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#1 |
Cool Truck
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Bowie,MD
Posts: 1,869
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Would you go with drum or disc brakes?
I have a 68 C20 with drum brakes all the way around but I know a guy with a 72 C20 that I could probably get cheap and do a disc brake swap. I was just wondering what you guys preferred, drums or disc? In a way I would like to stick with my drums due to the lack of brake dust and as far as I know, disc brakes push your wheels out about 1 or 2 inches and I think that would look kind of odd. What are your thoughts, and feel free to add pics of disc brake conversion truck so I could get an idea of how far it moves the wheels out.
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1968 Chevrolet C20 Longhorn "Cool Truck" 1937 Chevrolet Pickup - Project Looking for a patina'd 68 50th Anniversary longbed |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: CASA GRANDE AZ
Posts: 4,276
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Re: Would you go with drum or disc brakes?
First time you stop in traffic youll be glad you got the disks
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70 SWB STEPSIDE 70 BLAZER 09 challenger |
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#3 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Peyton, CO
Posts: 448
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Re: Would you go with drum or disc brakes?
With the possible exception of 1) a purist restoring a truck to exacting specifications or 2) a situation where there is no money for a disc brake swap, there is no reason to run drum brakes. My perspective is based on the fact you can find several alternatives to enable a disc brake swap, it doesn't have to be a high-dollar disc brake conversion kit. Additionally, in inclement weather, drum brakes are inherently more prone to problems. Drum brakes that get wet are much less efficient and if you're running down a street in heavy rain, and there is a lot of water collecting at the curb, you can get one side wet and the other side will grab, creating dangerous conditions. Disc brakes are less prone to fade in high use situations, as well. Depending on the use of your truck, disc brakes are just a good idea. imho
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don "The DRBMan" 2014 Audi A4 (The Wife's Daily Driver) 2017 HD Ultra (The Cruiser) 2003 HD Fatboy (The Ride) 2001 Chevy Suburban (Another back up!!) For the first time in forever, not a single 67-72 Chevy truck, Blazer, or Suburban on the property! Basically retired and getting the new Motorhome ready for some traveling. Doing a bit of work on the house getting it ready to sell! LOL!! |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Lexington N.C.
Posts: 160
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Re: Would you go with drum or disc brakes?
I have a 68 custom 396 long bed restored to org.When I had this truck the first time ,I drove it over a 100,000.miles made a lot of trips camping, with a101/2 foot camper on it .The camper weigh was 2500lb dry.the drum brakes work fine. I put the drum brakes back like it was, still not having any trouble.
Look what kind of brakes are on tractor& trailers,drum brakes. By the way I can lock the wheels up on my 68 what more can you do. I forgot to say I have power brakes.
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98 Chevy Z71 1500 extended cab 99 Dodge carvan es 68 Chevy C10 LWB 50TH 396 eng 400 Trans 62 Wheel Horse tractor in good shape Last edited by woodchip; 02-16-2012 at 08:17 PM. |
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#5 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Posts: 2,151
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Re: Would you go with drum or disc brakes?
Quote:
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'83 K20-TPI '73 C10 '79 C10-ex-diesel(SOLD) '07 Tahoe(Son driving) '14 Suburban-DD '71 C10-current project |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Marianna Arkansas
Posts: 7,270
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Re: Would you go with drum or disc brakes?
If any way run with the disc brakes, why do you think those type of swaps are so popular? because they make the truck or car more safe and enjoyable
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#7 |
Cool Truck
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Bowie,MD
Posts: 1,869
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Re: Would you go with drum or disc brakes?
yeah my truck isn't stock so that is not a problem, I am just concerned about the front tires being set wider than the rear.
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1968 Chevrolet C20 Longhorn "Cool Truck" 1937 Chevrolet Pickup - Project Looking for a patina'd 68 50th Anniversary longbed |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: CASA GRANDE AZ
Posts: 4,276
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Re: Would you go with drum or disc brakes?
Its .75 of a inch on each side just run a spacer on the rear but you probally wont even notice
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70 SWB STEPSIDE 70 BLAZER 09 challenger |
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Savannah, GA
Posts: 104
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Re: Would you go with drum or disc brakes?
There is really nothing wrong with drum brakes. THey can be finicky but if you know your stuff they will stop you just fine. Disc brake swaps are a pain so I just dont do them.
I can power stop my manual drums and lock up all four on a dime. Not saying you should do this but it is a valid test of braking power.
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That's Medium Gold. You just want to see Ochre. |
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#10 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: St.Petersburg,Fl
Posts: 1,267
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Re: Would you go with drum or disc brakes?
Drum brakes will fade from repeated hard braking. There's a reason why all new vehicles come with 4 wheel discs, They Work Better! .02
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: castlegar,b.c
Posts: 277
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Re: Would you go with drum or disc brakes?
i'm thinking of doing the same swap, do i need to install the power end of it, at the same time, or can i just install the disk brakes using the existing master cylinder?
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#12 |
20' Daredevil (Ret)
![]() Join Date: May 2003
Location: Jefferson State
Posts: 13,643
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Re: Would you go with drum or disc brakes?
Another disc brake fan here, for reasons listed above. If you're able to handle the swap from drums, IMO it's well worth doing.
robzilla, discs require a higher line pressure than drums.... I would add a power booster (and prop. valve).
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- Mike - 1972 K20 LWB 350/350/205 RIP El Jay |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Detroit
Posts: 432
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Re: Would you go with drum or disc brakes?
I've heard with having an exhaust that exits in front of the tires, drum brakes will rust quicker than rear exit because of condensation and this isn't an issue with discs. Anyone know if that's true?
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#14 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: castlegar,b.c
Posts: 277
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Re: Would you go with drum or disc brakes?
Quote:
![]() do the lines need to be changed? or will the existing lines, which have been changed recently, work? |
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#15 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Central OK
Posts: 396
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Re: Would you go with drum or disc brakes?
Quote:
Drums work good when properly set-up. I have had both drums and disc on various older vehicles and there is not much difference in the two. Going thru deep water is the only time I have had drum not work well but that very rarely occurs. Make sure if you get disc to get the matching master cylinder and proportioning valve or they will work worse than a rebuilt drum set-up. |
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#16 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Center City, MN, USA
Posts: 3,254
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Re: Would you go with drum or disc brakes?
Quote:
Maybe in Central OK drums work good but I can tell you for a fact that once you stop hard once you're done for the day. In a more populated place you're gonna be on them all the time in which case disc brakes outshine drums all day every day. I still have the power drums on my convertible Chevelle. Every year a local town twists my arm to drive around in the parade with a few of the junior royality girls riding on the back waving to the crowd. The 3.8 miles back home at the end of the parade - after riding on the drums for one mile in the route - is the most scared I am driving a vehicle. There is little to no brake left. I can't imagine getting stuck in a 5 mile line of stop and go traffic from an accident or similar with an all drum car or truck then having to stop hard. Therefore my convertible is stuck in its current life of parade duty only on really nice days where I know what is in front of me and I have plenty of time to plan ahead. I would never tow with it or drive it in ANY traffic and won't until I get the brakes converted to discs. Drums just are not as safe as discs. Look at it this way. Don't do it for yourself. Do it for the Dodge minivan full of kids with an inattentive mom talking on her cell phone that just blew through a stop sign with you coming straight on at a 90 degree angle. You gonna be able to sleep at night when the last thing that kid strapped to the outboard seat saw was the grill of a '68 C20 coming at him with the driver putting everything into the brake and not getting anything?
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'70 cab, '71 chassis, 383, TH350, NP205. '71 Malibu convertible '72 Malibu hard top Center City, MN |
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#17 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Central OK
Posts: 396
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Re: Would you go with drum or disc brakes?
Quote:
In Central OK they do great. Daily driving 70 miles to Tulsa and going out to the drag strip running in the 12's on an old mopar, hot lapping it and getting off at the first exit to turn around. Maybe he should go with this setup since drums are barely a step up from the flintstones brakes. |
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#18 | |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: St.Petersburg,Fl
Posts: 1,267
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Re: Would you go with drum or disc brakes?
Quote:
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#19 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Wakaw, Sask, Canada
Posts: 3,180
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Re: Would you go with drum or disc brakes?
x2
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"You can take the man out of PA, but you can't take PA out of the man" |
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#20 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: mississippi
Posts: 444
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Re: Would you go with drum or disc brakes?
Drum are fine but if i had the change i would go with dics
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#21 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: BOWLING GREEN
Posts: 69
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Re: Would you go with drum or disc brakes?
Discs over drums anyday. It is a night and day difference from when I go from the truck to my jag. Even though they are powered assit drums, the jag's massive disks (about a half an inch smaller than the truck's rims!!!) make slowing a car that weighs about what the truck weighs no contest. Then again the jag is made to go much faster than the truck.
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#22 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Buckeye Arizona
Posts: 470
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Re: Would you go with drum or disc brakes?
The brakes on our old Vette worked great, had all drums, at the time it was runnin 11.70's at 120mph.
Just be sure to adjust em all correctly and you're set. Also, I've heard of people getting shoes matched to drums, I guess they change the arch? My neighbor was tellin me about it and said it woke his old Fraud up big time when he got on the brakes. |
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