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Weight savins....?? drum/disc brakes?? #175165 12/26/08 12:27 AM 12/26/08 12:27 AM
Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 3,691 MO C cdp OP master
cdp OP master C Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 3,691 MO	Anyone know the apx. wt. savings when going from drum to discs on a 70 B-body?? Thanks Chris

Re: Weight savins....?? drum/disc brakes?? [Re: cdp] #175166 12/26/08 01:23 AM 12/26/08 01:23 AM
Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,671 A Andrewh master
Andrewh master A Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,671	I thought drums were lighter. Unless you mean the race only setups.

Re: Weight savins....?? drum/disc brakes?? [Re: Andrewh] #175167 12/26/08 01:38 AM 12/26/08 01:38 AM
A Anonymous Unregistered
Anonymous Unregistered A	Quote: I thought drums were lighter. Unless you mean the race only setups. This may be a skewed arguement. The fact is, smaller, lighter disk assemblies will give more braking power per weight than drums, if you figure that factor

Re: Weight savins....?? drum/disc brakes?? #175168 12/26/08 01:50 AM 12/26/08 01:50 AM
Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,671 A Andrewh master
Andrewh master A Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,671	Not sure if it matters. Did a quick search, and disc brakes weigh about 15 pounds more than drums on a car. The only time there is a weight savings is if you go to a race type setup. And big rigs apparently get a 40 percent weight savings by going to disc.

Re: Weight savins....?? drum/disc brakes?? [Re: Andrewh] #175169 12/26/08 01:55 AM 12/26/08 01:55 AM
Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 3,691 MO C cdp OP master
cdp OP master C Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 3,691 MO	Hmm...So I guess there might not be a savings, but a gain. Seems years ago MA magazine wighed a complete disc change over on a Stage 5 Hemi dart they built. I can't recall the time frame, but its been atleast 10 years ago.

Re: Weight savins....?? drum/disc brakes?? [Re: cdp] #175170 12/26/08 01:10 PM 12/26/08 01:10 PM
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 18,157 Mass DAYCLONA I Live Here
DAYCLONA I Live Here Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 18,157 Mass	Going fast is fun!.......being able to stop the ride in time is better.......go with the discs, there's other ways to trim weight, without comprimising safety 4902523-0000a.jpg (48 downloads)

Re: Weight savins....?? drum/disc brakes?? [Re: cdp] #175171 12/26/08 01:37 PM 12/26/08 01:37 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 31,019 Oregon A AndyF I Win
AndyF I Win A Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 31,019 Oregon	The factory cast iron calipers are heavy but if you use a modern aluminum caliper you can save a lot of weight. The setup with drum brake spindles, 11.75 rotors and Viper calipers is fairly lightweight but works really well.

Re: Weight savins....?? drum/disc brakes?? [Re: AndyF] #175172 12/26/08 01:52 PM 12/26/08 01:52 PM
Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,061 New Mexico D dmerc super stock
dmerc super stock D Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,061 New Mexico	A lot of weight can be saved by going with two piece aluminum hub discs also. Those one piece disc assy's are heavy.

Re: Weight savins....?? drum/disc brakes?? [Re: dmerc] #175173 12/26/08 03:39 PM 12/26/08 03:39 PM
Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 3,691 MO C cdp OP master
cdp OP master C Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 3,691 MO	This is a budget deal, so I'm thinking of going with Tallzag mounts with truck calipers and big rotors. I think the whole deal will set me back $500 if I use new/recon. parts. I may go to the you-pick-it and try and get a bargain.

Re: Weight savins....?? drum/disc brakes?? [Re: cdp] #175174 12/26/08 03:48 PM 12/26/08 03:48 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 25,200 Upper Midwest M MoparforLife Too Many Posts
MoparforLife Too Many Posts M Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 25,200 Upper Midwest	IMO the real advantage to disc brakes is that they will not fade with heat as quickly as a drum brake will with repeated braking. Drums will lock you up as quick or quicker due to the rotational turning of the drum pulling the shoes into the drum tighter which not true with a disc set up that relies on pressure to push the pads into the rotor. For racing I know of several stockers that use drums for weight advantage and less drag than OEM disc set ups. Clean it, if it's Dirty. Oil it, if it Squeaks. But: Don't fix it, if it Works!

Re: Weight savins....?? drum/disc brakes?? [Re: MoparforLife] #175175 12/26/08 04:43 PM 12/26/08 04:43 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,040 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,040 Lincoln Nebraska	Stock to stock the drums would be lighter. If you have 11x3" drums & want to keep them FYI there are some "velvetouch" full metallic shoes on eGay for $85 + $15 ship. I've bought several set of them ie 9" drum sets for my stock car. It'll be a VERY light setup & I talked to several mechanics who ran them back in the 60's & they gobble up drums like crazy because they are so rough & when they are warmed up they grab like gangbusters. but those 9" drums are a dime a dozen so no worries & I will find out soon enough if they will keep me off the wall 4902875-velvetouch.jpg (45 downloads) Last edited by RapidRobert; 12/26/08 04:53 PM.

Re: Weight savins....?? drum/disc brakes?? [Re: MoparforLife] #175176 12/26/08 04:43 PM 12/26/08 04:43 PM
Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 3,691 MO C cdp OP master
cdp OP master C Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 3,691 MO	I might stick with the drums... This won't be a fast car, apx. 13's or so. Its a 383/4spd Bee. I'm planning on 440source Stealth heads, DP4B intake, T-quad with adapter, headers, 2.5" exhaust and 3.91's. I'm hoping to shave off around 200lbs by using an all aluminum top end. I'm buying a cheap digital 75# scale for grins to see how it comes out.

Re: Weight savins....?? drum/disc brakes?? [Re: RapidRobert] #175177 12/26/08 05:27 PM 12/26/08 05:27 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 25,200 Upper Midwest M MoparforLife Too Many Posts
MoparforLife Too Many Posts M Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 25,200 Upper Midwest	Quote: Stock to stock the drums would be lighter. If you have 11x3" drums & want to keep them FYI there are some "velvetouch" full metallic shoes on eGay for $85 + $15 ship. I've bought several set of them ie 9" drum sets for my stock car. It'll be a VERY light setup & I talked to several mechanics who ran them back in the 60's & they gobble up drums like crazy because they are so rough & when they are warmed up they grab like gangbusters. but those 9" drums are a dime a dozen so no worries & I will find out soon enough if they will keep me off the wall When I said stockers I meant NHRA stock classes not nessessarly dirt trackers. Clean it, if it's Dirty. Oil it, if it Squeaks. But: Don't fix it, if it Works!

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