Disc brake kit sale thru December

[Olddaddy]

It's that time of year again when you really need a deal on disc brakes, and I need Christmas cash.............I will sell my car or truck kits for $200 including shipping to lower 48 addresses through the end of December this year. My kits will fit from mid 30s to later 50s Dodge/Plymouth trucks, and the mid 30s to mid 50s Plymouth cars. The kits can be installed on Dodge, DeSoto, and Chrysler cars using Plymouth spindles. If you cannot or do not want to do your own drilling and tapping I can do that for you for $80 for the four pieces, two spindles and two steering arms, including shipping as above. Disc kits are normally $225, and the drilling/tapping is $100, so you could save between $25 and $45 on the deal. That's enough to buy your sweety breakfast, or even lunch! Step right up and make yourself a deal.

[Christopher]

Hey, need any more spoons????Christopher, from the high and snowy lonesome....

[Ed Griffin]

So your saying even with the kit you will need to also find a set of "Plymouth" spindles for your kit to work on a Dodge, DeSoto or Chrysler?

[Olddaddy]

Chris, those spoons were a huge hit at my house. My envy of your talent, and location only grows larger.

Ed, The only spindle I know of that can mount discs like mine is the Plymouth. The Plymouth spindle is a direct swap onto the Dodge, Chrysler and DeSoto suspension. The two spindles are identical except for the upper mounting hole of the original brake backing plate. On the larger cars this upper mount is farther up away from the spindle centerline to mount the larger drum brake backing plate. It is also offset from the centerline of the spindle making it impossible to mount a flat caliper bracket like mine, and others.

I think James Douglas had a custom disc setup made for his DeSoto however. He may be able to direct you towards a kit that uses your original spindle.

[Ed Griffin]

Thanks for the information Charlie. Maybe another Christmas down the road. Too many fish to fry for now.

[1949P17BC]

I"m in, send me your number so I can call and discuss the details

Mark

[martybose]

charlie,

I know I read the answer to this question a long time ago in another thread, but I don't remember the answer.

With your brake kit, how much more offset outboard does the wheel wind up at, and is it because the hub has to be spaced outward or because the Disk specified has a thicker center? I'm trying to gfigure out if the rim mounting surface to the end of the dust cap dimension is any shorter than stock (I've got a hubcap clearance issue).

Marty

[55 Fargo]

Charlie, what other parts do I need, what type of calipres, what type of rotors, hubs, brake hose etc. I have Plymouth spindles on my 47 Chrysler already, so that part is good.............Fred

[Olddaddy]

Below is the generic info I send out to folks interested in the kits. As far as changing the offset I don't really know. I think it's about the same as people have used original wheels and caps with the kit beforel If anything I'd say the dust cap is closer in to the hub on the rotor allowing more room under your caps. As far as what other parts, there is a complete parts list included in the kit, and nothing on it is tough to find. The rotors are Volare/Aspen, and the calipers are GM, both common parts. I'm happy to provide info via email at any time, but getting me on the phone is tougher than parting the Red Sea, there just are not enough hours in the day.

Here's the info on my kits, the prices quoted are discounted until 12-31-07. Kits are $200 and Shop work is $80, including shipping on each to lower 48 addresses. Add $20 for the kit and $10 on the Shop Work for Canadian shipping.

I make kits for mid 30s-late 50s Dodge/Plymouth trucks, and mid 30s-late 50s Plymouth cars. These years are approximate, and the kits may fit other years. Check the picture below to see if your spindle looks like either of the two shown. If so, you car or truck can probably be converted using my kit. My kits can be installed on Dodge, DeSoto, and Chrysler cars by installing Plymouth spindles on the original suspension. The Plymouth spindles mount identically to the others, using the same king pins and bushings.

My kit includes the caliper brackets, spacers, hardware, parts list and instructions. You will also need rotors, calipers, pads, bearings, seals, nuts, brake hose, banjo bolts, and cotter pins. The necessary parts are commonly available nationwide at a variety of parts stores including Napa, Discount Advance, Autozone, and many others. The rotors on all my kits are a Mopar item with a 5 on 4 1/2" bolt pattern. The kits normally sell for $225 shipped to lower 48 addresses, add $20 to Canada. Shipping to Europe or elsewhere is available, but I will need your post code info to quote a price. Also, if you live in an area outside the US where parts may not be readily available, I can provide complete kits with all parts necessary to do the conversion.

The kits require you to drill and tap two or three mounting holes on each spindle to 5/8"-18 fine thread depending on which vehicle you are converting. Trucks and early Cars have two holes to drill, later Cars have three. You will also need to drill out the holes in your steering arms to 11/16" which is clearance for a 5/8" bolt. If you cannot do that I will do it for you for $20 per piece, $80, plus $20 shipping, $100 total to lower 48 addresses, add $10 to Canada. I can email you the parts list after you pay if you want to get a jump on your parts purchases. You can pay via paypal, using this email address as the "send to" location. You can also pay via money order to Charlie Akers, 6405 Old Kissimmee rd, Davenport, FL 33896. I regret I cannot take personal checks, or credit cards.

[1949P17BC]

Charly, with your kit are we still able to use the original wheels?

[glendale]

can i use your kit with fatman dropped kingpins?

[Olddaddy]

I don't see any reason why original wheels wouldn't work, but I can't guarantee it. I've never actually heard from anyone who couldn't use their original wheels.

I am fairly certain my kit would work with the fatman dropped uprights. I've lowered my car using original upright that I lowered and the kit fits fine.

[woodscavenger]

I have a 50 Dodge B1B. After reading your messages I am still not sure if it will work or if I have to find Plymouth spindles. I have not ripped apart the front yet so I don't know what to look for. Does your kit fit the B1B? How do I know?

[Olddaddy]

My kit will fit your Dodge truck as is, no changing anything. The larger bodied Mopar cars can only use my setup with Plymouth spindles. The trucks are good as is.

[claybill]

if you need...i have extra set of excellent kingpins..plymouth p-15...and plymouth spindles..p-15..

claybill

[Olddaddy]

Guys, I know that you secretly really want disc brakes for Christmas.......and my wife gave me my daughters toy list last night......I nearly fainted. Do the right thing now, order some stuff before Christmas. Thank you all, as always. Charlie.

[builtfercomfort]

Charlie will also do the labor for you - I shipped my spindles to him and he shipped back brakes, all installed and ready to roll.

Once, long ago, I did some brake work and found myself with NO brakes at all - luckily it was a corn field that stopped me, not anything more resilient. So I was reluctant to tackle this myself, so I had Charlie do it.

[Actually I could not get them spindles off, the pins would not drive out, so he got more than just the spindles. He had to find a press and get the pins out, take them for machining, get the holes drilled, buy the parts, assemble things, etc. ] Anyway, it was simple (if not cheap) for me, just write a check and ship them off.

Charlie, did my 39 Chrysler spindles work or did you have to swap them for a Plymouth set?

[Olddaddy]

Thanks for the positive post (your check will be in the mail tomorrow). Actually, you make a good point. Your 39 Chrysler has the same spindle as the Dodge trucks so my truck kit fits this type car. It's the later Dodge, Chrysler, DeSoto cars that need a Plymouth transplant to install discs.

I have had a couple people looking for Plymouth spindles if anyone has a pair for sale.

[55 Fargo]

When it comes time for me to go disc on my 47 Chrysler coupe, I already have Plymouth Spindles brakes and drums on my car. When I first discoverd this , I was a little annoyed, but now I see it can work to my advantage. They are from a 1951 Plymouth though, will your kit still work on this type of set-up Charlie. I also have another 47 Chrsler parts car if I need to use Chrysler spindles at some point, but I doubt it, won't switch to go back on OEM drum brakes.

[Olddaddy]

You are all set with Plymouth spindles on your Chrysler. My kits will convert from mid 30s to mid 50s Plymouths, or Mopar cars with Plymouth spindles.

[PatS....]

When it comes time for me to go disc on my 47 Chrysler coupe, I already have Plymouth Spindles brakes and drums on my car. When I first discoverd this , I was a little annoyed, but now I see it can work to my advantage. They are from a 1951 Plymouth though, will your kit still work on this type of set-up Charlie. I also have another 47 Chrsler parts car if I need to use Chrysler spindles at some point, but I doubt it, won't switch to go back on OEM drum brakes.

Fred, Charlie sent me a pair of threaded Plymouth spindles with my kit. The difference is very slight.

Not sure even why Chrysler/DeSoto changed them other than to just be different to maintain the "image" of a bigger car.

[Olddaddy]

I don't know the actual reason they did it, but Plymouth's bigger sisters had larger diameter brakes. I suspect this was due to the increased weight of the big girls. It may have also been that Plymouth had smaller brakes for some entry level cost savings idea. In any case the two spindles are identical other than the position of the upper mounting hole for the brake backing plate. It is higher up, farther away from the spindle centerline on the bigger cars. It is also offset for an unknown reason, not on the same plane as the two lower holes.

[claybill]

plymouth spindles ...for sale.. A arms inc if needed. kig pins too...

email 'bill' for low price......i am not going to use them..

claybill@galenalink.com

[james curl]

I installed Big Daddys disc kit and threaded the spindles myself. Cost me $48.00 for the correct bit from Fastenall and $60.00 for one hour of shop time at a machine shop so that I could use their Bridgeport Milling Machine to drill the spindles out for threading. My drill press slowest speed is 400 rpm which is too fast for the bit to enlarge the existing holes. The Bridgeport Mill runs at 200 rpm and drilled them out like butter, 400 rpm just smokes the bit. So unless you can figure a way to slow down your drill press it might make sense to just let Big Daddy do the whole job.

[47Plymouth]

Just installed Charlies kit. I sent Charlie my spindles and he did all the drilling and tapping. The kit fit very well and i have used the stock 15'' wheels. I'm planning on putting on 16'' wheels i have, but haven't tried them on the front yet. I still need to install a proportioning valve. Jerome