Re: Duster disc conversion question
[Re: da50r]
#2012264
02/15/16 05:53 AM
02/15/16 05:53 AM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493 Granite Bay CA
Kern Dog
Striving for excellence
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Striving for excellence
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
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Some people seem to have the false belief that all A body cars were built with front disc brakes after the 1973 model year began. This is simply not true, as I have personally owned and seen several A body cars all the way to their last year, 1976, with drum brakes at all 4 corners.
The 73-76 A body cars with 10" front drums or 11" discs did use the same upper control arms and the same upper ball joints. The 1973-76 cars with 9" front drum brakes used the same small upper ball joint as all A body cars built from 1960.
Last edited by Frankenduster; 02/15/16 05:54 AM.
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Re: Duster disc conversion question
[Re: da50r]
#2012422
02/15/16 02:03 PM
02/15/16 02:03 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,365 Rancho Cordova, California (Sa...
hemi71x
master
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master
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Rancho Cordova, California (Sa...
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You will only hear of some very early build 73 A body cars with 9 inch Drum brakes. That's it, all other ones after that were 10 inch drums, if so equipped.
They used up all the leftover 9 inch stuff on the assembly lines for a short while, until they were gone.
I have only ever come across 2 1973 A body cars, with 9 inch brakes, in the 40 years that i have been around these cars.
What are the odds that your going to come across one of these odd ball's in 2016? Slim to none.
RF-4C Phantom 69-370 Zweibrucken, Germany
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Re: Duster disc conversion question
[Re: hemi71x]
#2012431
02/15/16 02:15 PM
02/15/16 02:15 PM
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,112 Western Md.
skicker
"The Champ"
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"The Champ"
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,112
Western Md.
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All of the above info is correct but only applies to 4 1/2" bolt pattern stuff. I found a 4" bolt pattern 9" drum 76 Dart last year. Car was a 4 door /6. Story I got was 4" b/p stuff was used on 4dr /6 cars only as far up as 76. Never say never with any of the older stuff... As earlier mentioned I've never ran across a 4 1/2" bp with a 9" drum...
...FAFO...
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Re: Duster disc conversion question
[Re: skicker]
#2012448
02/15/16 02:40 PM
02/15/16 02:40 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,365 Rancho Cordova, California (Sa...
hemi71x
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master
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Rancho Cordova, California (Sa...
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This has been beat to death numerous times in many postings, in various sites throughout the years. You are only going to find 9 inch drums on early build 73 cars ONLY. 6 cylinder cars, were the only ones to get DRUM brakes on all 4 wheels and the 4 inch bolt pattern. DISC brake cars all are the 4 1/2 inch bolt pattern.
If anyone came across a 74, 75, 76, A body car with 9 inch Drum brakes on it, It did not leave the assembly line like that.
There were no more 9 inch drum parts available after early 73, and certainly not in 74, 75, 76.
In 40 + years some old cars got repaired, swapped, with parts other than they were originally born with.
Last edited by hemi71x; 02/15/16 02:41 PM.
RF-4C Phantom 69-370 Zweibrucken, Germany
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Re: Duster disc conversion question
[Re: crackedback]
#2012550
02/15/16 05:12 PM
02/15/16 05:12 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,365 Rancho Cordova, California (Sa...
hemi71x
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master
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Check the size of the upper stud nut
Small is about 5/8
Large is 13/16
IIRC Thread diameter of small ball joint UCA's are 7/16 inch. Thread diameter of large ball joint UCA's are 9/16 inch. Wrench size nut for large ball joint is 7/8 inch. That's a very easy way to determine, large, or small, ball joint UCA's while installed in the arm.
Last edited by hemi71x; 02/15/16 05:12 PM.
RF-4C Phantom 69-370 Zweibrucken, Germany
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Re: Duster disc conversion question
[Re: hemi71x]
#2012592
02/15/16 06:01 PM
02/15/16 06:01 PM
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,080 CA
crackedback
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,080
CA
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Check the size of the upper stud nut
Small is about 5/8
Large is 13/16
IIRC Thread diameter of small ball joint UCA's are 7/16 inch. Thread diameter of large ball joint UCA's are 9/16 inch. Wrench size nut for large ball joint is 7/8 inch. That's a very easy way to determine, large, or small, ball joint UCA's while installed in the arm. I was hoping you'd chime in. My memory on some of that stuff isn't as good as it used to be. Thanks.
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Re: Duster disc conversion question
[Re: skicker]
#2012743
02/15/16 10:20 PM
02/15/16 10:20 PM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493 Granite Bay CA
Kern Dog
Striving for excellence
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Striving for excellence
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
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All of the above info is correct but only applies to 4 1/2" bolt pattern stuff. I found a 4" bolt pattern 9" drum 76 Dart last year. Car was a 4 door /6. Story I got was 4" b/p stuff was used on 4dr /6 cars only as far up as 76. Never say never with any of the older stuff... As earlier mentioned I've never ran across a 4 1/2" bp with a 9" drum... I owned a 76 Dart 2 door, slanty automatic. 4 wheel 9 inch drums NON power, small bolt pattern. One hard and fast rule: All 4 wheel drum A body cars were small bolt pattern, every one EXCEPT the Hurst Hemi 68 Darts and Barracudas. I don't care what the service manuals list, I have personally seen 9 inch front drums on enough 73-76 cars to know that it wasn't all the result of owners changing stuff around. What are the chances that 10 or more people just in one part of my state decided to remove 10" drums to swap 9" versions on? It isn't as simple as changing drums...The spindles are different along with the control arms. This makes DOWNgrading from a 10" drum or 11" disc (Which too many people incorrectly state as being the only possible combination) as a swap that would also require awheel alignment. Think of how little sense that makes.
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Re: Duster disc conversion question
[Re: Kern Dog]
#2012771
02/15/16 10:52 PM
02/15/16 10:52 PM
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,112 Western Md.
skicker
"The Champ"
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"The Champ"
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,112
Western Md.
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Just to clarify: 73 to 76 A Body 4 1/2" (big bolt pattern) I've only seen 10" front drums when drums were used with 4 1/2" bolt pattern. (making all 4 1/2" bolt pattern 73-76 A Body cars to use the large upper b/j...disc or drum) I have seen the 9" drums on cars as late as 76 when used with the 4" pattern as earlier mentioned. (/6 cars only using the smaller upper b/j typical to the 67-72 upper control arms) So are we in agreement or disagreement?
...FAFO...
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Re: Duster disc conversion question
[Re: skicker]
#2012795
02/15/16 11:17 PM
02/15/16 11:17 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,365 Rancho Cordova, California (Sa...
hemi71x
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master
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The op's topic has gone off track, and he stated has no interest in the "Drum Brake" war. He found out what he want's to know, and has big ball joint UCA's, for his needs. And there is NO SUCH THING, as a 4 1/2 inch DRUM Brake A Body automobile. Drums were 4 inch bolt pattern, to the very end.
RF-4C Phantom 69-370 Zweibrucken, Germany
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Re: Duster disc conversion question
[Re: Kern Dog]
#2012800
02/15/16 11:22 PM
02/15/16 11:22 PM
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,112 Western Md.
skicker
"The Champ"
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"The Champ"
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,112
Western Md.
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The only 4 1/2" bolt pattern A body cars were front disc 1973-1976 cars. There were no "big" 4 1/2" bolt drum brake cars built in the A body platform.
The 73-76 A body cars with 10" front drums or 11" discs did use the same upper control arms and the same upper ball joints. The 1973-76 cars with 9" front drum brakes used the same small upper ball joint as all A body cars built from 1960.
No emoticons and all your words...which is it? Maybe I'm missing something here but from what I've read from hemi71 and yourself is there is no 4 1/2" bolt pattern drum brake A Bodies. How can that be?
...FAFO...
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Re: Duster disc conversion question
[Re: da50r]
#2013197
02/16/16 03:58 PM
02/16/16 03:58 PM
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,557 Michigan
Kiddart
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,557
Michigan
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I have a 74 dart sport that has 5 on 4 1/2 bolt pattern from the factory.
Thank you Kiddart
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Re: Duster disc conversion question
[Re: da50r]
#2013284
02/16/16 06:15 PM
02/16/16 06:15 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,343 fredericksburg,va
cudaman1969
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master
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Posts: 8,343
fredericksburg,va
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How can it be? My car has factory drums and is confirmed a 4" bolt pattern. Not saying never, but my car is 4" bp front and rear. As for keeping the drums ... Why? Disc, simpler, easier, better. I can't tell you how many times I've driven drum front vehicles and they pull to one side or the other on initial brake. That's just a short list. Disc are the way to go. Yes, being 4 inch I would change out too. Just thought you had 4 1/2 drums.
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