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The brakes on my 56 F 100 are hard to push and don't stop all that well. I'm looking for the most reasonable way to correct this problem. I don't drive daily, but I do want to be safe, and will spend what is necessary.
OPTIONS:
1. Power drum brakes
2. Power disc/drum brake
3. Non power disc/drum with two, small bore
master cylinders and a balance bar from Wilwood


Opinions and advice requested.

Larry

 

I think you will get a multitude of opinions here.. I have a 56 with stock drum brakes that have had a power booster added. It works well. There have been a couple times when I thought about the addition of front discs, but no money... I drive it every day and I'm pretty happy with the brakes, but I dont speed around...

 

This is probably the standard answer, but I went with the power disc/drum kit. Was about $800 from CPP, but you can keep the stock bolt pattern. Was a nice bolt-on and high quality components. Mine's still not up to running condition yet, but install went pretty smoothly. The only two complaints I have are: number one, with the added power booster length, the reservoir is further back and not directly underneath the fill hole in the cab floor. They send a "squirt" bottle to do the fills, but I can see it'll not be much fun to top off the MC while lying under the truck. (Been thinking about putting a remote fill up under the hood, but depends on how frustrated I get with putting in fluid.) Problem Number two, which they don't publicize, is that you need an adaptor to make the standard clutch pedal work. The yoke is narrower so it will clear the pushrod for the new MC. The tech answer I got was "well, they're not designed for manual trans trucks..." Again, it seems to work fine, but another $50 kit you need to order and they didn't tell me that up front.

Enough rambling....

 

I did the CPP route on the power disc conversion..though not descirbed and 'advertised', I did see the clutch kit in the listing, and went ahead and ordered.... glad I did... I did not see the remote kit, and probably would have gone that route now I have installed.... yes the squirt bottle is a pain, but the frequency of adding fluid is low...

I don't know why, but even with the clutch kit, I had to relocate the threaded hole for the pivot stud on the transmission bracket... raised it about an inch to level out the U shaped clutch arm.

all i can say is glad I have a lift to work under


now IF they would just DELIVER my PS kit !!!!!!! (6 months!!)

p.s. Did you find it necessary to install additional valving in the brake line? I eventually installed a 2lb residual valve for the front.... even though the kit has a proportioning valve below the MC

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My truck isn't back together to the "try to stop" stage. I'll have to see how the proportioning valve works then.