'66 Stock Front Suspension Good Enough?
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Junior User
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'66 Stock Front Suspension Good Enough?
For those of you who drive these on the regular, are the front suspensions good enough on their own not to require an entire ifs swap?
If so, is the more or less definitive way of going with power/disc brakes just to cannibalize a '72 - '79?
If so, is the more or less definitive way of going with power/disc brakes just to cannibalize a '72 - '79?
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 346
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From: Salinas
yes thats the easiest way, i drive my truck every single day. have for the last 3 years. rides great, stops great with 79 discs and power steering. i have djm beams but for all intents and purposes it drives the same as it did with out them.
you cant go low with this suspension, and it wears the tires a bit more than it would with a more traditional ifs. other than those two issues its rock solid.
matt
you cant go low with this suspension, and it wears the tires a bit more than it would with a more traditional ifs. other than those two issues its rock solid.
matt
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'66 F100 2wd.
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 362
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I drive a stock, 66 F100 for work (not just to work), everyday.
No power steering, though at times it would be nice.
No power disc brakes.
Its not a luxury ride, but I like it.
No power steering, though at times it would be nice.
No power disc brakes.
Its not a luxury ride, but I like it.
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What about all the horror stories about drum brakes?
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2012
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What horror stories?
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Everyone always tell me they don't stop well, fail when wet, shouldn't be relied upon for safe highway driving, etc, etc.
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 362
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If you drive through water (a creek or a flooded area) and get your brakes wet, then yo might have a problem stopping, prepare for this.
Mine work perfectly well.
They stop the truck just fine.
Since they are not power brakes they have a different feel,
you do the work,
so you have to push harder on the pedal.
These trucks are different to drive, then anything that is made today.
I grew up with the likes of them. So maybe that makes a difference.
You do have to be able to multitask to drive them.
My 19yr son drives his daily as well, it is also stock. He does fine with it.
Neither my son nor I have any horror stories about the brakes.
But both trucks the brakes are well maintained
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 9,688
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From: Wentzville, MO
I rode with Crazy Wheel when we went to look at his Panel. Brakes worked well, didn't notice him having to do anything out of the ordinary. Now my 56 on the other hand, well let's just say a single reservoir master cylinder leaves a lot to be desired when a wheel cylinder pops. 
Better know where the E-brake is and pray it wasn't one of the rear wheel cylinders that popped
Better know where the E-brake is and pray it wasn't one of the rear wheel cylinders that popped
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 362
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I rode with Crazy Wheel when we went to look at his Panel. Brakes worked well, didn't notice him having to do anything out of the ordinary. Now my 56 on the other hand, well let's just say a single reservoir master cylinder leaves a lot to be desired when a wheel cylinder pops. Better know where the E-brake is and pray it wasn't one of the rear wheel cylinders that popped
Better know where the E-brake is and pray it wasn't one of the rear wheel cylinders that popped
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2013
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You are asking very qualitative questions, and you are going to get varying qualitative answers. My opinion is that it is all about speed. In the sticks where I live, I think one could get by with the stock everything. But as was said, you have to drive conservatively. No following close and plan ahead. Most stops you will have little difference between the disks and the drums. But after a couple harder stops, or at the end of a full fast stop from 60 mph, you are going to see where the disks shine. The cars ahead of you have disks. You need to make sure you have adequate space between you and them to accomodate the addition braking distance.
I really get the impression that you want to hear certain things about the truck you are considering. Simply put: It will do nothing as well as just about any 10 year old truck. It won't get as good of mileage,nor handle a crash, nor be as reliable nor stop nor handle nor be anywhere near as comforable. That's the deal. But they are way up there in the cool factor. The truck is $1500. Buy it and see. If you can't see driving it daily, sell it and get your money back out of it. No harm done.
I really get the impression that you want to hear certain things about the truck you are considering. Simply put: It will do nothing as well as just about any 10 year old truck. It won't get as good of mileage,nor handle a crash, nor be as reliable nor stop nor handle nor be anywhere near as comforable. That's the deal. But they are way up there in the cool factor. The truck is $1500. Buy it and see. If you can't see driving it daily, sell it and get your money back out of it. No harm done.
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Junior User
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You are asking very qualitative questions, and you are going to get varying qualitative answers. My opinion is that it is all about speed. In the sticks where I live, I think one could get by with the stock everything. But as was said, you have to drive conservatively. No following close and plan ahead. Most stops you will have little difference between the disks and the drums. But after a couple harder stops, or at the end of a full fast stop from 60 mph, you are going to see where the disks shine. The cars ahead of you have disks. You need to make sure you have adequate space between you and them to accomodate the addition braking distance.
I really get the impression that you want to hear certain things about the truck you are considering. Simply put: It will do nothing as well as just about any 10 year old truck. It won't get as good of mileage,nor handle a crash, nor be as reliable nor stop nor handle nor be anywhere near as comforable. That's the deal. But they are way up there in the cool factor. The truck is $1500. Buy it and see. If you can't see driving it daily, sell it and get your money back out of it. No harm done.
I really get the impression that you want to hear certain things about the truck you are considering. Simply put: It will do nothing as well as just about any 10 year old truck. It won't get as good of mileage,nor handle a crash, nor be as reliable nor stop nor handle nor be anywhere near as comforable. That's the deal. But they are way up there in the cool factor. The truck is $1500. Buy it and see. If you can't see driving it daily, sell it and get your money back out of it. No harm done.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,972
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My 66 and most of the ones still on the road today have made it 47 years with drum brakes.
I completely rebuilt mine except for the hardlines and I added a booster so I could have power brakes. I have a complete disc setup in the garage waiting to go on, but since the drums are new and they work fine Im in no hurry.
I completely rebuilt mine except for the hardlines and I added a booster so I could have power brakes. I have a complete disc setup in the garage waiting to go on, but since the drums are new and they work fine Im in no hurry.