Looking for any and all information for a complete Front Disc Brake conversion for my '66 Town & Country. Tried the search function, but not coming up with anything. I've done a bit of work getting dad's car running after 20 years of storage. This weekend just removed fuel tank sending unit, power brake booster & single master. Just received the sending unit, dual master on order and booster being mailed out for a rebuild (prefer to rebuild than get a remanufactured). If the disc brake conversion is within my budget I'd very much consider it, but need to know what's involved and how much it will cost. Any assistance appreciated.
I've been looking myself for a disc brake conversion and from my research, they can run anywhere from $499.00 to over a grand. I guess it a "You get what you pay for" kind of thing. Some of the lower cost kits do not have backing plates or other niceties that the more expensive kits have. I suppose it all depends on what you want? I have also installed a couple of these kits on different cars and they are pretty straight forward. The Chevy kits are a bit more difficult than fords, but are also less expensive. Part are about equal when it comes to finding them but you gotta remember what the parts kit used for the change. I. E. A Grenada disc brake kit vs a Crown Vic kit? I don't know if they are worth the expense as my 67 has big 10 x 3 in. drum brakes on the front and 10 x 2 1/2 on the rear. It stops just fine and I can get all the parts I need at the local auto parts house. Good luck with whatever you decide to do and do a good job. Your brakes are important and short cuts are always a bad idea. Get a good kit or find a nice junkyard doner vehicle. When I go to look for parts at the junkyard, I always look for wrecked cars to get parts from. That means they were at least running when they were wrecked and most of the parts are still good. Cockroach Dave
I've been looking myself for a disc brake conversion and from my research, they can run anywhere from $499.00 to over a grand. I guess it a "You get what you pay for" kind of thing. Some of the lower cost kits do not have backing plates or other niceties that the more expensive kits have. I suppose it all depends on what you want? I have also installed a couple of these kits on different cars and they are pretty straight forward. The Chevy kits are a bit more difficult than fords, but are also less expensive. Part are about equal when it comes to finding them but you gotta remember what the parts kit used for the change. I. E. A Grenada disc brake kit vs a Crown Vic kit? I don't know if they are worth the expense as my 67 has big 10 x 3 in. drum brakes on the front and 10 x 2 1/2 on the rear. It stops just fine and I can get all the parts I need at the local auto parts house. Good luck with whatever you decide to do and do a good job. Your brakes are important and short cuts are always a bad idea. Get a good kit or find a nice junkyard doner vehicle. When I go to look for parts at the junkyard, I always look for wrecked cars to get parts from. That means they were at least running when they were wrecked and most of the parts are still good. Cockroach Dave
I had a 62 Dodge Custom 880 that I converted to disc brakes about 20 years ago. I used parts from a Dodge Aspen. It had 11 inch rotors, and worked fine. Low buck, bolt on, easy to get parts for. When I advertised the car for sale, most of the calls were from people wanting to know what I used for donor parts for the conversion..........
All I did was take every thing from the spindle out and bolted it on. I got the vacuum booster and master cylinder and plumbed it all in. If I recall correctly, I had to move the arm from the pedal, but that wasn't much of a chore. Bled the brakes, tested it, and drove it that way for years.
That's the best and cheapest way to do it. On some vehicles like my 55 Chevy I needed an adapter "C" bracket to mount the disc assembly but everything else came from donor cars. With those donor parts I simply traded them in for rebuilt calipers, etc. So much cheaper than buying some kit. The idea is use parts from a similar sized and weight vehicle. For GM the best master is a 1970 Corvette. Boosters of all sizes are sold by parts vendors or use a compatible unit from the salvage yard. It's just a matter of checking to see what's compatible with your brand.
Brakes Interestining I tired a few c-bodies spindles and nothing would work , next half price day I will need to scope out a Aspen. Thanks for the tip.
73 year only full size Dodge, Chrysler, Plymouth is the usual swap on these. The 71 and 72 use some very hard to find 2 piece rotors. Not sure about the 69 and 70 but the 68 and back have some unobtanium ball joints and the 74 and newer are very different setups.
check some of the aftermarket such as master power brakes. the kit for my ford was around $800 with everything and the chevy was less
Here's one for $625. http://www.ecihotrodbrakes.com/dodge_plymouth_discbrake_conversions.html In my opinion it's worth it. You won't have to try to track down stock disc brake spindles and associated parts.
You might have to look again. "65-72 'C' Body cars EC-769CK..............Complete Kit $625.00*" I was answering the original poster who has a '66.
