Disc Brakes?

i have been wondering , do you need a power brakes to have disc brakes? can you use your manuel booster with disc brakes? or power is a MUST w/ disc brakes ? thanks


eddie

 

My Comet has front discs, no power.

 

Most factory disc setups are manual but you should use the correct disc/drum master cylinder and proportioning valve (or an aftermarket adjustable valve installed in the rear brake line). And you'll hear people say that they use the drum/drum MC and/or prop valve and they work ok. But maybe their brakes would work even better if they used the right parts.

 

With parts outside the factory stuff you can get a manual brake set up that feels pretty close to assisted brakes but have better feel and stopping power.

Down side is cost get your wallet out. master cylinder alone will be $400.00

 

I only paid $65 for mine.

 

I am talking about high end after market stuff for road racing Something like this one

http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?p=120902#post120902

The brakes feel awesome on my brothers almost feels like power assist. I admit I am cheaper and am working on an alternative. That would cut cost to $150/$200 for a double master cylinder with small bores(3/4) to give that extra pressure to help stop those nasty leg cramps. It's a winter project but I will post the set up once I am done if it works the way I think it will. Never hurts to try. In the above link that cylinder asembly does not require a prop valve as there are individual mechanical adjustments on each master cylinder to dial in the bias.

Whille I admit the factory frt disc are much better than the crap drum set up, I have a had a few instances where something with a bit more stopping power would have made a difference. I hit a guard rail(don't ask) If you go fast you need to stop in a hurry

 

Those dual masters are impressive! I've seen them used in circle track cars. Set the front/rear bias by adjusting a balance bar between the cylinders. More than what 99% of us need, though.

 

yeah im not raod racing, dont NEED anything that wild, but its a drag car somewhere in the 12s i hope so its not wildly fast , i just like disc brakes better than drums

 

I see that set up on sandcars alot. I believe the company is called cnc, IIRC.

 

get the master out of a manual disc car when you get the spindles and rear

 

On my 71 drag car I ran the stock drum brakes front and rear and never had a problem stopping. It ran 7.37 @ 94MPH 1/8 mile and 11.94 @ 114MPH 1/4 mile. So I know that the drum brakes are good for at least that fast. On my 69 1/2 I used a 74 manual disk master in the conversion along with all the disk parts off a 75, and it works like a dream.

 

Do about 5 stops like that in a row Pedal turns to mush

 

MY '77 has factory front discs and a rear disc conversion using Cadillac rotors. It's manual and works great.

 

I've Always Wondered About Using The Chevy/GM Stuff For A Rear Disc Conversion. Ive Seen A Million Of Those 'adapter Plates' On Ebay. They Just Never Impressed Me Enough To Attempt It...

 

Drums will stop you just fine....once. They don't dissapate heat well, so for track driving they are horrible. For a drag car, they are fine.