68 Charger R/T brakes

[Chargerito]

I just bought my favorite car Charger R/T. I noticed a spring around the outer edge of the drum. Whats the purpose of that?

[Sublime/Sixpack]

I think it has to do with harmonics.

[Chargerito]

You think i should replace them or its no big deal?

[A383Wing]

no big deal....most will break or rust off in time anyway

[71 SE3834V]

Controls the harmonic vibrations.

[Chargerito]

Okay thanx bud.

[Mytur Binsdirti]

I think it has to do with harmonics.

[hemi68charger]

When I did my '68 Hemi Charger R/T a few years ago, you could still get the springs new...

[Chargerito]

I'll look around for them. Even though im going to convert the front brakes to disc, I'm gona try to keep the car as original as possible. Matching number R/T's are hard to come by.

[hemigeno]

Found 'em... they're at Bill Rolik Enterprises (might be other places too, IDK):

http://www.billrolikenterprises.com/proddetail.asp?prod=2266877%2DP

[Lennard]

I'll look around for them. Even though im going to convert the front brakes to disc, I'm gona try to keep the car as original as possible. Matching number R/T's are hard to come by.

You're going to put disc brakes on the front and the description in the ad says that the spring is for 11" front drums.

[Chargerito]

The drums are 11 inches all around. I'll rebuild the rear drums with the anti vibration springs.

[Chargerito]

Found 'em... they're at Bill Rolik Enterprises (might be other places too, IDK):

http://www.billrolikenterprises.com/proddetail.asp?prod=2266877%2DP

Thanx for the info. I'll look it up

[hemigeno]

The drums are 11 inches all around. I'll rebuild the rear drums with the anti vibration springs.

If I recall, only the front 11" drums got the springs... or at least that was the way my 1969 (June '69 SPD) was built.  It had finned rear drums w/o the spring.

[Lennard]

  My 69 R/T has the same.

[tan top]

My 69 R/T has the same.

The drums are 11 inches all around. I'll rebuild the rear drums with the anti vibration springs.

If I recall, only the front 11" drums got the springs... or at least that was the way my 1969 (June '69 SPD) was built.  It had finned rear drums w/o the spring.

me three  , only  on the front  ,  November 22nd  68 SPD

[Chargerito]

My 68 has drums and the springs all around. Must have changed them in 69.

[Jonas_N]

My 68 has drums and the springs all around. Must have changed them in 69.

Same here, 68 RT.

[68 RT]

My 68 11 inch drums have springs all around too.

[Chargerito]

So what do you guys think. Should i change out the front brakes with disc brakes? Or keep the original drums all around? I know there are purists out there.

[JB400]

The purists usually don't deduct for having discs on the front.  If you plan on doing a bunch of driving in the car, then upgrading to discs is a benefit.

[myk]

So what do you guys think. Should i change out the front brakes with disc brakes? Or keep the original drums all around? I know there are purists out there.

What do YOU want to do?  What do you want out of the car?  If you're just going to the local show and shine or getting milk shakes at the burger joint then your drum brakes will be......adequate.  if you're looking to have the best braking performance possible you'll get the discs; it isn't even a debate...

[Troy]

The 11" drums work pretty well (when they're in good condition). Most all of my previous Chargers have had the smaller (10x2"?) drums and I thought they were scary. I have disc a conversion kit for one of my cars now but the other is a 4-speed R/T so it's staying original. If you keep the tires close to the original size I don't think it will matter as even the drums would lock up easily. If you put larger, stickier tires on it OR drive it hard where the brakes get hot then I'd consider discs. With the right wheels no one would really notice if you changed them (and about 30% of Mopar people and 99% of non-Mopar people wouldn't ever know even if they could see them).

Troy

[hemigeno]

The 11" drums work pretty well (when they're in good condition). Most all of my previous Chargers have had the smaller (10x2"?) drums and I thought they were scary. I have disc a conversion kit for one of my cars now but the other is a 4-speed R/T so it's staying original. If you keep the tires close to the original size I don't think it will matter as even the drums would lock up easily. If you put larger, stickier tires on it OR drive it hard where the brakes get hot then I'd consider discs. With the right wheels no one would really notice if you changed them (and about 30% of Mopar people and 99% of non-Mopar people wouldn't ever know even if they could see them).

Troy

Back in the '90s when I was purchasing my old R/T (which had manual drums), I went for a drive with the car's seller.  During his turn at the wheel, I mentioned that I already had a disc-brake conversion kit already sitting on the floor of my shop, ready to install on the car.  He looked at me and said "Why"? - and then stood on the brake pedal from about 40mph.  I wasn't wearing the shoulder belt, so of course I had to catch myself to keep from having a '69 B-body dashpad permanently imprinted on my forehead.  

"See there, these drum brakes work great - just don't get 'em too hot and you'll be fine." **

I drove the car fairly hard for 14 years with the same stock manual drum setup & usually with wide 15" BFG's, and never had an issue -- even with a couple of outright/full panic stops thrown into the mix too.  Just don't forget to adjust them occasionally, as I don't think the adjusters are automatic in '68 (they weren't in 1969 on B-body 11" drums).




** In the interest of full disclosure, this is the same guy in his late 70's who really chastised me for using the clutch pedal when up- or down-shifting... "Heel & Toe boy, Heel & Toe!!"  

[Chargerito]

So what do you guys think. Should i change out the front brakes with disc brakes? Or keep the original drums all around? I know there are purists out there.

What do YOU want to do?  What do you want out of the car?  If you're just going to the local show and shine or getting milk shakes at the burger joint then your drum brakes will be......adequate.  if you're looking to have the best braking performance possible you'll get the discs; it isn't even a debate...

I dont want a garage queen. It'll be a weekend driver for sure. Reading the posts, i'm going to keep the OG drums. I'll probably make some new mopars eat rubber once in a while.

[Bronzedodge]

There's other options - I've heard folks swear by these guys:

     http://www.musclecarbrakes.com/bib6572charger.html

They make high-performance shoes for drum cars.  Downside would be more drum wear of course.