Why is drum to disc called an upgrade?

[weq92f]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

How do we get ABS for our 67-72 trucks?

My guess is the aftermarket is shy of this due to potential liability, however according to this 5 year old reference:

https://www.pro-touring.com/threads/...ket-ABS-system

There are these options:

High end: Bosch system, price range 6300 tot 7800 euros

Mid range: BMW Teves M60 ABS price range 4500 tot 5000

But they tell, bosch is best by far and most adjustable.. all topteams on le mans seems to use it they said..

-klb

[Steeveedee]

Smart money would be to find a newer truck with the goodies and dog rob the parts. You'll need sensors and so forth which will likely mean changing the rear axle. I don't remember how it was configured on my 2000 Astro van, which wouldn't work for you unless you had 5 lugs.

[pritch]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

How do we get ABS for our 67-72 trucks?

Just keep the drums!


Seriously though, my drums are all new, well 15,000 miles ago, and with power brakes they'll stop 'Ol Green pretty well. But I'm going with front discs on my Panel build.

[toolboxchev]

Yikes! ABS on my vintage vehicle. Some are different than others.

[Grumpy old man]

"Re: Why is drum to disc called an upgrade? "

The plain and simple truth is because it is an upgrade . Some guys are just fine with drum brakes ...Some aren't

If your looking at doing 100' power brake burnouts ( which in an empty bed pick up isn't hard to do ) don't upgrade to 4 wheel discs ,You'll just end up smoking your trans or clutch .

[MARKDTN]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

How do we get ABS for our 67-72 trucks?

Probably don't is the simple answer. ABS is designed for a specific vehicle. A lot of money is spent tuning for that specific truck. You can't retrofit and expect it to perform. I have wondered if an '88ish rear ABS only system might could be made to work, but I would not try it. You would have to have that axle to get the sensor and on and on. The only way that might be safe would be a chassis swap and keep everything-even then you are not going to have the same weight balance as the original vehicle.

[4carbcorvair]

I've had many cars over the years and currently do that have drums on all 4. When they get wet, really wet, you can't stop.

[sick472]

I have a 67 Pontiac with power drums all the way around and if the car is moving, you are also contemplating the next stop. It's a whole different way of driving! I also have a 67 ford with power disc conversions all the way around...it stops real good compared to the Pontiac. In fact, the Pontiac will lock up the brakes for emergencies, but your back side will be out of the seat under the pressure you have to apply and the urgency involved causes a strong knee jerk reaction, once she stops...you start breathing again. It will get front disk brakes with the next going through.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by MARKDTN

Probably don't is the simple answer. ABS is designed for a specific vehicle. A lot of money is spent tuning for that specific truck. You can't retrofit and expect it to perform. I have wondered if an '88ish rear ABS only system might could be made to work, but I would not try it. You would have to have that axle to get the sensor and on and on. The only way that might be safe would be a chassis swap and keep everything-even then you are not going to have the same weight balance as the original vehicle.

A lot of people don't appreciate the engineering that goes into brake design. For example, they'll slap a master cylinder from a Corvette on their Buick or pickup, never mind that the Corvette has really close to a 50/50 weight distribution. And look what is done with a lot of the rat rods. Some of these vehicles are just plain dangerous.

That said, as long as the brakes are properly sized for the application, the ABS could be added, because the real function there is to limit brake lockup.

[Killer Bee]

sensible driving is the best upgrade, sadly not an option for some people..

[jeffahart]

Originally Posted by Killer Bee

sensible driving is the best upgrade, sadly not an option for some people..

Thanks KB. I've had every excuse. Now next time I get pulled over I'll drop the glove box door and point to the SPID... "Look man, I didn't get the sensible driver option. Sorry, couldn't afford it when I ordered the truck!"

Nice get out of ticket free card!



j

[plowro8]

You usually get better strength and effectiveness when you pull/squeeze/supinate, rather than push/press apart/pronate. Disc is far better than drum... physics tells us so, and actions speak volumes.

[Orange67]

As stated before, the 4 wheel lock up associated with 4 wheel drums is exciting, but after what happened to me last year, my 67 will be getting front discs.

I was in the right hand lane on a four lane road, two kids pulled out from a parking lot to my left heading the same direction, I'm in the right lane, so they had plenty of room, right? Nope. They didnt even look, came right over into my lane causing me to jerk the wheel to the right and stab the brakes which spun the back end around in a really cool (if embarrassing) slide that i managed to stop about 6 ft from a telephone pole aimed at my drivers door. This may still happen with front discs, but I'm using it as a great excuse with the wife....

Oh yeah, and that was this time of year on dry roads to boot.

[brad_man_72]

I have found that disc brakes are easier to modulate near lockup. Sure drums can lock the tires but that's not ideal in most situations.

[68Stepbed]

This thread is disturbing! I can't believe some of you actually prefer 4 wheel drum over disc brakes.

Apart from a sway bar, the disc brake "upgrade" was the best and most notable upgrade I ever made on my truck! Maybe it's because I live in the hills of east TN and not in the flat plains of Texas or Kansas.

As far as the folks complaining about the cost of the disc upgrade, exactly how much is your life or the lives of your family members really worth? Just Sayin'!

[68Stepbed]

Originally Posted by brad_man_72

I have found that disc brakes are easier to modulate near lockup. Sure drums can lock the tires but that's not ideal in most situations.

It's the same as the old saying about traction for racing, "Spinning ain't winning." Well, when brakes are locked up and sliding, the vehicle isn't slowing down as quick.

[Grumpy old man]

Originally Posted by 68Stepbed

This thread is disturbing! I can't believe some of you actually prefer 4 wheel drum over disc brakes.

Apart from a sway bar, the disc brake "upgrade" was the best and most notable upgrade I ever made on my truck! Maybe it's because I live in the hills of east TN and not in the flat plains of Texas or Kansas.

As far as the folks complaining about the cost of the disc upgrade, exactly how much is your life or the lives of your family members really worth? Just Sayin'!

Here in Tn when they paint those white lines on the side of the road ,It's no Joke !

[Grumpy old man]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Here in Tn when they paint those white lines on the side of the road ,It's no Joke !

Don't over drive your equipment

[Patch]

Growing up, my first car was a 1965 Dodge Dart. Leaning tower of power, 3 speed OTC and 4 wheel drum brakes with a single reservoir master cylinder. Cars like this to a young kid will either 1: Get you in all kinds of trouble in rainy Oregon, or 2: Teach you to drive in a very thought out and decisive manner. Coming down off of a local mountain,(the steep type, cut originally for logging trucks) I learned of something new to me called brake fade.....it wasn't fun. The non syncro 3 speed wasn't much help either. We made it down safely but I paid MUCH more attention to situations like that. Disc brakes to me are definitely an upgrade if for nothing else besides keeping that from happening again.

[68Stepbed]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Here in Tn when they paint those white lines on the side of the road ,It's no Joke !

Exactly!!

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Don't over drive your equipment

Beautiful country -- there's some like it where I live, and many of the roads are just like in your pic. Edge stripes on two-lanes following the contours of the land. Flatlanders get nervous, say the roads are too dangerous. Horsefeathers, all you gotta do is drive between the lines and you're fine! Just watch out for deer, rocks, tourists, and God forbid, bicyclists on roads like these.

[volksworld]

all of the above reasons....plus iirc the discs use larger wheel bearings and spindle diameter...i'm not positive cause i did my conversion 38 years ago and it was necessary then....

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Don't over drive your equipment

Reminds me of home in the blue ridge. Thanks to the picture those mountain roads are no joke they get real fun in the snow when you can’t see the lines. Pretty good pucker factor of the back side at times. Disks are king in the mountains no doubt about it.

[toolboxchev]

Driving right is cost effective. Both in terms of parts and driving. I have an awesome life insurance policy.

[Hotcorner]

Originally Posted by toolboxchev

Me I am different, Black Sheep different. I have 4 wheel drums on my rig. Properly maintained they stop on a dime when I want them too.

Do discs work better and are easier to maintain, absolutely! Do I wish to spent the extra money to do this on my rig, Nope, keeping it keeping on they way it was intended to be. 4 wheeled skids and all.

That’s my philosophy on my ‘69 K25. Unless a stellar 71 comes my way.