Is there a front disc brake conversion kit available for 1957 Ford cars?. Over time I've seen incomplete info on cobbling together parts thru salvage yards & auto parts stores but nothing comprehensive in the way of a reasonably complete kit of new parts.. Recently I found one outfit, Classic Brakes in Texas that listed a kit, but an e mail went unanswered & afterwards I read there return policy, which includes a 20% restocking charge & in store credit only policy, which nixs doing any business with them. Has anybody found a satisfactory kit elsewhere?.  Thanks    


Paul

When I saw your comment about your location the first thing that came to mind was scarebird. When I went to their site I discovered they've moved from Everett to Albuquerque, and are running a month behind. They list a 57 kit, but for 14" wheels you have to use a Granda wheel (which they name). They just make the brackets, and give you the parts list to buy locally. Still, they might have someone in Everett to receive it, and that's not that far south of Blaine. Good luck.

https://www.scarebird.com

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

Whatever you do, DON'T even think about using a Wilwood setup! Tried them on my '57...went back to drums! They might stop a Pinto but that's about all.


"FREE SAMPLE"

Exactly what was the result of the change?  I was contemplating the conversion kit from Speedway that uses Wilwood, and it looks fairly comprehensive and well built.  Did it stop the pulling left and right when applying brake pedal?  Thanks.  Joe-JDC


JDC

I don't know about Lord Gaga's conversion, but I've got a set of Wilwood's on my OT car. About the weight of my 'bird, with another 150hp. Big tires, and the Wilwoods stop it like it hit a wall. Same with my friends cars. So I'd guess it was in the system, not in the calipers.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

My car never pulled to either side with the stock brakes which were non-power by the way.
I didn't like the looks of the Wilwood setup (from Speedway. Who I found out won't back up the product!) as soon as I opened the box. Even though the calipers were 4 piston, they just looked too small. Should have sent them back but I installed them anyway. The rotors which are nothing more than stock '69 Mustang parts and probably Chinese are used with a 1/4" bearing spacer and had .012 and .010" run-out. The industry standard max. is .004". More than a month later I received replacements from them which they said they would check before shipping were worse yet! I persuaded them to buy the wobbly ones  back from me and got a pair from Rockauto at less that half the price of the Wilwood junk that were right on the money. So around two months after I started the conversion I drove the car and followed their break-in procedure to the letter. I did everything right. The car did not stop as well as the stock self energizing drum brakes. They wouldn't have faded like drums will, but I don't drive THAT hard! That's my story....NO LIE!

I still have the complete setup with the good rotors, what will you give me for it??? lol


"FREE SAMPLE"

I wasn't questioning your experience, just why. I think the answer lies in the odd spacer to move the wheels out, and the small calipers. Add in out of tolerance cheap replacements. If that was to fit 14" wheels, I've seen similar results on other OT cars with factory calipers off much small lighter cars for wheel clearance reasons. I guess because they can cobble up a kit that "fits" doesn't make it an improvement.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ