Disc Brakes for 1955 F-250
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,682
Likes: 12
From: Saskatoon SK Canada
No one currently offers disc brake kits for the bigger trucks. There are currently only 2 ways to do this:
1. Take caliper mounts off a 75-79 HD F-250/F-350 and redrill the mounting holes to fit the stock axle. Then bolt some F-250 4x4 front rotors onto the stock front hubs with longer studs.
2. Put your body onto a later 73-79 F-250 frame. This is the hardest route but you also get power steering and easy later engine mounting. I went this route on my 51 M-3 (1 ton) and am pleased with the results. It has also enabled me to make it a dually pickup easier.
1. Take caliper mounts off a 75-79 HD F-250/F-350 and redrill the mounting holes to fit the stock axle. Then bolt some F-250 4x4 front rotors onto the stock front hubs with longer studs.
2. Put your body onto a later 73-79 F-250 frame. This is the hardest route but you also get power steering and easy later engine mounting. I went this route on my 51 M-3 (1 ton) and am pleased with the results. It has also enabled me to make it a dually pickup easier.
Last edited by 51dueller; Jan 14, 2007 at 05:13 PM.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 25
From: San Mateo, CA
I've been looking into the same deal for my 56. The route 51 Dueller suggests is what I'm planning for the front end.
For the rear end, I found several disc brake conversion kits for the Dana 60 on ebay, but they were designed for 1972 and beyond rear ends. I'm not sure exactly how that differs from the earlier Dana 60's. I emailed one of the guys who builds the conversion kits and he seemed willing to custom make one to fit the dimensions of the earlier rear ends if they prove to be different.
For the rear end, I found several disc brake conversion kits for the Dana 60 on ebay, but they were designed for 1972 and beyond rear ends. I'm not sure exactly how that differs from the earlier Dana 60's. I emailed one of the guys who builds the conversion kits and he seemed willing to custom make one to fit the dimensions of the earlier rear ends if they prove to be different.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: rochester n.y.
disc brakes f 250
I installed disc brake kit from mid-fifty ford on my 54 F250,the spindles and the bearings are the same size as F-100s. Had fun with the inner bearing adapter,fitting it takes patience,but other people on these sites also say they have struggled,some people have used heat.the parts catalogs list the same bearings for f100 & f250.I used 81 F150 rotors to match the 5X5.5 bolt pattern on my 9in. rear end. rotors with different bolt patterns are available. the kit worked fine following the f100 instructions,I am happy with the results.
F250 RED
F250 RED
New User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: SAN ANTONIO,TX.
well, i finaly stumbled on how to get in.
need disc brakes for my 1955 f-250 3/4 ton straight axle. want to keep 8 lug hubs and wheels. front non drive axle. truck is completely disassembled and is being reassembled with new,rebuilt and cleaned parts. undecided on sbc or orginal y block at this time. truck will be a daily driver and will haul a cabover camper of my own building. i retired us navy 1976 live in san antonio, texas usa.
i learned to drive on a 1947 ford 1/2 ton 6 cyl. when i was about 12 or 14 years old. have owned and driven several different trucks and cars.
thanks for letting me in. if i can be of any help to anyone just let me know.
i hope to learn from you and this web site.
pictures........i don't know much about the computer and have no idea how to send pics. even if i had one of them hi-tec camaras i wouldn't know how to use it.
thank you mucho
i learned to drive on a 1947 ford 1/2 ton 6 cyl. when i was about 12 or 14 years old. have owned and driven several different trucks and cars.
thanks for letting me in. if i can be of any help to anyone just let me know.
i hope to learn from you and this web site.
pictures........i don't know much about the computer and have no idea how to send pics. even if i had one of them hi-tec camaras i wouldn't know how to use it.
thank you mucho
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 25
From: San Mateo, CA
Welcome to FTE, outhouse. This is a great place to share info on these trucks.
I'm also US Navy...11 years active and 6 reserve so far.
I recently converted my 66 Mustang to disc brakes using a kit from Stainless Steel Braking Company, and it really wasn't all that complicated.
Unfortunately, if you keep the 8 lug wheels there aren't any aftermarket kits to convert to disc. My truck also has 8 lug wheels and when the time comes to convert to disc, I'll have to prowl junkyards and salvage the conversion parts as 51 Dueller suggested.
I really like the Y-block in my truck. SBC's are a dime a dozen, but the Y-block has character and sounds good. Plus, it's a Ford!
I'm also US Navy...11 years active and 6 reserve so far.
I recently converted my 66 Mustang to disc brakes using a kit from Stainless Steel Braking Company, and it really wasn't all that complicated.
Unfortunately, if you keep the 8 lug wheels there aren't any aftermarket kits to convert to disc. My truck also has 8 lug wheels and when the time comes to convert to disc, I'll have to prowl junkyards and salvage the conversion parts as 51 Dueller suggested.
I really like the Y-block in my truck. SBC's are a dime a dozen, but the Y-block has character and sounds good. Plus, it's a Ford!
Last edited by F250Rob; Nov 6, 2007 at 12:50 AM.
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New User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: SAN ANTONIO,TX.
Thanks For The Info. Found 51duellers Suggestion After Posting. Sounds Like He Has The Answer To Our Problem.
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 739
Likes: 0
From: Morgantown, WV
I know this post is 2 years old, but I wanted to bring it back up to the top since others may be looking for this type of conversions for our F-250 trucks. I am probably sticking with the stock drums at all four corners, but if someone else has found an easier way or kit to do this mod please post it up so we can all learn. thanks.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,552
Likes: 79
From: Manhattan, KS
I'm currently running the stocks on my 54 F250 too, but would like to do a disc conversion. I run a 460/c6 combo and it stops ok as long as you don't do a bunch of stop and go driving. Then the drums heat up and begin to fade. I am tearing the truck apart to finish a frame off and may explore doing the disc conversion before putting it back together. I too want to keep the 8 lug wheels. If I wanted 5 lug, I'd get a F100.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 739
Likes: 0
From: Morgantown, WV
I think I need to make an EFFIE F-250 T-Shirt that says this exact thing.
I rebuilt the rear brakes so well, that once I rebuild the fronts, I have a feeling they will work pretty good, but it sure would be slick to mount up a set of discs up front on this truck.
I rebuilt the rear brakes so well, that once I rebuild the fronts, I have a feeling they will work pretty good, but it sure would be slick to mount up a set of discs up front on this truck.
New User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
As for my case, I contacted the guys at Circletrackparts and they said they had a rear disc kit for the 67'-72' which has a 3-3/8" x 3-3/8" axle flange bolt pattern. I'm trying to find out if my 1955 Dana 60 has that same axle flange bolt pattern.
New User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Axle Flange Bolt Pattern
I have indeed confirmed that the axle flange bolt pattern on the Dana 60 on my 55' is indeed 3-3/8" X 3-3/8". Once I'm ready to to talk to talk to the bracket people about the rear disc brake conversion on my truck, I'll share the information.