Wilwood or SSBC?

[1969CoronetR/T]

I had the engine in my 1969 Coronet R/T with a 440 rebuilt. It has a stroker kit for 499 cid and should make over 600 horsepower. I am looking into upgrading the stock manual drum brakes to either Wilwood or SSBC 4 caliper disc . Two questions: What company would you guys use and power disc or non-power disc. I used Wilwood on a 71 Demon 340 that I had stroked to a 416 and they worked great although I do not remember if I went power or non-power.
Thanks

 

[pwtjr]

I've been actively researching this very same thing last couple of weeks. A friend of mine really likes the Wilwood products. He has a little more money to throw at his than I typically have. So I decided to go with the factory mid 70s A body spindles. Should suit my needs just fine and not break the bank. Im going to stay with manual non-power brakes as well.

Dr diff website is very useful on this type of thing. Check it out www.doctordiff.com

 

[62 Dart Convertible]

pwtjr, your link is screwy..

http://www.doctordiff.com/brakes/

 

[65hemi]

I have SSBC manual discs on my Cuda and a buddy has Wilwood on his Charger. We both installed the recommended and supplied pieces and neither of us were impressed with pedal effort and stopping distance; we had higher expectations. My buddy changed to a smaller bore master cylinder and is now much happier with his stopping and can now actually lock the brakes when stopping.
I have the SSBC on the 65 Belvedere and have swapped to a smaller bore master cylinder.

 

[1969CoronetR/T]

Has anyone run manual drums with a high horse power engine? My R/T stopped fairly well on drum brakes with the stock 440 engine so I am wondering if a disc brake conversion is necessary. I had a few close calls in the last five years and I am sure disc brakes would stop quicker.

 

[Mogre]

Installing disk brakes was the best upgrade I have done to my car. I also installed a power booster as vacuum was good.

 

[Car Nut]

Installing disk brakes was the best upgrade I have done to my car. I also installed a power booster as vacuum was good.

Same here, but I went with Baer, because Wilwood would not work with Magnums wheels.

 

[pwtjr]

drums are all cool and good when you know you have to stop and are prepared, but those surprise stops... discs are a great upgrade. My car had big drums all the way around and I was generally happy, especially after a quick adjustment now and then, but when I had to stomp on em it would weave around like a snake. It was time to put some work into some stopping power for me.

 

[slepr1]

I have SSBC manual discs on my Cuda and a buddy has Wilwood on his Charger. We both installed the recommended and supplied pieces and neither of us were impressed with pedal effort and stopping distance; we had higher expectations. My buddy changed to a smaller bore master cylinder and is now much happier with his stopping and can now actually lock the brakes when stopping.
I have the SSBC on the 65 Belvedere and have swapped to a smaller bore master cylinder.

Smaller bore master cylinder? I have the same issue on my 71 Cuda...since changing to Wilwood all around my stopping power is not as good as expected. Do you have a part number for the smaller bore m.c.? I'd like to change mine as well.

 

[GITEX]

Ditto^^^^^

 

[Dennis H]

Has anyone run manual drums with a high horse power engine? My R/T stopped fairly well on drum brakes with the stock 440 engine so I am wondering if a disc brake conversion is necessary. I had a few close calls in the last five years and I am sure disc brakes would stop quicker.

www.musclecarbrakes.com. 11" Hemi Drums. Stronger springs, blended material for the shoes. Very good stopping power. Straight predictable and adequate short of repeated high speed drum-heating stops that I don't do. I have the brake in a box kit for years. Lots of miles driven in hectic LA traffic etc. 500 at the crank.

 

[65hemi]

Smaller bore master cylinder? I have the same issue on my 71 Cuda...since changing to Wilwood all around my stopping power is not as good as expected. Do you have a part number for the smaller bore m.c.? I'd like to change mine as well.

My buddy changed to a 1" bore master cylinder. No certain of the p/n.
On my Belvedere I have used a cast iron 1" bore master cylinder from Master Power. No comparison yet since the Belvedere is still on jack stands.
http://www.mpbrakes.com/accessories...e-1-bore-lh-ports-deep-piston-hole-mc11571p-m
The smaller bore will result in less pedal effort but more pedal travel.

 

[1969CoronetR/T]

www.musclecarbrakes.com. 11" Hemi Drums. Stronger springs, blended material for the shoes. Very good stopping power. Straight predictable and adequate short of repeated high speed drum-heating stops that I don't do. I have the brake in a box kit for years. Lots of miles driven in hectic LA traffic etc. 500 at the crank.

Dennis, I have your twin.

 

[mopar12372]

thats funny most after market companies say to use the big bore . intresting

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

My sled is almost 3900 lbs.Had 6 cylinder front drums & dana rear drums,was ok till about 125 MPH and threw an alternator belt. Didn't realize how much I relied on the engine brake and had an issue stopping in time to turn off at the LAST exit at Englishtown.
I went with the SSBC basic kit with an iron 4 piston caliper and non vented calipers.Now stopping at 140 MPH with no problem turning the key off at the stripe!

 

[Seax440Dodge]

I've got ssbc's front and rear after I had a scare when one of my front brake hoses burst on my '66 and the 1 pot death trap MC showed me first hand why I needed an upgrade...

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

LOL,,,,,I still had the single pot when I was going 10.5's @ 125 and lost a wheel cylinder,simalar issue.All I did was go to a dual resevior master.

 

[Dreadl0ck]

I got the SSBC on mine and previous owner though a GM style booster was an excellent choice lol. (Need to fix that)

If I could do it myself - I'd gone with wilwood because I've seen some weird installment on the ssbc and had a huge problem with parking brake.

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

What was the problem with the e/brake??

 

[Dreadl0ck]

Never got it to grip as much as Swedish registration inspection required. I rebuilt the lever that the wire pulls forward when you engage it so it could actually travel a longer distance and by doing so made the caliper grip harder on the disc. The adjustment clip that is provided does not give you enough play to make it work 100%

Also the documentation was terrible, the "technical department" I spoke to had no clue what they were talking about and the brake booster provided is really sub par to what you expect at the price...