Drum Brakes All Around

Posted By: CHRGR69

Drum Brakes All Around - 01/30/11 09:08 PM

My 71 Cuda has drum brakes at all 4 corners. I'm just not ready to spend a small fortune on a conversion. And when I do it will be front and rear. In the mean time any suggestions to enhance the drums braking abilities?

Posted By: GO_Fish

Re: Drum Brakes All Around - 01/30/11 09:21 PM

Go over everything in the old system. I'd consider replacing all 4 wheel cylinders, and maybe the master cylinder also if you can find some spare change.

I went through the 4 wheel manual drums on my '68 B'cuda, and found the front wheel cylinders funky (pulled the rubber end caps off and found water and a rusty mess). Then checked the rear, they looked better, but had in fact seized and were inoperative. I basically had no rear brakes, and the fronts were not 100%. After replacing all the wheel cylinders and my master cylinder, I'm back to the OEM level of braking (which I am happy with... I don't drive it aggressive on the road, and not usually in heavy traffic either).

Posted By: stumpy

Re: Drum Brakes All Around - 01/30/11 09:31 PM

I'd go with the semi metallic shoes also.

Posted By: Jim_Lusk

Re: Drum Brakes All Around - 01/30/11 10:22 PM

It depends on what your budget is and what else the car needs (and what junk yard parts are like in your area). If you found a late B or F/M/J with recently rebuilt brakes (seems very common for 80s cars to hit the yards around here with new brakes) and your ball joint and bushings are good, you could have front discs for around $100. You'll have much more than that in completely redone drums.

Posted By: can.al

Re: Drum Brakes All Around - 01/31/11 01:27 AM

...as Jim says just change everything between the ball joints, get a New master and plumb a prop valve in.
this doesn't have to be expensive.
rear brakes only contribute about 30%.

Posted By: AndyF

Re: Drum Brakes All Around - 01/31/11 02:22 AM

I've seen a lot of cars at the wrecking yard with good rotors, sometimes they'll even have good pads and bearings. Of course, that was a few years ago so the stuff is probably getting a little harder to find these days. However, the local yards still have plenty of bent bar cars in them. Those things are like roaches around here. Any wrecking yard you go to has at least one Volare or Diplomat.

Posted By: hemi71x

Re: Drum Brakes All Around - 01/31/11 02:30 AM

Quote:

It depends on what your budget is and what else the car needs (and what junk yard parts are like in your area). If you found a late B or F/M/J with recently rebuilt brakes (seems very common for 80s cars to hit the yards around here with new brakes) and your ball joint and bushings are good, you could have front discs for around $100. You'll have much more than that in completely redone drums.

Jim L.
Have you priced out brake parts lately at our Pick-N-Pull wrecking yards here in northern California?
I think you are $100.00 low on priceing a set of disc brakes.
That price will just buy you one side of the car.
Here is a price listing what you would be paying in Fresno.
If the OP can find parts for $100.00 that certainly would be a screaming deal.
This is off their web site. Core charges included.
Spindles 29.98
Rotor 16.98
Caliper 20.98
Gravel Shield 13.98
Caliper Mount 9.99
And all this is times two, for the other side, plus the enviornmental charge that they charge, and tax, your well into the $200.00 world.
Wish i could find my A body stuff for 100 bucks. lol

Posted By: Jim_Lusk

Re: Drum Brakes All Around - 01/31/11 05:05 AM

Quote:

Quote:

It depends on what your budget is and what else the car needs (and what junk yard parts are like in your area). If you found a late B or F/M/J with recently rebuilt brakes (seems very common for 80s cars to hit the yards around here with new brakes) and your ball joint and bushings are good, you could have front discs for around $100. You'll have much more than that in completely redone drums.

Jim L.
Have you priced out brake parts lately at our Pick-N-Pull wrecking yards here in northern California?
I think you are $100.00 low on priceing a set of disc brakes.
That price will just buy you one side of the car.
Here is a price listing what you would be paying in Fresno.
If the OP can find parts for $100.00 that certainly would be a screaming deal.
This is off their web site. Core charges included.
Spindles 29.98
Rotor 16.98
Caliper 20.98
Gravel Shield 13.98
Caliper Mount 9.99
And all this is times two, for the other side, plus the enviornmental charge that they charge, and tax, your well into the $200.00 world.
Wish i could find my A body stuff for 100 bucks. lol

Well, it has been a while since I bought those parts. I was eying a Dart for the k-member yesterday and thinking about just the upper arms and spindles, but they are getting ridiculous if those are the prices.

Posted By: Jim_Lusk

Re: Drum Brakes All Around - 01/31/11 05:07 AM

One thing about calipers, though. The last time I bought a pair they were cheaper than those prices listed at the parts store. I did recently (a couple of weeks ago) get a disc setup, but it was basically private party so I wasn't nickle and dimed.

Posted By: pressureangle

Re: Drum Brakes All Around - 01/31/11 02:15 PM

Porterfield makes performance brake shoes, give them a call to see if they have any for your car.
http://www.porterfield-brakes.com/
Find an 'old' shop somewhere that still knows how to radius your shoes to drums for a full contact. Of course, be certain that everything is in top condition and properly adjusted.