Disk Brake Curiosity

Mike34

Mike34

Senior Member
I don't own either a Model T or Model A, I have a later year V8 flathead auto. Earlier this year I saw both a T and A with disk brakes on the front axles. I couldn't see any adapters and I must admit that the spindle & disk assembly sure looked likely were perfectly made for each other as if Henry had built them like that. I didn't have the opportunity to ask the owner if he bought a kit or fabricated them himself. (The rest of the vehicles were stock as far as I could tell.) Curiosity got the best of me and I looked through a few catalogs but couldn't locate any kits. Does anyone make a disk brake kit for the T and A? It's time to get this curiosity question out of my head. Thanks, Mike34 :)
 
I believe Wilwood does for 46 spindles.

ModelADiscBrakesFrontWillwood-1.jpg


ModelADiscBrakesBackWillwood.jpg
 
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The A has multiple answers...A spindles can be readily adapted (small shift in flange hole locations, spacer on actual spindle pin) to take anything that will fit on the '37-48 types of spindles, and also the '37-48 spindle types can be fitted to A axles with some minor shifting of scrub radius and height as complications.
For the T, problems are different...first, the T spindle has no flange to take the stationary part of any brake! Swaps I have heard of use discs from Samaurai trucks. Do not know any details on how they do that.
 
This appears to me to be a dangerous setup, not because of the brakes but because of the wheels. Part of the strength in A wheels is having the rear flange of the hub where the spokes are welded mounted against the brake drum. The front wheels have no support in this area, and I would say that the wheels will crack from the wheel nut holes. This is no different to mounting early 28 wheels on later brake drums which also results in cracks in and around the wheel nut area.
 
I contacted one of the hot rod, brake only companies a couple years ago and they said the could put complete disk setup all the way around my stock "A" axles, for about $2300.
 
I agree with Dave, you need that wheel/drum contact for proper wheel support. You also have to rig up an emergency brake, either with the caliper or a "mini" drum brake in the center dish of the rotor, but who needs all that crap on a Model A? Get some new cast iron drums, maybe a floater kit and you are good to go. Its not like nobody ever stopped a car until they invented disc brakes!
 
Flathead said:
I agree with Dave, you need that wheel/drum contact for proper wheel support. You also have to rig up an emergency brake, either with the caliper or a "mini" drum brake in the center dish of the rotor, but who needs all that crap on a Model A? Get some new cast iron drums, maybe a floater kit and you are good to go. Its not like nobody ever stopped a car until they invented disc brakes!
Click to expand...

I agree that this is a very dangerous adaptation. IMO, the wheels will not stand the stresses without the drum support.

Good Day!
Dave in MN
 
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