Improved Braking: Discs or Add Power Booster

[Neal_J]

Hi Folks:

I don't drive my 69 enough largely due to the manual drum brakes.  To resolve that, I'm weighing discs vs. adding a power booster.  The 318 car is largely original and I prefer to keep it that way.  I vaguely recall that discs won't fit under the 14" wheels and the cost of new wheels/tires/brakes is out of my price range.   Thoughts/opinions?

Thanks!~

[b5blue]

Hey Neal welcome! Boosters are much less costly than years ago. Add a booster and you'll be good. (I drove mine for 20 years before adding disk.)  
https://www.inlinetube.com/products/bot30?currency=USD&variant=30329973178429&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&utm_campaign=gs-2018-11-22&utm_source=google&utm_medium=smart_campaign&gclid=CjwKCAiA9tyQBhAIEiwA6tdCrFyCYh6woRJQbu7SC7MAvJIckDjrPGD17C0nCqcKmo0Dm37TD_M8nhoCUy4QAvD_BwE
This will mate to your master, you might need lines.

[c00nhunterjoe]

I drove mine with manual drums for years without an issue to include drag racing. Never had an issue when they are setup and maintained. 
   That said, i have stock replacement discs on the front now after the drums were due for a total overhaul. Whole conversion was 400 bucks. It is manual brakes, still have no issues needing a power booster to stop it at 130 mph with light pedal effort at the drag strip.

[Mike DC]

Are you not driving the car because the brakes are physically tiring, or because the brakes are uncomfortably weak/fading?  What is the basic complaint?  A power booster won't make weak drum brakes feel any stronger.  A manual disc conversion won't make stiff brakes feel any softer. 

[Neal_J]

Great question.  The drum brakes require both feet to come to a stop from speed.

[b5blue]

You must have tiny legs.  Check condition of shoes and cylinders to be okay and add booster shown. You'll be fine. I've used my 70 Charger with every combo possible and you'll love that boost. 

[69hemibeep]

Great question.  The drum brakes require both feet to come to a stop from speed.

You probably have the wrong master cylinder! Does the lid bolt down or have a spring type wire holding it down?

[Neal_J]

Here's a photo of the master this morning.  Thanks for all the advise. 

[b5blue]

Yup just like mine. Pull the master forward and add the booster. 

[Mopar Nut]

I have a complete Baer disc brake set up I just took off my 69 Charger that fit underneath my 14 inch front wheels if interested. I also have rear disc that I took off underneath my 15 inch wheels.

[375instroke]

A booster doesn't make the car stop any better.  If the brakes are crap, there's a point where applying any more pressure on the shoes doesn't really do much.  There just isn't any friction.  You probably have a $12 set of shoes that have nowhere near the friction or heat resistance as the original asbestos shoes.  Try finding some good shoes.  I've had many manual drum cars that stopped great at least once, along with manual disc cars, and many that stopped for shit.  You could tell by looking at the shoes that they were junk.  Smooth and shiny.  The '64 880, power drum, could stop from 60 to about 30, then it was like oil was poured on the shoes.  A local brake supply place that does mostly big rigs relined my shoes for $60, and it's really amazing the difference it made.  I did just the fronts, and I haven't experienced any fade at all yet.

[69hemibeep]

Here's a photo of the master this morning.  Thanks for all the advise. 

That is a manual brake booster. If it were power you would get a hard pedal without a booster.

[birdsandbees]

Here's a photo of the master this morning.  Thanks for all the advise. 

That is a manual brake booster. If it were power you would get a hard pedal without a booster.

That is a manual brake MASTER CYLINDER... it is also the very same Master Cylinder that is used with power brakes, that use a vacuum BOOSTER behind it.

[Neal_J]

Appreciate everyone's help.  Will look at the shoes first and, since I have a power booster on the shelf from a parts car, will give that at shot second.  Thanks!!

[375instroke]

Do you have just a booster?  You'll need a firewall reinforcement plate, and linkage, which are both different from manual.

[Neal_J]

Back in the olden days, when B bodies were still in junkyards, I liberated the master cylinder, booster, plate, pedal and linkage as a unit.   Been sitting on a shelf for 20+ years now...

[c00nhunterjoe]

Unless you are 5'2 and weigh 90 lbs, using 2 feet to stop the car is a shoe/drum issue, not a manual brakes issue. Again, i stopped 4 wheel manual drums with 1 foot and light to moderate pedal effort from 130mph at the track. With stock brakes you should be able to lock up all 4 wheels with 1 foot on the pedal. If not, something is wrong.

[Back N Black]

On my Dart I had the same issue, two feet to stop the car. Its non power brake car with disc up front. My problem was proportional  valve was stuck and not allowing any fluid to the rear brakes. Changed the valve and everything back to normal. Something to check, make sure your back brakes are working properly.