Thread: Question re. disc brakes on '40 Ford spindles

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Hi Everybody--I haven't retired from hotrodding, I've just been taking a break. I have to do something about the brakes on the front of the Wild Canary. I currently have 1940 Ford spindles with original drum brakes and shoes. I notice a pulsation in the brake peddle when I am coming down from 60 MPH to a stop, and without tearing it down, I am assuming an out of round front drum. I have an S10 rearend and new (5 years ago) drums and shoes on the rear, but since the rear brakes play a very small role in stopping a pickup, I'm not suspecting them. The old 40 Ford drum brakes are a pain in the keester to keep adjusted properly. I have a number of options available--#1--Fix what I have--if I'm lucky I can turn the drums and put in new shoes, but I will still be stuck with hard to adjust and maintain front brakes. #2--Keep the spindles, but change over to F100 style self energizing shoes, drums, and hubs.--I think this will give marginally better braking because of the self energizing of the shoes, but its going to cost a lot--any F100 parts are going to be worn out and will require new shoes, drums, cylinder kits--the works. #3--Look into a front disc brake set up (aftermarket) which will bolt to my spindles, will accept a modern set of discs, a modern caliper and still let me run my stock 14" front wheels without adapters, spacers, etcetera. I am running a Corvette dual chamber master cylinder with no power booster. About 15 years ago I bought an aftermarket set-up similar to this (can't remember who from) and it used Volare discs and Chev Monte Carlo calipers, and I think it worked with 40 Ford spindles. Any good advice from people who have actually made this change is welcome. If ya don't know for sure, or if you are repeating something you heard from somebody else but haven't done yourself, I don't want to hear about it.