OleRed04,

I believe there is little debate left, and for the very reason you stated, Freeways. When you make the Disc Brake upgrade a reality, be sure to convert from the pressure applied, wet type, brake light switch to a newer, motion activated, brake light switch. The kind keyed by pedal motion, as opposed to internal hydraulic line pressure.

The second/second & 1/2 gained in brake Light activation with newer switch adds 88 to 130 feet more stopping distance at a mere 60 mph, for all the folks behind you.

With a Disc Brake upgrade, by the time you have enough PSI in hydraulic system to light brake lights, your discs are already stopping or slowing your vehicle. With newer style motion activated switch I suggest, as you put your foot on the pedal lights light up. More time & room for a safer stop for everybody, especially those behind you. . . .

I agree totally with the concept of new or "Re-Man" calipers & rotors, new pads, flex lines and wheel seals, but all the brackets and fittings, spindles and backing plates and so forth are better found in a Donor vehicle, as the guys above advised. Also with the donor "deal" you become familar with layout & archetecture of a complete, assembled, system as you remove it from the Donor etc. etc. Plus you can check all the parts & hardware and replace only what you see fit. Well at least that's how most of us do this ugrade and I have done a few.

FBp

 

Thanks for the infromation I am currently trying to find a doner. So we will see how it goes. As for the brake switch that is a good point Thanks!

 

There are alot of fairely fast drag cars running drum brakes, they can set them up loose so as not to drag on the drums and that way there is less rolling resistance. Drum brakes have their place.

I would drive that truck for a while and see what part is in the most dire need of attention. It might be the brakes, but it might need a tune worse. You never know untill you have spent some time around it. But if the brakes are bad, definitely do those first.

 

Trains don't use disc brakes, fast drag cars have parashoots to slow them.

Converting our pickups to discs makes a huge improvement in the stopping ability.

John

 

This truck is going to get a frame up I am going to do everything my budget will allow starting at the frame!

 

Oh, a frame up, I would do the swap then also.

 

well if its a frame up then yeah you might as well spend the money so your truck will be completely pimp. yes disc brakes are better than drums but drums are not the devil either. if you do the maintenance on them they will stop you just fine. if your brakes work absolutely fine the way they are then there is plenty of other things to be spending money on, tons of stuff that are in much needed attention....
just like if your truck burns oil and the heater core leaks all over your floor the last thing you need to buy is 2500 dollar wheels. (just an analogy)
i replaced all my wheel cylinders, cleaned and sanded my shoes and drums, (yum yum asbestos) adjusted them properly, and bled them with fresh fluid and they function like a rolex.
and yes i have had a 71 with disc brakes, i loved them and yes i wish i had discs on this 69, but drums are not worthless. they work just fine and dandy.

 

Nobody said drum brakes are worthless. I'll say they aren't as effective as disc brakes. Ford hasn't put front drum brakes on F Series Trucks for some reason for over 30 years now.
What do y'all suppose that reason just might be, Drum Brake Fans?

Drum Brakes are antiquated, discontinued technology. When compared to the control & extra safety disc brakes have to offer, drum brakes do not measure up. I do realize this concept is beyond the range of some peoples cognitive skills and abilities to assimilate. None the less it is current, factual, reality. Fact is 2" or 2-1/2"or 3" Wide X 11 " Dia' drum brakes
do not really have what it takes to deal with 21st century traffic at todays highways speeds in our nation.

The question posed by the author of this thread was about ease of purchasing and installing a disc brake conversion on a truck he's acquiring. Disc brake efficacy is not what's at issue here. Obviously OleRed04 already knows what he wants. It appears it's Disc Brakes for his new acquisition. So why all the ambiguious, contrary, opinions about Drum Brake Systems FoMoCo did away with in 1973 on their F-Series trucks? Does misery really enjoy company after all?

If Drum Brakes were even close to being equal in terms of engineering, performance, or stopability, why are they no longer available?

I'm glad all you Drum Brake fans are happy with your drum brake systems. Good Luck with them, but don't try to convince folks who see it otherwise, perhaps because they may know better, or may have learned better, that 30+ year old technology's the best course for great braking performance & more safety. Based on data & fact it simply is not the case, and it has not been the case for over 30+ years.

Just ask yourselves this: If front Drum Brakes are even close to being equal in terms of engineering, performance, or stopability, why are they no longer available OEM?

FBp

 

I was just trying to get across that there may be more important things to spend money on to get it drivable, I did not know he was doing a frame of resto. I would do a disc swap in that situation also. I thought he was trying to get it going as soon as possible. my mistake. Discs are better than drums, but not always the best spend of money on a project at a particular time. I would drive a "new-to-me" vehicle for awhile to see what it really needed and what would make it work better. I call it seat-of-the-pants engineering.

 

Scott,
your Point is well taken Sir. I whole heartedly agree with yourt posit.

In fact I have clients write not only what they think they want, but also what they discovered while driving their vehicle, before we work up a project plan/ list.

In some cases I recommend they prioritize their wants so we can have a real and meaningful discussion on the pros & cons of their ideas when developing thier plans. . . . Although I usually do push safety & performance upgrades to current standards just on "GP" . . .

FBp

 

I totaly agree with you guys. If I was trying to get this truck going as my daily driver I would turn and rebuild the drums and go. At least they are power drums. I am in the process of building my want list for this project and it's getting pretty long and pricy, but it will be somthing that I will be able to drive daily or drive to nationals. I am going to the u pull it the weekend to see if there are any good parts trucks.

 

At least you have power drum I only have manual drum on the 68 CS. This is why I purchased a complete 70 CS with disc brakes. It will be the donor plus a spare C-6, driveshaft and rearend plus what else I will pull off. The straight body and running motor of 117K original miles will have to go away. A shame as I have seen worse condition trucks people are proud to own.

 

I just wish the spindles were the same for the disc's then all I would have to do is swap rotors and be done. What a dream!