brake setup for your 68 Charger

[Wolfie]

I was just wondering what everyone has on their 68 Chargers here. Currently i have all 4 drum breaks on mine, as i bought it, but would like to convert to disc real soon.
Any recommendations on brands/kits - i was told by mechanic that just changing front 2 to disc would be enough, but i want to hear from you guys.
thanks

[elacruze]

I put 11-1/2" Imperial rotors on my front, with drilled plated cryo treated rotors from www.frozenrotors.com with Porterfield street pads. I still have the large drums out back, no power assist and a master cylinder recommended by Dr. Diff (1-1/32" bore I think) and I couldn't be happier. I'm not even thinking about rear discs at this point, nor aftermarket fronts either. If you only want brakes, the stock style stuff is hard to beat. If you use your car hard or want cool stuff to see through your wheels, there are lots of options out there but they are very expensive.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,66411.125.html

[Darkman]

I put 11-1/2" Imperial rotors on my front, with drilled plated cryo treated rotors from www.frozenrotors.com with Porterfield street pads. I still have the large drums out back, no power assist and a master cylinder recommended by Dr. Diff (1-1/32" bore I think) and I couldn't be happier. I'm not even thinking about rear discs at this point, nor aftermarket fronts either. If you only want brakes, the stock style stuff is hard to beat. If you use your car hard or want cool stuff to see through your wheels, there are lots of options out there but they are very expensive.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,66411.125.html

What size wheels are you running?

[Slowpoke]

I have wilwood disks on the front and stock drums on the rear. Had to switch to 15 inch wheels to clear calipers.
Cant tell you how they work yet, havent had it running since I put them on. 

[Brads70]

I'm using 1973 C-Body spindles/rotors, A-Body LCA's, and Viper calipers with EBC pads. Although mine's an E-Body ,your B-Body is the same set up?
Here is a link ( sorry I'm too  darn lazy to type it all out again?
This winter I hope to adapt a Hydroboost set up. I have manual brakes now. They stop ok but I'd like a little more in the power assist?

http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=73985.0

[xpbprox]

I don't have a 68 but I had drums and now I'm putting on some willwood 6 pistoners in the front with a hydro boost unit so I can take full advantage of the stopping power. I have some disc brake spindles with calipers and everything for sale.

[elacruze]

I put 11-1/2" Imperial rotors on my front, with drilled plated cryo treated rotors from www.frozenrotors.com with Porterfield street pads. I still have the large drums out back, no power assist and a master cylinder recommended by Dr. Diff (1-1/32" bore I think) and I couldn't be happier. I'm not even thinking about rear discs at this point, nor aftermarket fronts either. If you only want brakes, the stock style stuff is hard to beat. If you use your car hard or want cool stuff to see through your wheels, there are lots of options out there but they are very expensive.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,66411.125.html

What size wheels are you running?

15x7 steel cop wheels.

[MSRacing89]

Be careful with Wilwoods as they have no weather seal just o-rings inside where the piston runs.  Not necessarily intended for constant street use.  I prefer Gen II or newer Viper calipers(Brembo).  We used this set up at the OUSCI and it worked great.  Had a little brake fade on the last lap, but we were driving hard into some corners at 115 or so.  They probably worked better than the driver in the brake challenge portion.  Plenty of stopping power.  One thing to remember is you go put those massive high torque 6-piston calipers on your car but unless your running slicks, regular street tires are not going to be able to hold the road under extreme braking.  You need to find a good balance.

[Vainglory, Esq.]

I have wilwood disks on the front and stock drums on the rear. Had to switch to 15 inch wheels to clear calipers.
Cant tell you how they work yet, havent had it running since I put them on. 

Hey, me too!  If it makes you feel better, I think you'll like the setup.

[Dino]

I have wilwood disks on the front and stock drums on the rear. Had to switch to 15 inch wheels to clear calipers.
Cant tell you how they work yet, havent had it running since I put them on. 

Hey, me too!  If it makes you feel better, I think you'll like the setup.

I was looking at my Wilwood kit the other day, came with the Charger when I bought it, all still in boxes.  The kit was bought in '99 and was then the heavy duty front disc kit for cars over 2800 lbs.  It's a 2 piece rotor/hub with 4 piston billet calipers.  The rotors are 10.75" inches.
I heard all about the cons of these kits but honestly i can't see anything wrong with this setup.  Seems it would be a day and night difference over the stock drums.  No sure if I can fit my 14" rims on them so I'm waiting to install it until I have new 15" rims.

Since I already have the kit I might as well install it and see how it goes.

I have the brake line kit and the proportioning valve for it as well, still need a good power master cylinder for it. 

[elacruze]

Be careful with Wilwoods as they have no weather seal just o-rings inside where the piston runs.  Not necessarily intended for constant street use.  I prefer Gen II or newer Viper calipers(Brembo).  We used this set up at the OUSCI and it worked great.  Had a little brake fade on the last lap, but we were driving hard into some corners at 115 or so.  They probably worked better than the driver in the brake challenge portion.  Plenty of stopping power.  One thing to remember is you go put those massive high torque 6-piston calipers on your car but unless your running slicks, regular street tires are not going to be able to hold the road under extreme braking.  You need to find a good balance.

What are you using for control arms/spindles/caliper brackets/wheel sizes?

[bill440rt]

Perfect timing.  

Just got done doing a manual front disc conversion on my '68 (4-wheel manual drums originally). I used the kit from Master Power Brakes. The kit comes with a  GM-style prop valve, I ended up getting a repro disc hold off valve for the rears & swapping the main front-rear line. The kit uses Mopar stock-based parts, and I wanted a "stock"-type brake system for this car. Master cylinder, hoses, etc are also included. The brakes/knuckles come pre-assembled so installation is a cinch. My projects aren't yet finished with this car so I have yet to road test it.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,84534.0.html

I have a 4-wheel Wilwood setup (6-piston front, 4-piston rears) in my '69 coupled with a Hydroboost. Drilled & slotted rotors all around. Braking performance is awesome, to put it mildly. You might want to contact Wilwood, I think some of their street braking kits now have the dust boots in the calipers.

See page 8 of this thread for the Wilwood setup:
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,64641.175.html

[MSRacing89]

Be careful with Wilwoods as they have no weather seal just o-rings inside where the piston runs.  Not necessarily intended for constant street use.  I prefer Gen II or newer Viper calipers(Brembo).  We used this set up at the OUSCI and it worked great.  Had a little brake fade on the last lap, but we were driving hard into some corners at 115 or so.  They probably worked better than the driver in the brake challenge portion.  Plenty of stopping power.  One thing to remember is you go put those massive high torque 6-piston calipers on your car but unless your running slicks, regular street tires are not going to be able to hold the road under extreme braking.  You need to find a good balance.

What are you using for control arms/spindles/caliper brackets/wheel sizes?

We run Hotchkis uppers, box welded LCA, stock drum '68 spindles, and the Viper kit we use is developed by Andy over at AR Engineering.  My opinion is that Brembo is by far and away a better caliper then Wilwood.  If you can find a way to get them on the car then do it.  This set-up is using 18" fronts and 19" rear.

[BrianShaughnessy]

I just got asked this yesterday about a 68 GTX at the shop...    I told them decide what size / kind of wheels / tires you want to run because the original 14" magnum 500's won't get you very far.
Maybe it gets you 10.87 rotors... or some other aftermarket small rotor kit.

I run the Andy F Gen I Viper kit on 11.75 rotors on A body drum spindles on the front on 15" cragars... I had to use a 1/4" spacer.   Works good.

Right now I have an aerospace components rear disk kit on it...  the price was right... the noises that eminante from this setup aren't.   Gonna be swapping out hawk street pads maybe this weekend and hope for the best.   Their stuff is basically a wilwood kit with a caliper with  engraving.  I'd lump them in with the wilwoods with no weather seals.

[Dino]

Question for you peeps that seem to know quite a bit about these brakes.

If you had a 2nd gen Charger with power drums and you had a Wilwood front kit with 10.75" solid rotors and alluminum hubs and 4 piston calipers that came with the car, would you install the kit or sell it and get something else?  I can look up the part number tonight, it's no longer on their website as it is + 10 years old.  Like stated before, I do need a new master as I'm running all stock right now.  Not sure if I need anything else.

I will be running 15x7 rims on the front and I do drive the car quite a bit.  Street use only, no racing.  I do drive it in the rain as well, not that I go out to play in the mud but if it starts raining when I'm out then so be it.

I would love to hear that this kit is fine, it's a good upgrade from the drums and so on but if I need to get rid of this kit and buy something else then I will.  Then again, if this kit won't be an easy seller then I might as well give it a shot.  Aww heck I don't know.....

[Charger_Dart]

Dino,
I had your setup on my Charger and could never get it to stop the car right. For one thing, I could never get the front to lockup the wheels no matter how hard I pressed on the pedal. I worked endlessly with Wilwoods tech support, tried different master cylinders, and about a dozen other things and finally gave up when they started pushing me to their new and improved designs.
I switched over to a SSBC drum to disc kit that uses a cast iron caliper and 11 1/4" rotor and have been very happy with it. So far its been on the car since 2006 with zero problems.
I don't want to sway you away from Wilwood, or suggest you don't install the kit you have - just wanted to share my expierence.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SSB-A156/

[Dino]

Dino,
I had your setup on my Charger and could never get it to stop the car right. For one thing, I could never get the front to lockup the wheels no matter how hard I pressed on the pedal. I worked endlessly with Wilwoods tech support, tried different master cylinders, and about a dozen other things and finally gave up when they started pushing me to their new and improved designs.
I switched over to a SSBC drum to disc kit that uses a cast iron caliper and 11 1/4" rotor and have been very happy with it. So far its been on the car since 2006 with zero problems.
I don't want to sway you away from Wilwood, or suggest you don't install the kit you have - just wanted to share my expierence.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SSB-A156/

Thanks for sharing!  That's good to know!

[Wolfie]

thanks for all the suggestions guys. unfortunately im a bit of a 'newbie' when it comes to cars in general, so a lot of it goes over my head. :\ (im trying to learn!)
im mainly looking for a solid setup to replace the front drums. nothing flashy - as i'll be using it for street driving and just want something safer/more dependable than the drums i currently have.

[bill440rt]

thanks for all the suggestions guys. unfortunately im a bit of a 'newbie' when it comes to cars in general, so a lot of it goes over my head. :\ (im trying to learn!)
im mainly looking for a solid setup to replace the front drums. nothing flashy - as i'll be using it for street driving and just want something safer/more dependable than the drums i currently have.

Wolfie, if you're not looking for anything flashy and are just doing street driving, might I suggest the Master Power kit. It's based on all-new stock components, and will provide adequate performance. It comes pre-assembled for easy installation. The only thing you'd have to do is add the additional rear hold-off valve for discs & a front-rear line. I haven't heard any bad reviews about the Master Power stuff either... yet.

Dino, IMHO the 4-piston setup for the fronts might be a little small for a large car such as a Charger. I was told this while researching brakes, & that is why I went with their 6-piston setup.
Brian is right, the rear Aerospace kit is Wilwood components, but I didn't experience any "noise"?? What noise you got, Brian?? 

The SSBC stuff is Ford-based. I can't speak for their cast-iron calipers, but the Force10 aluminum ones I had were complete garbage. I had nothing but problems with their kits, that's why I switched to Wilwood. A buddy of mine also has a Dart with SSBC brakes. He just had a front hub fail, & lost a wheel in turn damaging his car severely. I went thru something similar, and won't use their products ever again.

[BrianShaughnessy]

Brian is right, the rear Aerospace kit is Wilwood components, but I didn't experience any "noise"?? What noise you got, Brian?? 

I get all kinds of ridiculous noise at low speed taking off from  a stop or going around curves.   I mean sounds like a old truck brakes kinda noises.

Went back to Rick's pics and they sent Hawk DTC-05 pads with the kit.   They're circle track pads.

So I forked out for some hawk HPS street pads.   Will try them out when I get a chance this week...  or next. 

It's that or put the drums back on.    At least they were quiet.

[bill440rt]

Brian is right, the rear Aerospace kit is Wilwood components, but I didn't experience any "noise"?? What noise you got, Brian??  

I get all kinds of ridiculous noise at low speed taking off from  a stop or going around curves.   I mean sounds like a old truck brakes kinda noises.

Went back to Rick's pics and they sent Hawk DTC-05 pads with the kit.   They're circle track pads.

So I forked out for some hawk HPS street pads.   Will try them out when I get a chance this week...  or next.  

It's that or put the drums back on.    At least they were quiet.

Wow, interesting! I just have the Wilwood pads that came in the kit. No noises like that, though!  
Let me know if those Hawk street pads do the trick.

[Dino]

Dino, IMHO the 4-piston setup for the fronts might be a little small for a large car such as a Charger. I was told this while researching brakes, & that is why I went with their 6-piston setup.

Bill I hope you are wrong, but I somehow doubt you are....

Man that's disappointing.  I looked at the MP kit, which is very nice, but it's a grand for the crossdrilled rotors and $900 for the soldi vented rotors, whoich is what I have now. I'd be lucky to sell my kit for a few hundred.  The MP kit seems to have one big, single piston caliper though.  My rotors are 10.75", MP is 11", don't think that 1/4" will make a world of difference so what if I can swap my Wilwood calipers for 6 piston calipers? 

[BrianShaughnessy]

Wow, interesting! I just have the Wilwood pads that came in the kit. No noises like that, though!  
Let me know if those Hawk street pads do the trick.

Hawk HPS street pads are on...  just drove it about 20 odd miles.   Much much better 

Did you notice what was stamped on the back of the pads in the wilwood kit?    This was what came with the aerospace kit...   a little googling thru the Hawk site...   anyway...  they suck for a street car.