I've got a '72 Cuda with some good power, but the brakes are terrible. Drums all around. I was originally thinking of switching the front to disc, but I read another thread saying you can get alot of improvement from just upgrading the drums.

I was wondering what the approx. cost difference between the two is and if I decided to go with the swap to disc, is it a difficult job? I'm a novice mech at best (but would like to broaden my skills).

 

A drum to disc conversion is now terribly hard to do, its more time consumming than anything. My Valiant has 4 wheel drums and stops great (it has new shoes all the way around).

There are two ways you can go with a drum to disc swap. One is finding the same body model that has disc already and swap in that K member (I think its called). The other way is to get a kit. You'll have to swap the master brake cylinder and install the proper proportioning valve as well as disc brakes take more pressure than drums.

If your just cruising, I would rebuild the drum brakes that you have and see how it is. If your going to be hitting the strip and going really fast, then you will want to look ingot disc brakes for safety.

But thats just my opinion

 

use '73-'76 Dart/Valiant disc brake spindle.. these spindles work on all 70 to 74 cudas or on B-Bodies 'til '72. If you want to use the "giant" rotors like were used on the cordoba [76-78;aka "cop car rotors"] then use the [pin type] caliper adapter from a '76-'78 cordoba with '70-'72 B or E Body calipers in conjunction with the Dart/Valiant spindles. [google "Mopar Action Disc Brake Swap"] Then aquire a 70-72 disc brake master cylinder ....with the proportioning valve from said car. I'm sure there are other options now but the old mopar action disc brake swap works very well. Others have had sucess with using F body brakes and spindles on cudas but it is not recommended by the mopar action tech editor By the way; if you want to use 14 inch wheels, use the same dart/valiant/duster spindle with the 70-74 cuda/challenger disc brake caliper adapter [or from a 70-75 "B" Body]...{sliding pin type again}...then use the easy to find 10.87"-volare/aspen rotors. Again, use the '70-'72, B or E calipers on this setup. I know that was confusing, but if you read it slow about a thousand times, I know you'll figure it out.

 

Thanks for the info guys. I decided to rebuild the drums this wknd and see how it feels. I'm sure I'm going to do the conversion eventually, but just don't have the time right now to take on the conversion.

 

good plan!!!

 

OK, so I rebuilt the drums and I am still not satisfied with the braking of the car, given the speeds the car can (and sometimes will) get up to. I've decided to do a front disc conversion and I'm wondering if anyone knows of some good kits to use. I know Omaha gave me a really good breakdown of the various parts I could track down to do a good conversion, but time is sort of a luxury I don't have, and splitting the cost of a kit with my father is a luxury I do have, so I think a kit is the way to go for me.

YearOne has manual disc conversion kit for $940 (standard) and $1375 (slotted rotors/ alum calipers/ hi-per pads/ stainless steel flex hose). Both kits are 4 piston cal and use 11.25 rotors. If anyone knows of a better kit to use I would definitely appreciate it! thanks!

Oh, I currently have 10" drums on 15" wheels.

 

I think if I had the option to go with an aftermarket kit i would use the Master Power Brakes kit because it is patterned after Oem stuff {of different years}. They took some of the best parts {OEM design} and applied them across the board to [most] all of the mopars of the muscle-car years. Kits use duplicates of an OEM spindle and rotor also, so its easy to replace parts if needed. Plus you can get a power booster and master cyl. in the kit if you want. Kits are really complete and well thought out. JUST MY THOUGHTS OUT LOUD. Hope this helps. Enjoy!!!!

 

Yeah I saw those after I made my post. I need to call them and get a little more info on them. Their website doesn't have any details about the product (ie # of pistons, cast iron/aluminum, fitting measurments for wheel).

 

10''?
are those original?
if you got a 440, i thought you got 11''

 

Yeah, they are 10". The car originally had a 318 and the guy that had the car before me dropped the 440 into it.

 

oh, ok
i have four wheel drum on my car, and it stops ok, not great, but ok