1969 Dodge Charger 500: front drum brake to disc conversion

[hemi68charger]

Hey gang..

I was curious... has anyone gone down the road of converting the 11x3" drums to a '70/'71 disk brake setup (spindle, bracket and calipers) which I have up in the attic.... Any unknown pitfalls that someone has experienced?

Thanks in advance...

[Bronzedodge]

I can't answer your question, but I know several guys that swear by well-functioning drums.  You can get high performance shoes from Musclecar Brakes.

[Charger-Bodie]

I can't answer your question, but I know several guys that swear by well-functioning drums.  You can get high performance shoes from Musclecar Brakes.

I agree 100%

[alfaitalia]

I hate the dead feel of drums.....they are not put on any cars these days worth there salt for a reason!!


.....that said I found this site with the advantages and disadvantages of drum brakes....to me the cons far outweigh the pro's though!!

Drum brake disadvantages
•Excessive heating can happen due to heavy braking, which then can cause the drum to distort, and thus cause vibration under braking.
•Under hard braking, the diameter of the drum increases slightly due to thermal expansion, the driver must press the brake pedal farther.
•Brake shoes can overheat to the point where they become glazed.
•Excessive brake drum heating can cause the brake fluid to vaporize.
•Grab is the opposite of fade: when the pad friction goes up, the self-assisting nature of the brakes causes application force to go up. If the pad friction is enough, the brake will stay engaged due to self-application, even when the external application force is released.
•Another disadvantage of drum brakes is their relative complexity.
•Maintenance of drum brakes is more time-consuming, compared to disc brakes



Drum brake advantages

Brake shoes today are still being used. Here are some advantages that drum brakes have over disc brakes:
•Drum brakes can provide more braking force than an equal diameter disc brake.
•Drum brakes last longer because drum brakes have increased friction contact area than a disc.
•Drum brakes are cheaper to manufacture than disc brakes.
•Rear drum brakes generate lower heat.
•Drum brakes have a built-in self energizing effect that requires less input force (such as hydraulic pressure
•Wheel cylinders are simpler to recondition than with disc brake calipers.
•Brake shoes can be remanufactured for future use.
•Drums have slightly lower frequency of maintenance due to better corrosion resistance.

[Charger-Bodie]

I hate the dead feel of drums.....they are not put on any cars these days worth there salt for a reason!!


.....that said I found this site with the advantages and disadvantages of drum brakes....to me the cons far outweigh the pro's though!!

Drum brake disadvantages
•Excessive heating can happen due to heavy braking, which then can cause the drum to distort, and thus cause vibration under braking.
•Under hard braking, the diameter of the drum increases slightly due to thermal expansion, the driver must press the brake pedal farther.
•Brake shoes can overheat to the point where they become glazed.
•Excessive brake drum heating can cause the brake fluid to vaporize.
•Grab is the opposite of fade: when the pad friction goes up, the self-assisting nature of the brakes causes application force to go up. If the pad friction is enough, the brake will stay engaged due to self-application, even when the external application force is released.
•Another disadvantage of drum brakes is their relative complexity.
•Maintenance of drum brakes is more time-consuming, compared to disc brakes



Drum brake advantages

Brake shoes today are still being used. Here are some advantages that drum brakes have over disc brakes:
•Drum brakes can provide more braking force than an equal diameter disc brake.
•Drum brakes last longer because drum brakes have increased friction contact area than a disc.
•Drum brakes are cheaper to manufacture than disc brakes.
•Rear drum brakes generate lower heat.
•Drum brakes have a built-in self energizing effect that requires less input force (such as hydraulic pressure
•Wheel cylinders are simpler to recondition than with disc brake calipers.
•Brake shoes can be remanufactured for future use.
•Drums have slightly lower frequency of maintenance due to better corrosion resistance.

Just curious. Have you ever driven one of these cars with properly set up 11inch brakes and muscle at brakes shoes?

[alfaitalia]

The honest answer to that is no....my car came with drums but they were sold so help fund a Wilwood four wheel disc conversion before I even started to rebuild her. But I'm of the age where I drove quite a few drum braked Brit cars when younger. I'm not saying they don't stop I  a hurry when you need to...they just don't feel like they will!...and as I said before I just don't like the feel of drums. I did not write the pros and cons above....just pasted it from elsewhere as an opinion. I doubt think in this day and age that anyone could reasonably argue that drums are better than discs in any way really....which is why (amongst other reasons) they don't use then much anymore....but each so there own. I notice now that the last real stronghold of drum brakes in the UK are nearly all going discs now too......heavy goods vehicles. I was quite surprised to see that.

[Charger-Bodie]

I actually have two Chargers that have 4 wheel disc. The stop fine ,but imo not a match for the hype.

[cdr]

just go with disc up front, drum brake adjustment to keep from pulling is a constant battle, 

[hemi68charger]

just go with disc up front, drum brake adjustment to keep from pulling is a constant battle, 

For me, I'm sure you remember my former T7 bronze Charger 500... It was a manual drum car... Once I rebuilt the system with all new kits and cylinders, I really never had to readjust the brakes.. She always braked straight and hard for me.... So, for this situation, my money overall would be better spent on other Mopar projects I currently own and will about to own.. Plus, I have a friend who supposedly has a complete left and right assembly from his '69 GTX for free.. Can't beat that... 

[cdr]

just go with disc up front, drum brake adjustment to keep from pulling is a constant battle, 

For me, I'm sure you remember my former T7 bronze Charger 500... It was a manual drum car... Once I rebuilt the system with all new kits and cylinders, I really never had to readjust the brakes.. She always braked straight and hard for me.... So, for this situation, my money overall would be better spent on other Mopar projects I currently own and will about to own.. Plus, I have a friend who supposedly has a complete left and right assembly from his '69 GTX for free.. Can't beat that... 

[AKcharger]

my front drums on my '70 always gave me grief, glad they're gone!

[Highbanked Hauler]

The only reason I changed my 500 to disc brakes was I got a set of drop spindles and those don't take drum bearings.