A question on brakes

[oldbee]

Original owner of a ‘68 SuperBee. Would you install rear disc brakes for a 1/3 cost of current pricing?
No problems with current 11” drum brakes. Oh, 86k original miles and currently has a 440 in it; so not totally original. And, manual brakes.

 

[dadsbee]

NO....

 

[moparedtn]

I'll ask the obvious:
If you have no problems with what you have now, why contemplate switching to rear discs to begin with?

 

[LowBikeMike]

Nope

 

[ckessel]

Basic car, front disc, yes. Rear, no.

 

[RR Fan Dan]

Front discs-yes. Rear no. You won’t notice a difference and be wasting your money.

 

[Kern Dog]

The advantages of a rear disc brake setup is lighter weight, easier service and better stopping ability in more extreme driving conditions. Some change to rear discs simply for appearances. That is exactly why I did it.

With a manual master cylinder, I had a real hard time getting adequate braking with my 4 wheel discs. I tried a few different sized master cylinders and all of them gave a great, firm pedal but it took way too much leg/foot force to stop the car.
I'd advise against them if the car isn't driven on a road course or aggressively on the street.

 

[WileE]

 

[oldbee]

I'll ask the obvious:
If you have no problems with what you have now, why contemplate switching to rear discs to begin with?

Well,,,, my youngest showed me a box from Summit sitting behind the car. About $300 with Wilwood calipers.

 

[eldubb440]

If I did run disc, it wouldn't be that ridiculous looking wilwood stuff......just my opinion

 

[moparedtn]

Well,,,, my youngest showed me a box from Summit sitting behind the car. About $300 with Wilwood calipers.

Wait - behind what car?

 

[Outlawd]

All of my cars are power or manual drums all the way around just as they were built and they all stop as they should. They don't feel and stop like my new vehicles and I wouldn't want them to. I enjoy driving (cruising) these old cars because of differences like manual drums brakes and manual steering, it's a totally different driving experience. If I was to put them on a track then I would consider discs.

 

[WileE]

Front discs-yes. Rear no. You won’t notice a difference and be wasting your money.

Agree with this, but the OP indicated "rear". Since most of the braking is done by the front, I would also recommend this, as I did on one of my cars which was a manual drum car, changed to front power disc.

 

[WileE]

If I did run disc, it wouldn't be that ridiculous looking wilwood stuff......just my opinion

You know... you could paint the calipers pink.

 

[68BabyBlue]

All of my cars are power or manual drums all the way around just as they were built and they all stop as they should. They don't feel and stop like my new vehicles and I wouldn't want them to. I enjoy driving (cruising) these old cars because of differences like manual drums brakes and manual steering, it's a totally different driving experience. If I was to put them on a track then I would consider discs.

With all my old B bodies, I was trying to duplicate the driving experience from when they were new. Ran every factory combination from manual drums to power front discs. They all worked. I would have bought a late model Challenger if I was looking for modern day brake performance.

 

[Fran Blacker]

NO

 

[Billccm]

I can live with, enjoy, and even appreciate the driving experience of old cars with brakes being the exception. I'm not comfortable behind the wheel if the car doesn't have adequate brakes.

Adequate means being able to panic stop when that soccer mom in her Honda Odyssey pulls out in front of you expecting you to brake accordingly to keep from hitting her vehicle.

You will never convince me that drum brakes perform as well as disc.

 

[oldbee]

Wait - behind what car?

The Bee!!

 

[dadsbee]

Jeff... you spent years getting her back together. Please just drive the wheels off it and enjoy, don't start f'ng around with what is NOT broken!

 

[eldubb440]

With all my old B bodies, I was trying to duplicate the driving experience from when they were new. Ran every factory combination from manual drums to power front discs. They all worked. I would have bought a late model Challenger if I was looking for modern day brake performance.

60 years ago, everyone's cars stopped about the same, no one in front of you could "stop on a dime"........

today, they can; and if you cant, you're screwed