Hot Rods Ashamed of your disc brakes? This might be a solution.

The 'Vette wasn't first.... Studebaker beat GM by two years, offering discs in '63. Optional Halibrand wheels were also available. Ford started offering discs on the '64.5 Mustang also...

 

Huh? When did you change the rules?

 

"Crazy Steve" - You are usually right about things like this, so I'll take your word for it. I have to believe that the Studebaker and Mustang setups were probably special order (remember he Bonneville runs with the Avanti?). I guess I should have said "generally availablee".

 

Even if you don’t care what a car looks like disc brakes or not, it’s one of those simple ideas nobody in the whole whole universe — except Utahvette thought of. Nice job!

 

They are HUGE, once you see them you can't help but notice the HIDDEN DISK BRAKES on other cars. Only thing missing is the neon flashing arrow. Bob

 

First Disk Brakes on an American production car were on the CROSLEY.


Bob

 

"HotShots" only as I recall.

 

The disc brakes were RPOs on both the Studebakers and Fords. The Halibrand wheels were rare as hens teeth though... LOL. Ford actually jumped in with both feet, offering discs on not only the Mustang but the T-Bird and Lincoln as well in '64. By '67, front discs were available across nearly their full line, including trucks.

All of these used the first-gen Bendix fixed 4-piston calipers. Arguably a better design than the single-piston floating calipers that followed in '68, they required religious attention be paid to the wheel bearings or excessive rotor runout could develop; they got a reputation for being 'touchy' because of that. The availability of the discs on the Mustang had more than a little to do with the success of both the Mustang and GT350 in SCCA racing.

'First Disk Brakes on an American production car were on the CROSLEY.'

Yep, they were another early offering. Little known is that Chrysler also offered them on the 1950 Town & Country, but in both cases they proved unreliable and disappeared quickly. Total production for both makes so equipped was a miniscule 2100 vehicles, so they were hardly a 'common' brake system.

 

Brake dust slinger!

 

That's what I shoot for.

 

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best !

 

The two most important things on a car are good brakes and steering in my opinion. With all the distracted drivers on the road these days. These two things are crucial and like an additional level of insurance.
If disk brakes can stop you straighter and or 20 feet sooner. Or either rack and pinion steering or a well adjusted steering box avoiding sloppy steering can help you maintain control.
Then that can be the difference between smashing your pride and joy with injury. Or just having to cus some asshole out for the close call.
It may not be “Traditional”.
But traditionally, driving was more defensive and less distracted.
Sometimes we have to do things untraditional for self preservation.
There are too many idiots out there not too.


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I have a 63 Cadillac coupe de ville that I converted to disc brakes 20 years ago (69 Cadillac discs are a bolt on) because no matter what I did before that the brakes where a handful. But on my 58 Edsel the drum brakes I find quite decent all though it should get changed to a dual pot master. The point is some cars drum brakes are hard to live with. I think Ultravettes only mistake on his nifty drum idea is not patenting this before someone in China copies the s#*t out of it!

 

Try again, 1964 Studebaker Avanti came with disc brakes from the factory. Also there were some higher end cars in the 30’s that had them too. Safety should be traditional and leave this particular argument on the shelf.
r


Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.

 

I always figured the no disc brakes rule was for early fenderless cars built in an early style. steel wheels, bias plys, early motor, and old speed parts. on a 50's car it is just silly.

 

50-54 Imperial, 4 wheels discs.

 

Option on 65 Mustangs too. My brother bought a new fastback, discs no power. 2 were at the FV Car Show this week end. same

 

I am proud to say I am running the stock drums and master cylinder on 53. I have owned the car ten years 10,000 to 15,000 miles a year. Not one issue. I have had deer run out in front of me the car stopped well short of the deer.
Something I can't say of my daily driver truck with disc brakes, I hit two deer with that.

The advantage of disc brakes is they dissipate heat, which is why race cars run them. The disadvantage is you lose clamping force.


I will never I repeat go to discs!

 

I drive in heavy freeway traffic, amongst six and seven-figure supercars, with owners who could financially destroy seven-generations of my family.

Disc brakes are superior to drums, in every way.

I will never be without the largest ones that will fit inside my wheels.

 

Four wheel disc brakes on everything I own.
I know, some are OT so no photos, I hope it doesn't cause any distress here.
2K Silverado
96 Impala SS
66 Suburban
67 Nova SS
32 roadster

 

discs work great, but they are as attractive as rack and pinion steering!

 

At some point, form no longer follows function, the original basis of hot rodding, and it becomes form follows fashion. In our typical high speed but crowded California traffic, older cars are the few with out anti-lock brakes. I'll take any advantage.

 

Great solution to a visual problem. Works extremely well on a full fendered vehicle, will file that one away for future use. I salute you for your thinking of an affordable solution. Well done.
SPark

 

I have to go see a therapist now

 

Sometimes you want to stop fast, sometimes not so much. In the old traditional days, we didn't have 500+ horsepower motors. Today we do, in otherwise traditional cars. You decide which is the safe way to go.

 

The plural of anecdote is not data.

I don't need to prove truth.

I am not only an engineer, I am an automotive engineer. At that, I am a powertrain, suspension, and BRAKE specialist, at the world's 5th largest automaker.

Extraordinary claims REQUIRE extraordinary proof. It is YOU who has made the extraordinary claim.

Prove it, or have a seat.

I have 3-point retractable belts, all cars, all seating positions.

 

I am even in the process of fitting my 1965 BMW motorcycle with dual 320mm front discs. Not sure about the rear, due to needing to keep the hub/final drive splines.

 

I always get a chuckle when people come along and talk about how swell their 75 year old drum brakes stop their car.

while driving my 1949 Chevrolet back in 1976 I did not expect a red light to be where it was, when I noticed I slammed on the brakes hard and skidded to a stop in the crosswalk.

only CNN could twist that into a positive story for drums over discs.

 

They are not called The Friendly Suggestions of Physics.

They are the law.

I get a kick out of folks who think that their opinion, and their enthusiastic desire to debate, have any bearing on them.

 

...some of you guys are so knit picky,...sheesh...you need to find some vintage air for your tires and some 50 year old gas for the tank.