My Duster currently has an 11.75 Slider disk setup in the front and 10x2.5" stock 74 drums in the rear, 15/16" master cylinder. Calipers are '80 Volare phenolic piston calipers with the 2.75" bore.

When I first did the conversion, it had some not great shape 10.87" rotors on the front and some semi-metallic pads. Didn't stop all that great...

I upgraded to the 11.75" brakes last year and threw on a new set of Wagner Thermoquiet pads. I am totally unable to lock the 225/60-15 BFG G-force sport tires on the front. It's adequate for tooling around town, and if you do a couple very hard stops, they start to work a bit, but they are absolutely nothing like the similarly sized brakes on my '04 Colorado or '12 Cruze which are phenomenal.

The brakes are fully bled with fresh synthetic Dot3/Dot4 when I put on the new master cylinder. The car has an adjustable prop valve in the rear line, and the pressure is dropped nearly all the way. It's not so hard to lock the rear, complete with the 20 year old shoes and likely original chrysler drums...I can get a screech out of the rears on almost any stop.

This is what makes me think it's the pad mu (friction coefficient)...I have driven 1000 miles since the brakes were installed, and I can still make out the cross-hatch on the brake plates.

Is there a set of brake pads that is street friendly (don't need to warm up forever), but have a high friction coefficient and hopefully won't squeal too much? I haven't seen much of a selection.

www.firmfeel. com

Has a nice set of pads and shoes give Dick a call

EBC Yellowstuff DP4678R
EBC Redstuff DP3678C

The few times I have used Wagner thermoquiet, I thought they were pretty good street pads. I wonder if something else is going on? For some reason, not enough clamp force on the front.

A 15/16" master is smaller diameter and should give good pressure. How about the calipers? I believe the stock was available in 2 piston diameters, perhaps you need the larger diameter?

Rock auto had a few remaining sets of Carbon Metallic pads left over. I bought a set awhile back but have yet to install them.

I use the carbon mettalics on my stuff also. They do OK cold and quite well hot. A performance pad that can take some heat but not too bad cold. Not sure they would help with the OP's problem though. Cold "bite" is only fair.

Best for cold "bite" are the low cost organic replacements... but it sounds like something else is going on with the system... front/rear balance is off and front clamping is inadequate either due to inadequate pressure line pressure or inadequate front piston diameter.

Larger diameter front pistons would help with both. Smaller diameter rear cylinders would help with the balance but need more pressure or boost to help in front.

My favorite street combo on an A body is nothing fancy. 11.75" rotors and 11" drums with organic pads and shoes. I used the combo valve out of a cop spec M body and a normal A body non-power disc brake spec M/C. Nice balanced stopping with long life.

You might want to check the brakepedal ratio and maybe change that for more hydraulic pressure in the brakesystem.
Not sure if stepping down to a 7/8" MC bore would be more advisable in your case.

Going slightly offtopic;
my daily '73 Dart's brakesetup is '73 C-body (pin) calipers with 11.75" C-body rotors and 10"-2.5" drums in the rear. Powerbrakes.
The MC is a Dr.Diff 1-1/32" diameter.

Pads at first where some vintage used semimetallic but I wasn't thrilled with the performance. Replaced them with HPS pads later on and braking improved nicely, but I still wasn't 'impressed'.
If I were to describe the car's brakingperformance I would call it just 'normal' (which I would not expect with large rotors, calipers and quality pads on a small car).

I might like to try a 15/16" MC but I'm afraid the brakepedalstroke will be a little too much and bottom out.

I think you guys were on to something with the cold bite. The current pads have little to none.

My calipers, as mentioned earlier are 80 Volare Phenolics. They are the 2.75" piston. Slider type of course.

Based on what you guys said...and what are on my other cars, I ordered a set of Bendix CQ NAO/Ceramic Pads. For what they cost...worth a shot.
http://www.amazon.com/Bendix-D84-Ceramic-Brake-Pad/dp/B000C2LONI

firm feel pads !! 11.75 rotors (napa )pin calipers 71 charger) 71 T A metering hold off valve from the ram man !!! 71 master cly 11 inch drums out back I put new wheel cly out back 3 years ago shoes are 15 years old !!! dual diaphragm power booster NAPA !! car has awe sum brakes !!! just as good as my 2007 magnum !!!

Firm Feel and Hawk have pads...