is there a cost effective way to put disc brakes on a front axle?

 

Check out http://www.ecihotrodbrakes.com/early...nversions.html or
http://scarebird.com/6928.html

ECI has an actual kit ready to buy.

Scarebird says that they can make a kit if they have a spindle/drum/hub to work with

I don't know about them personally, but they or others like them seem to be the most cost effective way to put disc brakes on your F100(at least for ECI). As for my F250, I'm still looking

 

I just saw a Speedway ad in StreetRodder for disc brake kits. Complete kit was about $300,, but it was for 5/4.5 or 5/4.75 bolt pattern only.

 

We sell the ECI kits. They're about as easy as it gets. Bolt a bracket up to each side of the axle and start adding brake parts from the kit. I advise using a dual master cylinder too. We have both power brake conversions and simple adapters to mount a dual master cylinder without the brake booster also.

 

That Speedway kit spends a lot more time backordered than it actually does in stock. However, if you're not in a hurry for it, it's a pretty good deal at $240 on their website ($53 for S/H to my house though)

Hey, I finally got rid of that "You haven't posted in 2 weeks" nag screen! Although I guess it should really say you haven't posted in 5 months. Did anyone else notice time flies?

 

Me and my oddball sized 56 F-250 drum brakes are pretty stoked about that custom disc brake solution courtesy of http://scarebird.com/4436.html. Thanks for that link!

The idea of sending an example spindle/drum/hub and getting a professionally engineered set up is fantastic...

Looks like there's finally a way for the big truck guys to get their hands on a disc brake kit that keeps the stock wheels and suspension!

 

blown33,

what part of NM are you in? I'm just outside of Albuquerque.

I used the ECI kit on my 49, I just bought the basic kit as I already had the calipers from my donor vehicle. The kit comes with some spindle adapters that the instructions tell you to drive on with a hammer.
I used a tip that I picked up from the BonusBuilt website. It says to put the spindle adapters in a 450 degree oven for about half an hour first (to expand them a bit). Get the spindles all cleaned up and ready to go, then one at a time take a spindle adapter out and drive it into place. (with this method I just had to use the driver to seat the adapter up against the back of the spindle....very easy) then go get the other one and drive it on.
With the disc brake kits you have a choice of what bolt pattern you run. I chose to stay with the big Ford 5 on 5 1/2" to match my rear hubs.

Good luck with it
Bobby

 

F250 Rob,

Let us know if you are successful with the F-250 brakes. Last time I enquired about a custom setup for my F250, some other company wanted $1,200 +shipping both ways. Just a little more than my wallet can handle at this point.

Bruce

 

If the spindles are off the axle, throw them in the freezer for a couple hours before starting to cook the adapters, When they are "done" slip the heated adapter on the frozen spindle an drive it into place before they start adjusting to each other's temp. Don't stop 1/2 way or you could be in serious trouble.

 

You bet!

If I find a good way to do it, I guarantee they'll be a nice long post about it here on FTE.

 

I wonder what rotors will they use?

 

I thought this might help some there is an article, it's about disk brakes on the
57-64, maybe some of the info will carry over to 48-56 ! I don't know the
differences in the staight axels.



P.S. take a look at it, it is well done!




Wally Womack

 

The '53-'55 F-100 and F-250 have the same axel and spindles. The kit that works for the F-100 should work for the F-250 if you want to go the the 5 bolt lug pattern. As far as going with a 3/4 ton disk on the front, I can't help you there, but I have an original shop and parts manual and checked the axels, king pins, spindels, etc... and they are the same for these years anyway. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

Some of those kits use the 73-79 F100/F150 rotors. Ford used the same I-beams and spindles on the F150 and the F250. Therefore, the F250 rotors SHOULD fit with the same axle spacers. The problem would be maybe the bearings are different or the spacing may not be correct for the calipers. I have never done this swap and am just speculating here.

 

I would be interested to know if this works. Has anyone tried to take a 5x5.5 rotor and redrill for the 8x6.5 bolt pattern?

Bruce