1969 power drum brakes question.

[Bad B-rad]

My car is a power drum brake 383 auto car.
To upgrade to the 11" R/T drum brakes, what do I need, is it just backing plates, shoes/hardware, and drums?
Or are the bearings and spindles, wheel cylinders different?
Has this been covered on here before and I can just read up on it?
I have always just gone with a power disc conversion kits in the past, but I want to do this car all org, and for now, and to save some money, I would like to just rebuild the power drum brakes, and maybe go with the 11" if it is not to expensive, to do, and worth the time and effort.
And last do the 11 inch drums stop much better then the stock 10 inch drums?  They put bigger brakes on the R/T cars for a reason, but do they make a sizeable improvement in braking ability?
Thanks for the help.

[375instroke]

If you ordered discs, you got 10" rears, but if you want front 11" drums, I can't see using anything besides 11" rears, too.  I use Rock Auto to check compatibility and cross reference parts if you want to see if the wheel cylinders are the same.  11" rear drum assemblies are common enough at junk yards off of Dodge vans with 9-1/4 differentials.

[RallyeMike]

If you are changing from original and not concerned about that, I would not waste time on 11" drums. Yes they are a little better than 10's, but they are nowhere near discs.

[Bad B-rad]

The last Charger I fixed up to drive, was a 1966, and before it even saw the road, I converted to four wheel disc set up (over the manual one reservoir drums).That was 15+ years ago, and I used a master power brakes kit, that used GM parts,YUCK!!!!! It stopped better, but really bothered me every time I opened the hood.

The 69 Charger, I just got is a 7,000 mile #'s matching car, it is not a museum car or anything, but it is a no rust California survivor.(330HP 383 4Bbl P/S-P/B-A/C, automatic car)
So as of now I think I just want to rebuild the drum set up, and I didn't know if it was worth it cost and braking performance wise to do 11 inch R/T style drums?

At least it is power drum,LOL.
I have driven  manual drum B-bodys before, and yeah the brakes suck, but they did stop me and it didn't pull all over the place.
There is no argument that Disc brakes are better, no doubt, but I don't think a disc conversion is in the budget.

I am just a regular broke working fool, and used all my savings buying the best 1969 Charger I could find/afford.
I just need to basically go through the systems and fix what sitting has done.



I do not have $1500 buck to drop on a front disc kit right now.

If I was going to upgrade to disc in the front,and I want to use MOPAR parts, do I still have to swap the spindles as you did years ago?

And is the power booster and master cylinder the same from a  power disc/drum vs power drum/drum?
(just as far as my car looking stock under the hood if someone reads the fender tag)
Thanks
     

[Bronzedodge]

You're talking about 11" front drums?  Might be a bit hard to find?

If you do, try here for good shoes:   http://www.musclecarbrakes.com/bib6572charger.html

[Bad B-rad]

If I was gonna convert to the 11' inch drums I would get all new parts(drums, shoes, hardware, so on)
Granted, I am assuming that I have 10 inch all around, because, I have not checked yet.  I have just done some engine repairs, and am about a day from jacking the car up, and doing the trans fluid and filters. Then I will pull the drums and check, out the shape of the drums and shoes.


I was just wondering how much better the R/T brake system performs, vs the stock drums.
Do the larger drums make the car stop a very noticeable amount?, and if so how much.
That is kinda what I wanted to know.

[8WHEELER]

I bought my 318 68 Charger in 78, put a 440 in it in 80. Drove it for ten years racing it every Friday night at the track, running 10'' manual drum brakes.
Then put 11'' inch power brakes on and for me it was a huge improvement. Saying that, I put disc brakes on up front five years ago, I actually liked the
11'' brakes better, one reason is I still have the larger bore drum master cylinder on the car still.

Dan

[Bad B-rad]

Well what size brakes come on a stock power drum brake car? Ten correct?
I thought the 11 inch drum was only an R/T option.
I will have to get off my butt and get out there and get my car in the air and look.
I was just thinking if I had to get all new drums and shoes and master cylinder to get my brakes up in good shape, then I may as well get 11inch stuff instead of ten.
unless spindles are different ,or something.

[8WHEELER]

Yes all 318 and 383 cars came with 10 inch drum brakes or option front disc. so 440 & Hemi RT cars came standard 11x3 front 11x2.5 rear with the front disc still an option.

Dan

[Bad B-rad]

So the power brake option, just adds the power booster, it doesn't affect/change the size of the brake drums, correct?
Thanks for all the help.

[lukedukem]

So the power brake option, just adds the power booster, it doesn't affect/change the size of the brake drums, correct?
Thanks for all the help.

Correct, my car was a 318 power drum car. came with 10" drums and booster.

Luke

[bakerhillpins]

I do not have $1500 buck to drop on a front disc kit right now.

This thread http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,122780.0.html talks about putting Ford brakes on the stock drum spindles.. not GM but seems like a great idea and it's not $1500.

And is the power booster and master cylinder the same from a  power disc/drum vs power drum/drum?
(just as far as my car looking stock under the hood if someone reads the fender tag)

OEM Booster/Master cylinder are different from power disc/drum vs power drum/drum. The distribution block setup under the booster (on the inside driver frame rail) is also different.

[bakerhillpins]

You're talking about 11" front drums?  Might be a bit hard to find?

If you do, try here for good shoes:   http://www.musclecarbrakes.com/bib6572charger.html

2 different options for replacement 11" drums on Rockauto at the moment.