Front disc VS drum brakes F-100

38 Conv

38 Conv

Well-known member
Looking to install the conversion disc brake kit on my 1955 F-100 for the front, with redone original suspension with power steering , frame mount power booster, a SBC 350- 335 HP, TH 400 trans, dana 44 rear with 3:08 gears, truck handles and drives SUPER except stopping after drums warm up-- so anyone that did this converstion please let me KNOW if it is worth the COST and TIME to do it. OR will I still have the OLD SCHOOL feel of stopping-- looking at CPP kit and also firewall mount power booster.--- THANKS
 
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Two things come to mind. One, are the new brakes adjusted right? I like to adjust them to a stop, then back off ten clicks. If they are too tight, problem two could cause you trouble. The brakes may drag, and get hot and not work.
 
Had it on lift after 300 miles to re-adjust them, tighten them all up and backed them off just like you said and still terrible stopping,now have 550 miles on it and still SUCKS stopping. I just guess that is the way they were then and we did not know any better then--- THANKS
 
I drove a 53 part time starting in 57. I think your description is very good. I could feel fade from forty to ten increase. That's the way they were! And most of us survived!
 
I installed discs on my 48 pickup using an ECI kit, and am using a frame mounted mustang master cyl with no power booster.

Short answer is, yes, discs are better than stock. If you're in a lot of stop & go traffic, or heavy traffic, or cruise at speeds of over 40 mph frequently, then by all means upgrade.

That being said, you will still have rear drums. I find that I have to adjust mine often.

I got tired of having to downshift to aid my brakes in slowing down.

I have a 9" from a 69 F100 waiting to go in. It has larger drums and self adjusters. I'm hoping that will cure my head aches.
 
38Conv said:
Looking to use the conversion disc brake kit on my 1955 F-100 for the front, for those who did it, will I see a BIG differance in the stoping over the original drums-- I have the frame mount power booster set-up installed now-- I was thinking of using the firewall mount set-up instead if that is better then the frame mount--- ( problem is when I put 40-50 miles on it and warms up with lots of STOPS and STARTS like in a parade I found out that the brakes have to push down hard and need lots of room to stop-- when cold and just starting for 40 miles works good then gets warmed up seems to stop terrible and all is new with 400 miles on drums, shoes, wheel cyl. ? ? -- OR IS THAT HOW DRUM BRAKES WORKED 60 years ago and we did not know any better then, I guess I am comparing this to all my other street rods builds that I had Mustang II front suspension, but this ORIGINAL brakes and suspension SUCKS---- Thanks
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You've got the best car/lt.truck (Bendix) drum brakes ever made on your truck, imo. If assembled and adjusted properly, they will normally stop fine, although never as good as disc brakes because of their much better heat and water fade resistance.
You mentioned a power booster, but stock or aftermarket? Very possible this is your problem.
 
Old Ford manual drum brakes were always a "stand on 'em and pray" proposition. Required pedal effort always seemed higher than other makes.
 
I'd be curious to know if your front shoes are glazed up. And what size are the drums. On the trucks, max oversize is 11.120, be worth checking. Thin drums will contribute to a glaze condition, resulting in a poor heat-path.
 
Above QUESTION asked by Green Monster 48-- I want some one who just did this conversion on their 1953-56 F-100 to tell me it is worth the time and money to do it over my original drums and will I get GREAT stopping power like disc brakes should-- has to be some street rodders on this site that did this-- all my other builds I used Mustang II, this one want to keep old school but want to STOP---THANKS
 
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