Doing another disc conversion, cars owner wonders whats better, ceramic or semi metalic.....any preference? Gary 

       

Gary, 55 Vicky, St. Germain, Wisconsin

 

Use semi-metallic. Ceramic only if you plan to run at Sanoma,Watkins Glen, or with Carson in Mexico. He won't be able to get the ceramic hot enough to work right on the street.

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

EBC Green Stuff pads would work just fine at the streets and won't dirt your wheels as normal pads. Red Stuff is more for racing .

http://www.ebcbrakes.com/automotive/greenstuff_brake_pads/greenstuff_brake_pads_2000.shtml

 Seppo from Järvenpää, Finland
www.hollowheads.net (just click the hole in the head to proceed)

Actually, you have that backwards.  Ceramics dont hold up to the heat of track use (counterinuitive, I know).  Ceramics have just a tad less initial bite than semi-metallics, but they also make much less dust, the dust is light tan vs. black, and the dust is non ferrous, so it wipes off very easily.  Oh, and ceramics wont squeal (when installed properly) whereas metallics are much more difficult to keep quiet.

Ive done tons of research and experimentation on my DD, a Volvo S60R.  The ceramics (Hawks are the ones I chose for street) are certainly NOT recommended for track use, even by Hawk.

Just my 2 cents.

Ron Grove

Wauconda, IL

Another question, How old is too old for drum brake shoes? I had my rotors turned but used the old shoes (unknown age-most likely a few decades) and simply filed the "glaze" off them. I feel that they aren't biting as they should. Should I just replace them?

Thanks,

Kev



Loving my Y!

Kevin Walshe

Costa Mesa, California

         Interesting. I've used the semi-metalics on street machines for years, with good results.

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

Kevin-Simple answer ,buy new ones.You spent the money correctly by turning the drums.They are now nice and round.Dump the shoes and replace.Also suggest you replace ALL the springs in the brakes as much as you can find replacements for.World of difference in the way the brakes will work and lets be honest-unless this is your primary wheels you are very unlikely to redo the brakes again in the near future.Hows the body and paint doing?Havent seen any recent pics posted.

  

I've experienced a similar problem as Kevin. My 57s drum brakes are like stone. I tried deglazing them, but it didn't make a lot of difference. Also bled the front wheels to ensure the wheel cylinders were acting o.k. My thought is that the lining material is probably a hard, high mileage compound. Are softer lining materials available? What would a person look for in that regard? A front Disc brake conversion would be expensive, particularly on a 57, as it would likely also involve replacing all the tires and wheels, due to caliper/ wheel interference. So as this isn't anything like a daily driver, & I run stock full wheel covers, I don't want to go that route...

Paul

Semi metallics are all around better pads (better initial bite, better pedal feel, and better performance under heat/track use) IF you can put up with the dusting and occasional noise/squealing (although titanium shims on the back of the pads can help noise as well as reduce heat transfer to the caliper)

Kevin, you are best off getting new shoes; as others have said, youve come this far, and if youve had the drums turned, the new shoes will just work better, not to mention last longer.  But its up to you; after all, its only your safety! 

And when will you have that sweet merc back on the road??

Ron Grove

Wauconda, IL

Paul:

Check the bore size of your master cylinder. It should be stamped on the outside of the casting (most do). In 57 Ford used two different master cylinders, one for std brakes and one for power brakes. If you have the power brake master cylinder and using in a std brake application the brakes will be heavy as the power brake MC are larger bore and will take more effort to apply the brakes.

marv