Thread: Disc brakes and OG spindles

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Blew apart the front of my A-bone this weekend, and I also took apart the front drum/spindle assembly. The question is how can I adapt a disc brake setup to the spindles (they look to be the original 28 units). I was looking at the Speedway set up with the brackets and whatnought, and I couldn't help but to think there's gotta be a cheaper way.

Determine what your spindles really are. Hydraulic brakes on a stock Model A axle? Could be original spindles or 37-41 Ford spindles. The axle could even be from a 32 or newer. Are you in Wauconda Ill.? Maybe Heidts can help you determine what you have. They specialize in IFS, though. If you do have 37-41 spindles, there are kits to adapt discs. Just add rotors and calipers. The kits are usually referred to as low buck brake kits. Most any rod shop has them. I used a kit from Jim Meyer Racing. Speedway has this kit, item #91631903 .
Good luck.
Cord

Yeah, I'm actually a couple of blocks away from Heidts...I make it a point not to go there too often because the sheer beauty of the place is enough to bring me to tears. But I will make it a point to identify the spindles for sure. One more ? for the road...if I freshen up the drum brakes, will that be safe enough for a lightweight car with a 350 smallblock?

Originally posted by College Boy
One more ? for the road...if I freshen up the drum brakes, will that be safe enough for a lightweight car with a 350 smallblock?

You can do whatever you want....but, I have always leaned toward disc brakes. It just makes me feel better, being able to stop my 'rod when I wanna. The cost of the brakes ain't nowhere near as expensive as the cost of the car or your life if they don't stop ya quick enough. In my opinion, it's always better to have more WHOA than GO.

Streets is right, they used drum brakes on all them Camaro's and they worked fine. But keep in mind that even back then, on the Hi-Perf COPO cars (eg. the '69 Z-28 pace car) they had 4 wheel disc brakes. Other Hi-Perf cars from GM had front disc brakes back as far as '67 (That I know of). So, if your motor is on a strict diet of raw meat and dynamite, I would suggest you go with the discs. I know that they cost more; but, to me they're worth it.

Cheers,
Firechicken

One consideration is what wheels and bolt pattern you have now, and what you want to end up with. The lowbuck kit uses GM components for standard GM pattern like on a 79 Camaro or 74 Nova. What rearend and bolt pattern do you have now? It's nice to have the same bolt pattern front and rear, but not a requirement. Another consideration is that you will need another master cylinder, and possibly a proportioning valve. If your brakes are 40 Ford style they will be adequate, but not as good as a '68 Camaro. If you keep the brakes, keep them adjusted.

If I remember, the bolt pattern is 5 X 5...or something obscene like that. It had a jury-rigged juice jar type of master cylinder in it that has been long discarded, and brake lines that were just scary at best (made up of a lot of T fittings and daisey chained to the front). I've got a reman 68 corvette dual chamber master cylinder with a proportioning valve ready to go on the car, so there should be plenty of fluid in the system. Rims are also a concern, because the dated mags I've got on the car now will clear drum brakes...and probably not discs. Hence, that's an expense that I don't want to deal with at the moment.

If your spindles have a round flange, look on the back side (king pin side) and see if there is the number 78 cast into it. That would be a '37-40 spindle. If the backing plate for the drum brakes (assuming they're Ford hydraulics) fits the machined boss on the spindle shank side without a separate spacer ring then they wouldn't be the Model A spindles. 5 x 5 would be unusual, that's more typical to Buick, Olds, Pontiac, and GM trucks. Ford passenger pattern from A's to '48 were 5 x 5 1/2", same with Ford 1/2 ton trucks up into the early 70's. Looking at the picture in your gallery it doesn't look like the lugs are far enough apart to be a 5 1/2" bolt circle. If you have a digital camera, or scanner, a picture of the spindles and brakes would help with correct ID.

Yeah, I'll try like the dickens to get some fresh pics this weekend. Finals and papers are looming, so my garage time is sporadic at best.

Great looking car! I'm guessing that you will be installing a narrower rearend, so that might play into your bolt pattern / brake / wheels decision. Re: the new master cylinder- Is it a non-power disc / drum m/c? another consideration.

Hey, thanks man. The master cylinder is a non-power disc/drum set up, if I remember correctly. And I'm still thinking about ideas for the rear end. I'll either narrow it, or find a set of rims with a little more backspacing. I intend on running steelies eventually.