster so that's probably the limit. Ed PS- The "ed zombie" / "dead body" off-white didn't turn out as expected. Instead of a subtle seafoam, the rims look more like Ultra Pure White (that's a Behr paint color, available at the Home Depot). I'm thinking I might end up just painting the rims black. That white is way too bright for the rest of the truck.
Oh also, since the M body (diplomat, gran fury) is just a reskinned Aspen/Volare. The Diplomat and Gran Fury cop cars should have the 11" rotors too. I seem to remember confirming my suspicion with a parts interchange manual. As I recall... The Cop cars had a tougher bushing on the torsion bars as well. An M body (even if it's a cop car) may be easier to find unless you know a junkyard that deals in the older stuff. I wouldn't waste too much time with 5th ave's. It's unlikely that any old farts ordered them with 11 inch brakes. And I've never heard of the Chrysler M bod ever being a cop car, just the Dodge and Plymouth. Something you might try if you can't find em in a junkyard, is one of the police cruiser resto websites. They almost always have a section, or link for parts.
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