Don't almost all disk brake systems have backing plates? I know the fronts on my 67 GTO, my 72 Blazer, and My 79 Ford f250 ALL have backing plates from the factory. In my opinion it will work just fine and may actually be better than a system without a backing plate as it is closer in design to a oem system.
It has changed from Pure Traditional to Traditional Appearing. I guess I can learn to understand and live with both. I have a hard time saying anything bad about a brake upgrade. Also I'm thinking there's a ton on here that like fake B@@bs !
Thanks guys. I cant say this was my Idea just my personal spin on it. I think its going to look cool as hell when all is painted,powder coated and polished. There are so many cool things you can learn here on the H.A.M.B.
You did do a great job of hiding your disks. Just wanted to note the heat concern and ask why hide them. It wasn't pure traditional as much as Functional that I was refering to. The word fake in the thread ***le would have drawn a ton of fire and comments like " I'll bet you stuff socks in your pants too". For reference http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=798&highlight=fake
Yes most disc brakes have backing plates, not full ones like yours. I imagine there added to deflect water (Hot brakes hitting a cold puddle of water.) or road grime ending up on them.(Oil or god knows what.) Great job! They look great!
Technically, not "backing plates", but many early disk brakes did have what was called "splash shields" that were supposed to keep water off the disk. Bob
Awesome! I recommend that you put a tech thread together for this. Superior braking with a traditional look....it's wicked cool. I give this a thumbs up.
Nice job on the brakes! What if you put a 3/4x1/4 steel band around the larger one to make the edge of the drum look like a drum. It will be a conversation piece at car shows showing all the bugs stuck in one spot on the drum! Super idea!
I thought of putting a small band on but Im to lazy to weld, grind, and finish all the way around the drum. all the weld on them now are hidden inside. I never thought about all the bugs on the front, that funny (Gee the wheel must have locked up. Look at all those bugs on the front of that drum).
Kerry,we all have preconceived notions of what is and is not traditional and the beauty of this is we don't have to please anyone but ourselves. Disc brakes are better brakes or they wouldn't be using them on cars rolling of the ***embly line today! Disc Brakes have also been around for longer than most folks can remember but for many they don't look as good as a simple drum brake system,,the original poster just improved on something he found to be displeasing to his eye and rectified it with home brewed ingenuity. I myself along with quite a few other Hamber's think this modification to hide the unsightly disc looks great! If you like the look of disc on a open wheeled car that's cool but don't forget whether the car is traditional,,or look traditional it's a mater of person interpretation. HRP
I must say I share your sentiment. Not to denigrate the tidy job rusty rocket did: it feels a lot better to me than the aftermarket kits. I should still not do it on any of my cars. If I could engineer some 15" finned, centrifugally cross-vented, six-leading-shoe drum brakes, on the other hand ...
D-Russ did a nice tech article on this 4-5 years ago http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=184568&highlight=backing+plate Ive been running them on my truck for 3-4 years with no air scoops and no issues from heat at all. Ive even auto crossed it a few times. I dont consider it trying to fake anybody out just trying to cover up what I think does not look as good.
There are some tech threads out there already, this is where I got my Ideas from. I didnt do***ent the building of these until I had them both done and almost on the car. Thanks for every bodies feed back.
They look good,but unless you are road racing you are probably not going to have "brake fade" on a street rod.
I like it. Specially on a fendered car. I thought about that scoop idea on my open wheel car but the caliper is just out there. But I also want to drive the **** out'a my car and that means wanting to STOP the **** out'a my car when it seems prudent!
I like this idea, good job. I did the same thing for my roadster, however, I never ran them. Couldn't get past the way they looked on an open car. Mine will be up for sale soon here on the hamb.
I'm all for mods in the name of safety, and this is one of the best ideas that looks trad and is a definate engineering improvement. A disc vents air from the center of the disc towards the outside so if the scoop is aimed at the center it will move quite a bit of air. All you need is 1/2" of clearance around the outside to disipate the hot air [ the area around the cir***ference is greater than the area at the center ] If he needed more ventilation a row of holes around the cir***ference of the backing plate would do the trick [ plus look the part ] The heat generated in a road car is nothing compared to a road-race car, different compound pads can cure this in a racing situation [ before the need for ducting ]
As Rusty commented, there were a few postings a few years ago on various ways to cover up disk brakes. This was the set up that I posted back then. Intended more as a splash shield than a "Fake Brake" , but giving a good "first look" appearance. Even kept one of the original adjuster bolt/spring ***emblys. Have to take a picture of it now all painted and pretty. Canuck
Sp you actually left the side toward the wheel open and what represents the drum is just a lip, correst? So the side toward the wheel is where the scooped air escapes. I like that you used 46-48 backing plates because that is what you had too. I am a firm believer in using what is available or at hand. you have done well and lets not call them fake lets call them jst brakes and discs when it comes time for the magazine article. I like it too bad you didn't make it for in time for tech week. LOL
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