wilwood or ssbc?

[fireguyfire]

I know I am rehashing stuff that has been touched on in the past, but alot of the discussion is old so I am wondering if things have changed/improved for these companies. I am looking at buying a power front disc conversion for my 68, and was thinking ssbc force 10, but looking into old posts they dont sound very good; I put the basic ssbc power setup on my 66 Coronet 500 and was not real happy with how it stopped. Any body got experience with the Wilwood setup? Has the ssbc force 10 sytem been improved? I am stuck on which way to go now!

[68X426]

Great question. 

[Fred]

Has the ssbc force 10 sytem been improved?

I improved it by running it with a Hydratech braking system. Now she stops on a dime. 
Couldn't be happier.

[Mopar Nut]

Neither, go Baer.

[fireguyfire]

What is a hydratech system, and how much is it worth?
Also, I know the Baer system costs double; is it really worth 3-4k?

[dangina]

ssbc I wouldn't even look at.
the 6 piston wilwoods have had good reviews. Some of the 4 piston models don't have dust boots.
baer is by far the better option.
you get what you pay for.

[elacruze]

ssbc I wouldn't even look at.
the 6 piston wilwoods have had good reviews. Some of the 4 piston models don't have dust boots.
baer is by far the better option.
you get what you pay for.

I'll cosign that. I've never been quite satisfied with Wilwood, not quite.

I just put the 11.75" rotors on mine with high-quality rotors, stock calipers, and Porterfield street pads. I have more brakes than my tires can stand. I don't need anything more.

[Mopar Nut]

What is a hydratech system, and how much is it worth?

http://www.hydratechbraking.com/

Also, I know the Baer system costs double; is it really worth 3-4k?

You should be able to find a four disc four piston set up for less. If you plan on racing it, go with their six piston set up.

[bill440rt]

Ahh... a topic near & dear to my heart. 
Start reading here, about 1/2 way down the page & keep going.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,64641.100.html

Some people I know have had good luck with SSBC, others I know have not. Especially the Force10 system, essentially Ford-based.
I was blessed with flat-out SSBC parts failure. Even before the car was driveable, the Force10 calipers split in HALF while bleeding them. SSBC's customer service sucked.

Then went with the 6-piston Wilwood setup coupled with a Hydroboost, couldn't be happier. They offered a kit that bolted up to the drum spindles, IIRC Baer does not. Rears are 4-piston.
IMHO the larger 6-piston setup will do a much better job stopping a large, heavy car such as a Charger vs the 4-piston.
Also keep in mind that with many of these larger brake setups you'll need to run a 17" wheel minimum.

[fireguyfire]

I am planning on running pretty stock 15" wheels with cragar mags on this car, and I would like to use the drum spindles. So would that eliminate Wilwood because I would have to run their 4 piston calipers due to size?
Also, the Baer brakes dont come with a master cylinder/ brake booster like some kits do; can i use the stock setup to run Baer discs on the front? I am not keen on not using the existing spindles=more big bucks!! Now I am really confused, as I know I am not going with ssbc, the Wilwoods would have to be 4 piston, and the Baers would need caliper and maybe master cylinder purchase on top of their higher price? A guy could go insane deciding what to do to stop safely!

[Mopar Nut]

Call Baer, they have a (new) 2 piston disc set up for the front for $900.00, a master cylinder for $109.00. Cheaper at Summit or Jegs.
Front - http://www.jegs.com/i/Baer-Brake/136/4141013/10002/-1?parentProductId=759925
Rear - http://www.jegs.com/i/Baer-Brake/136/4142020/10002/-1?parentProductId=932801

What power booster do you have, you'll need one for a disc set up.  

[fireguyfire]

I have the factory power drum master cylinder and booster; would this set up be acceptable to take advantage of the Baer or Wilwood brakes, or should I go for the hydro system?
Does Baer make a system for 15" wheels and can use the drum spindles? That might be the deal braker for me to go with the Wilwood. Opinions?

[Fred]

I have the factory power drum master cylinder and booster; would this set up be acceptable to take advantage of the Baer or Wilwood brakes, or should I go for the hydro system?
Does Baer make a system for 15" wheels and can use the drum spindles? That might be the deal braker for me to go with the Wilwood. Opinions?

I believe you'll need disc bake spindles when using Baer brake systems. I think the better option would be to go with the Wilwood if you want to use your spindles.

[bill440rt]

If you're going to keep 15" wheels, have you considered a kit from Master Power Brakes?

I installed their manual kit on my '68. The brakes come pre-assembled on new spindles ready to bolt in. Also comes with a new M/C, brake hoses, etc. The only things extra I had to get was a new disc brake front to rear line (ditched the drum line), and a new disc brake hold-off valve (available repro). You could cut & flare your old line to splice in the valve, I just chose to get new lines.
It uses single-piston calipers. Very stock appearing, because it's based on Chrysler parts. Eliminates scrounging junkyards for parts that most around here don't have anyway.

The car stops nice, much better than drums. It's doesn't stop Wilwood 6-piston with Hydroboost nice, but very good nonetheless. And it's compatible with 15" wheels.
FWIW, the people at MP were WAYYYY better than SSBC. They definitely stand behind their product & customer, as did Wilwood.

[fireguyfire]

I hadnt; I'll look at them too, but right now I am pretty sold on the Wilwood 4 piston set up for stock 15" wheels, and then do the hydroboost power sytem; I think it sounds like this would be a good street driver setup?

[adauto]

The first mod I did on my e-bod was front brakes. So this was done years ago. I went w 4 piston SSBC's/slotted rotors/manual. I've had absolutely NO issues and I've leaned on 'em hard more than once.    

[Mopar Nut]

I have the factory power drum master cylinder and booster; would this set up be acceptable to take advantage of the Baer or Wilwood brakes, or should I go for the hydro system?
Does Baer make a system for 15" wheels and can use the drum spindles? That might be the deal braker for me to go with the Wilwood. Opinions?

I had the same factory power drum master cylinder and booster, now sitting in my basement. Yes, Baer makes a system for 15" wheels and that uses the drum spindles (front-4141013 rear-4142020).

I have the factory power drum master cylinder and booster; would this set up be acceptable to take advantage of the Baer or Wilwood brakes, or should I go for the hydro system?
Does Baer make a system for 15" wheels and can use the drum spindles? That might be the deal braker for me to go with the Wilwood. Opinions?

I believe you'll need disc bake spindles when using Baer brake systems. I think the better option would be to go with the Wilwood if you want to use your spindles.

Nope, have Baer disc brakes on my drum spindles.

[Dino]

I hadnt; I'll look at them too, but right now I am pretty sold on the Wilwood 4 piston set up for stock 15" wheels, and then do the hydroboost power sytem; I think it sounds like this would be a good street driver setup?

I'm sticking that kit on mine but with a disc master and drum booster.  I don't think I want to spend that much money on a hydro booster just yet.  I'll let you know how it goes.

[fireguyfire]

Ok; I have pretty much decided on the Wilwood discs up front with the hydraboost master; sounds like this should give me tons of stopping power. Opinions before I shell out a small fortune?

[Fred]

Good choice. 

[bill440rt]

Ok; I have pretty much decided on the Wilwood discs up front with the hydraboost master; sounds like this should give me tons of stopping power. Opinions before I shell out a small fortune?

If you are running larger than 17" wheels, go for the 6-piston kit.
I'm not sure if the smaller 4-piston kit now has dust boots, you might want to check with Wilwood.

You'll need to fab up master cylinder lines with different thread fittings for the Wilwood M/C. I used a GM-based prop valve, so you'll need to either modify your existing lines or get new ones made. If you go with that valve you'll also need to swap out the warning lamp connector with a GM-pigtail connector.
DOT5 will void the warranty. If that is a concern try a synthetic DOT3/4. 

[dangina]

call up doctor diff (cass) he is pretty knowledgable and will point you in the right direction -

http://www.doctordiff.com/?page_id=41

he's also the only one that carries an aluminum mc for our cars in 15/16" bore

[fireguyfire]

Going with 15" cragar ss mags.

[Patronus]

I just put the Wilwoods on. Got lucky with the 12" rotor on my 15" wheels. If I had it to do over, I'd go with larger rotors and 17" rims. It looks good, better tires, and much better stopping. Nice part on wilwood is the ability to remove the pads w/o removing the caliper. Also, pad compound matters. The stock wilwood do make some noise if you don't driver her much. And by no means use their flex brake lines! I had some made by a local shop, $40/ea.
We have 14" Baers on all 4 of a Cuda, and its real nice..

[bill440rt]

Hmmm... what was wrong with their flex lines?? 

[Patronus]

The seating ends of the lines are prone to cracks and failure. I took them to a shop who makes high pressure lines and he said they were Chinese and were not even DOT legal.