the old drum to disc conversion

[Brightyellow69rtse]

hey guys ive finally accepted that my old 4 wheel drums cant do the job anymore on the 550hp 440 i got. now i almost always do all my own work so i feel im pretty mechanicaly inclined. only thing is ive never tried doing a swap like this before. ideally i wanna do all 4 wheels but i may just do the front for now just to see how much better it if over the 4 drums.

do i need a master cylinder or can i just use whats on the car now? and if i have to swap the master out and when i do rear discs do i have to change anything out again?

any info would be great id just like to get the old girs stopping as good as she goes now, thanks, Mike

[garner7555]

Have a read through this thread.   Even if you don't use this setup, there is some good info in here.   


http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,122780.0.html

[lukedukem]

hey guys ive finally accepted that my old 4 wheel drums cant do the job anymore on the 550hp 440 i got. now i almost always do all my own work so i feel im pretty mechanicaly inclined. only thing is ive never tried doing a swap like this before. ideally i wanna do all 4 wheels but i may just do the front for now just to see how much better it if over the 4 drums.

do i need a master cylinder or can i just use whats on the car now? and if i have to swap the master out and when i do rear discs do i have to change anything out again?

any info would be great id just like to get the old girs stopping as good as she goes now, thanks, Mike

A lot of factors here. are your drums power drums. do you have 15" wheels. the link that Garner7555 posted requires you have 17" and up to fit those kits. as far as master cylinder, i had to change mine. i called Dr. Diff and he helped me out alot. i bought a kit from him and i had it done in one weekend. i had power drums and put disk on front. i bought the Front Disc Brake Kit (Stage 2). http://www.doctordiff.com/front-disc-brake-kit-for-11.75-on-disc-knuckles.html

Luke

[John_Kunkel]

Get this and source your own rotors and calipers:

https://scarebird.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=64&product_id=101

Get the disc brake MC from RockAuto.

[Brightyellow69rtse]

Get this and source your own rotors and calipers:

https://scarebird.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=64&product_id=101

Get the disc brake MC from RockAuto.

so ram calipers. whats a full size ford exactly? 

would this be the correct mc? i have power drums http://www.cardone.com/Products/Product-Detail?productId=131475&p=rock&jsn=455

[Brightyellow69rtse]

oh do i need a booster or just a master? i saw this kit does anyone know how it is?

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ssb-a156-1


i also saw pirate-jack stuff on ebay and that looks pretty nice.

is there any advantage using the drum spindles vs switching them out to the different ones?

[ACUDANUT]

I have a complete factory set up that should work for you. If interested, pm me. Spindles, calipers brakes ect.

[lukedukem]

oh do i need a booster or just a master? i saw this kit does anyone know how it is?

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ssb-a156-1


i also saw pirate-jack stuff on ebay and that looks pretty nice.

is there any advantage using the drum spindles vs switching them out to the different ones?

There's a sticky thread on these. Haven't read it myself.
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,95452.0.html

Luke

[AKcharger]

Get this and source your own rotors and calipers:

https://scarebird.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=64&product_id=101

Get the disc brake MC from RockAuto.

I did the scare bird conversion...its cheap and works but I wouldn't recommend it. I did a complete write up on it with pictures but P.B. Ruined it!!!!

[Nacho-RT74]

To the front you can get simply bolt in a 73 and lates stock Mopar setup and will be done. A body would be the best bid, due the spindle height keeping same geometry. It's a bolt on job without headaches and built with stock pieces easy to catch for service parts at any store. Plus will remain being a Mopar.

Pre 73 disc setups are available too, but 73 and lates are plenty because the become to be standard equipmemt since that year, hence cheaper. Earliers can be a bit harder.

Spindles, rotors and related seals and bearings, caliper ( Bendix or Kelsey Hayes, both single pistons ) pads and bracket, hose, MC and integrated brake fluid dist block. That's all. Oh! And dust shield!

Can get it from any A/E body laying around. Just spindles, brake fluid dist block and caliper brackets will need to be catched from JY, EBAY, forums, ETC... rest as mentioned at any parts shop. Rockauto is my best bid. Can get calipers and MC from the donor car no matter conditions and use them as a core return to them

B,F,M body spindles works too but they have a diff spindle height made due the isolation setup on these. T bar, hence ride height would need to be readjusted, so then front end geometry changes a bit.

Calipers can be slider or pin kind. Pin kind are more "trouble free".

If you want more, try to get the caliper bracket from a 77 and lates B body ( Maybe C too ? ) and will be able to fit the bigger rotor, but will allow you just to fit on 15" wheels, no 14". Easier to find on Slider caliper setup.

( and if you make to catch an extra Calipers brackets pin kind from a laters B, let me know, I want it )

Drilled and slotted rotors are available by Centric at Rockauto at a very affordable price rate on 10.9" and 11.75" ( lates ) rotors


For rear... I simply would make an aftermarket conversion... SSBC is one of them. Another option would be get a stock setup from 70s Imperials, but hard to find and I can't talk about replacement parts at parts shops.

That pretty much sums up everything needed. No hassle with aftermarket adaptors setup in front at least. You don't need to be creative on something which is pretty much prooved it works by everybody around the world. That's what Cass ( drdiff ) offers on its shop, with the advantage of get everything at once in just one deal, clean and out of the box. If you want to save some bucks and get fun catching by your own the same parts I got you the "trick" now.

( info got in just one compilation by Mopar Action article by Rick Erhenbergh, but has being done locally from yeeeeears and yeeeears, way before the mags and internet )