47heaven Posted February 10, 2010 Report Posted February 10, 2010 Got the bad news that my brake drums are too thing to turn anymore. My question is whee do they sell new drum braks for our P15's. I'm at the fork in the road where either I can install new drums in the front of convert to disk. Let me know where to get the drums and also your opinion of converting over. I searched on here already for any posts about where to purchase new drums but didn't come up with anything. Quote
randroid Posted February 10, 2010 Report Posted February 10, 2010 47heaven, If you decide to stick with drums rather than go with discs I have a turned set of drums you can have for shipping, but if it's at all feasible I honestly think you should convert. It will cost you more initially but the end product could easily save your car and yourself from serious damage. As soon as I am fiscally able I'm going to change over for there is pitifully little reason not to. Perhaps when high performance racers start favoring drums I might rethink my position on it but until then I'd go with discs. Just my two cents. -Randy Quote
aero3113 Posted February 10, 2010 Report Posted February 10, 2010 With the price's I have seen for new drums you can prob install discs in the front and rear and still have some $ left over for a full tank of gas. I was able to get a drum from wayfarestranger for a decent price. If you are lucky maybe someone on the forum will have them for you. Quote
aero3113 Posted February 10, 2010 Report Posted February 10, 2010 There you go, I just saw randroid's post Quote
41/53dodges Posted February 10, 2010 Report Posted February 10, 2010 if these are the same as 10" pilothouse drums, you could use the northern tool drums. i placed a thread about it in the tech archives. Quote
47heaven Posted February 10, 2010 Author Report Posted February 10, 2010 47heaven,If you decide to stick with drums rather than go with discs I have a turned set of drums you can have for shipping, but if it's at all feasible I honestly think you should convert. It will cost you more initially but the end product could easily save your car and yourself from serious damage. As soon as I am fiscally able I'm going to change over for there is pitifully little reason not to. Perhaps when high performance racers start favoring drums I might rethink my position on it but until then I'd go with discs. Just my two cents. -Randy Randy, Thanks for your offer! I just contacted Charlie to check out his kit. I'm going to look into this conversion thing, as you mentioned, before deciding on accepting your drums, but I may need the ones for the back, if you can part with two. Darin Quote
47heaven Posted February 10, 2010 Author Report Posted February 10, 2010 With the price's I have seen for new drums you can prob install discs in the front and rear and still have some $ left over for a full tank of gas. I was able to get a drum from wayfarestranger for a decent price. If you are lucky maybe someone on the forum will have them for you. Yeah, I was quoted about $165 per new drum. Ouch! Quote
Oldguy48 Posted February 11, 2010 Report Posted February 11, 2010 Got the bad news that my brake drums are too thing to turn anymore. My question is whee do they sell new drum braks for our P15's. I'm at the fork in the road where either I can install new drums in the front of convert to disk. Let me know where to get the drums and also your opinion of converting over. I searched on here already for any posts about where to purchase new drums but didn't come up with anything. This would be the perfect opportunity to upgrade your brakes to discs. I'm sure some will disagree with me, but in my experience, the original drum brakes on a P15 were poor at best. I've already purchased Charlie's conversion kit for mine, and the car will not be driven until the front brake drums are removed, and the discs installed. Quote
41/53dodges Posted February 11, 2010 Report Posted February 11, 2010 Yeah, I was quoted about $165 per new drum. Ouch! try the trucks, $550 apiece for stock ones! Quote
PatrickG Posted February 11, 2010 Report Posted February 11, 2010 try the trucks, $550 apiece for stock ones! I think I converted mine to discs up front for around 4-500 total. and that was with new parts. I bet with some pick-n-pull scrounging it could be done cheaper. Quote
47heaven Posted February 11, 2010 Author Report Posted February 11, 2010 The conversion kit doesn't seem badly priced, but what is all involved with the conversion? I mean, for those of you that have purchased Charlie's kit, how much extra did the other parts cost, as well as the conversion? What are we looking at here and what all is involved for the complete conversion? Quote
John Mulders Posted February 12, 2010 Report Posted February 12, 2010 I got the whole set in 2005 from Charlie , 525 $ without S&H and the drill bit (30$). That way I knew I got all the stuff I needed. Work itself is very basic, remove the old stuff. The tricky part is tapping but got that done aswell properlty. Then I had an issue with a spacer, I got the truck one by mistake so that was not working. Charlie made sure I got the right one shipped by mail and then finishing the installation was a breeze. Good service ! I have no issues with the diskbrakes since installed. John Quote
daddyo23 Posted February 12, 2010 Report Posted February 12, 2010 I got Charlies kit and I'm very happy. Probably $450-$500 total I do have a slight issue with the spacing, maybe I got a truck spacer, too. It seems to be o.k., though. The kit made a huge difference in braking. Fantastic! I did add a dual master from ECI. That was a little pricy, but I wanted the bracket. If you have a make to make a brcket I have another dual master,if you like. Quote
Jim Yergin Posted February 12, 2010 Report Posted February 12, 2010 (edited) You also have the option of installing rear disk brakes. AAJ Brakes sells kits for both front and rear. Jim Yergin Edited February 12, 2010 by Jim Yergin Quote
blueskies Posted February 12, 2010 Report Posted February 12, 2010 Curious if you guys who have done the disc conversion are still running stock wheels? Thanks, Pete Quote
1949P17BC Posted February 12, 2010 Report Posted February 12, 2010 I am running the original 16 inche wheels with my front disc and 11 inch rears. Works fine Quote
blueskies Posted February 12, 2010 Report Posted February 12, 2010 I am running the original 16 inche wheels with my front disc and 11 inch rears. Works fine Will 15" wheels clear the calipers? My '50 has 15's... Pete Quote
Jim Yergin Posted February 12, 2010 Report Posted February 12, 2010 I am using 15" wheels on my '41 with four wheel disk brakes. No problem clearing the calipers. The wheels are from a later P-15. Jim Yergin Quote
55 Fargo Posted February 12, 2010 Report Posted February 12, 2010 Will 15" wheels clear the calipers? My '50 has 15's...Pete Hi Pete, are you still on stock brakes? I am running stock brakes, infact the front backing plates and drums are from a 51 Plym, on my 47 Chrysler. I do find these brakes not too bad, it is flat country here and relatively lower level of traffic on the highways. I would imaine you being in hill country would need better brakes......Fred Quote
blueskies Posted February 12, 2010 Report Posted February 12, 2010 Hi Pete, are you still on stock brakes? Fred- Yep, still on stock brakes... and the engine compression braking is adequate for the mountains. It's the panic stops that could improve... I find the drum brakes fine for the most part. Pete Quote
55 Fargo Posted February 12, 2010 Report Posted February 12, 2010 Fred-Yep, still on stock brakes... and the engine compression braking is adequate for the mountains. It's the panic stops that could improve... I find the drum brakes fine for the most part. Pete I tend to agree, Pete, but I do realize the disc brakes are very good add-ons, but for the most part my stockers are good. I know a lot of Guys complain about stock brakes. They definately need to be set-up right and adjusted periodically. I don't even think my brake shoes were adjusted that great, but still have good pedal height and topping abilty, panic stops could be fun....fred Quote
james curl Posted February 12, 2010 Report Posted February 12, 2010 Pete, you saw my 48 at Bonneville, I am running Charlies disc brakes on front with my original 15" wheels with no problems. Those disc sure came in handy when we were driving back and forth between Tahoe and Reno during Hot August Nights, lots of steep hill to go down and winding roads also. Quote
daddyo23 Posted February 13, 2010 Report Posted February 13, 2010 Will 15" wheels clear the calipers? My '50 has 15's...Pete I have the stock 15" wheels on. Works fine. Quote
Olddaddy Posted February 13, 2010 Report Posted February 13, 2010 I'm just doing a disc conversion on a 47 Plymouth Convertible in my shop here in Orlando. I should be under $400 for everything including the $160 cost for the kit. The two big cost items are rotors and calipers. If you can turn in some junk calipers for cores it saves you about $20. If you don't have large diameter drill bits and 5/8-18 taps that will increase your cost. The hard decision is whether to go with Napa for better quality at a higher price, or one of the cheaper parts houses for lower price. Either way the discs are an improvement over original without any visible change in the car or truck. If the above price of $165 for a drum is right, then discs are a bargain by comparison. Nothing against anybody who runs original drums, they have worked find for over 60 years. I just like the dependability and better braking of discs. Quote
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