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By PWH42 - 19 Years Ago
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Food for thought. There is today a mad rush for people to convert their old vehicles to disc brakes without really researching the differences first. Disc brakes are definitely superior in an extreme heat environment,namely racing.Drum brakes are in fact superior on normally driven street vehicle.Upon a first panic application,the drum brakes will out stop the discs every time.The only way the discs are better on a street driven vehicle is if the driver is someone who maybe shouldn't be driving in the manner he or she is driving.Drum brakes are lighter.Disc brakes are cheaper and easier to build,which is the main reason all manufacturers install them on cars,light and medium duty trucks.Heavy duty trucks have gone completely back to drums after trying discs for a few years and discovering that they just do not stop as well as drums. It is much easier and cheaper to simply keep your drums in perfect condition than to convert to discs,unless you spend most of your driving time on a race track. As I said above:a little food for thought.
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By Canadian Hot Rodder - 19 Years Ago
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Sir, I have to disagree. I've had several cars with drums, power assist and not and would change them all. Yes I do like racing, but the first trip I made in my 56 was when it was in stock condition. I took my family on a road trip to Boston and drove through the mountains of Vermont. It was the scariest ride I ever took. My brakes were brand new and adjusted properly, but even at 50mph it was hairy coming down those mountain roads. The first time you applied the brakes was fine, but after they heated up, I practically had my butt 6" off the seat trying to stop! Then when I got to Boston and ended up half way in the middle of an intersection, I decided there is no way I am risking my families life! I install Granada spindles from a wrecking yard and stock Granada manual brakes. NIGHT AND DAY! Now at low or high speeds, the car stops on a dime and in stop and go traffic, NO brake fade. Now I don't have to worry as much when that moron pulls in front of me or slams on his/her brakes for no reason. That's my oppinion and I am sticking to it! Rob
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By Briney - 19 Years Ago
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Rob, I have to agree with you. Disks are hands down safer. Patrick
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By speedpro56 - 19 Years Ago
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The problem I had with stock brakes was pulling from left or right when first applied under normal circumstances.My front disc are superior in any kind of stopping be it in a hard straight line,in a curve or soft and easy over and over again,I have to go with the disc.My wife also complained about the stock brakes pulling or fading before I changed to disc and I feel they are much safer. My 2006 E350 heavy duty van has disc front and back and work great.>Gary
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By KULTULZ - 19 Years Ago
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I would most likely mess myself if I ever drove four wheel drum again, especially non-power assist.
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By Canadian Hot Rodder - 19 Years Ago
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SIGNS? What are signs?  Does that mean I have to learn how to read? I'm used to driving on goat paths, we call them "caribou trails" up hear. I usually take my dog sled though and don't have to worry about brakes ( YOU SHOULD SEE THOSE HUSKIES CORNER!) I did loose it once and crashed into an igloo after a seal cut in front of me.  All kidding aside, it is nice not to have to keep re-adjusting my brakes every two weeks. My thoughts on drum brakes.................
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By pegleg - 19 Years Ago
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Paul, Much as it pains me to agree with Rob, and it does, We'd all still be driving drum brake cars if the discs didn't work better. They do. Detroit never would have spent the money to tool up for the more expensive disc brakes if they weren't an improvement over drums. In today's traffic, at today's speeds, you need all the brakes you can get, or a very large rubber front bumper and good insurance. I have drums on my '57 F code and I've gone thru them completely. Every thing from the master cylinder down is new. My 6000 lb F150 stops better than this Ford. They're OK for Drag racing at one stop every 15/20 minutes, and on the street IF you do not tailgate, I would replace the fronts with discs in a heartbeat if the pure stock rules specifically allowed it, they don't.
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By PF Arcand - 19 Years Ago
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I suppose overall, Discs are superior, although I recall when Chrysler started using them on their intermediates in the late 60s or early 70s, their previous 12" drums on the high performance models, were better in a panic stop. Anyway, the unassisted drums on my 57 Fairlane 500 are down right scary! I've bled the wheel cylinders and deglazed the linings and so on, but they still have a tendency to pull to either side & stopping distances are terrible. Hurricane John suggested they should work better than that, but I don't know how.. Maybe power assist would help ?
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 19 Years Ago
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Paul: Do you know where the linings came from that are on your car? I bought into the story that brake linings are virtually all the same. I found on our '56 Bird years ago that was not true. I had linings on it from a particular parts store. Same symptoms as yours, I dug a little deeper and bought a set from NAPA, their best grade, and the problems went away. Of course the rest of the system has to be up to snuff. I recently found the old front hoses in my '57 Bird were nearly swelled shut on the inside. The brakes would apply, but not release completely, therefore became hot and were not ready the next time I called on them. By the way, I'm going to email you a reply to your FOM/COM valve body question. I'm not ignoring your request. John
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By DANIEL TINDER - 19 Years Ago
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In my experience, drum brakes can be made to work suprisingly well, but I WILL opt for a disc conversion when it's time for front brakes again.
I suggest:
a. The cheaper, softer linings from NAPA work more like the original asbestos material. Don't last as long, but the bonded type should go 40-50k highway miles.
b. Fresh NOS drums, accurately turned to the SAME size make a very big difference re: consistantly straight stops as fade sets in. The original drums were staked to the hubs at the factory. (Does ANYONE out there have replacement drums that adjust/drag evenly?) Truly skilled drum brake service is ancient history I suspect.
c. Good luck finding someone to cam-grind your linings to fit the drums (an essential reason 50s brakes worked so well).
d. The backing-plate ramps have to be polished/lubed FREQUENTLY or the brakes will pull.
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By PWH42 - 19 Years Ago
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All of what you say is pretty much what I meant in my original post.When in perfect shape,drums are better for normal street driving.But,as you indicate getting them perfect in this day and age is a tough proposition.So,for most people a disc conversion is likely a good decision. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!
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By Ketterbros - 18 Years Ago
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I'am leaning to drum brakes, my first car a 1936 Ford Coupe, with mechanical drum brakes, when my brother and I moved to 56 Fairlane, there was a substantial difference, but we run all over SW Pennsylvania and West By Gaud Virginia, with not a problem with the drums, We thought about upgrading when we raced every weekend, But as the President of the local Ford Drag Club, we were told of the drag on the wheels by disc brakes.. Brother and I both are racing 63 Falcons, with drums, no problem yet, and our 57 Failane will keep her drums... Just our take on the subject..
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By Fastronald - 18 Years Ago
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Drums brakes are fine ...........if you never leave the driveway. Disc brakes are the ONLY way to go.
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By speedpro56 - 18 Years Ago
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I can jack the front of my 56 t-bird up that has disc brakes,turn the front wheels with my hands,then do the same with my 56 conv. that has drum brakes and really feel no difference.If there is a difference it would have to small.
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By DANIEL TINDER - 18 Years Ago
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When the non-power drum brakes on my '55 T-bird are set up perfectly (no easy accomplishment), the main difference I notice from discs (aside from directional stability) is the way they approach lock-up less gradually. I wouldn't say they grab, but that extra bit of lattitude you get with discs just isn't there.
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