thoughts on rear discs

[MoparMatt383]

I was wondering what you guys thought about rear discs on your e bodies.  I have a 73 barracuda with manual disc brakes up front and drums in the rear.  I saw this place advertised in MCG www.ecihotrodbrakes.com   They have a rear disc kit for 575 that lets you use the stock parking brake.  They say you need to have the green axle bearing to use the kit.  I dont know what that means.  Is there a big difference with discs in the rear especially sinse I want to stay with my manual brakes.

Matt

[EvilTwinATX]

isnt that a front disc kit?

[Jacksboys]

Are you having problems with your stock setup or are you just wanting the title of "Four Wheel Disc Brakes"?

[MoparMatt383]

They do have a rear disc kit.  The link is at the bottom of the mopar page and its mispelled read instead of rear.  I am not really having problems with my stock setup, but I was wondering if rear discs with manual brakes would provide a tremendous difference?

Matt

[ChallengerHK]

My understanding (and somebody correct me if I'm wrong) is that disc brakes require more pedal force than drums, because of the camming action of shoes against the drums. The advantage of discs is that they resist fade better, so they'll perform better during a lot of hard braking. That said, the rear brakes provide only a fraction of the braking force to slow the car; most numbers I've seen are around 20-30%. In other words, switching to rear discs will probably require more pedal force for not a lot of added performance.

I've got the same setup as you (manual - front discs - rear drums). I feel like I'm standing of the brake pedal to stop the car, and I'd like to finda way to improve that situation. I thought about rear discs too, but I don't think they're the answer.

[EvilTwinATX]

would adding a power booster help? I am in the middle of rebuilding my brake system back up.. I have manual front disc and rear drum - and would like to find the best petal feel without spending a ton of money. I don't think rear disc is the answer though....

Any suggestions?

[Jacksboys]

would adding a power booster help? I am in the middle of rebuilding my brake system back up.. I have manual front disc and rear drum - and would like to find the best petal feel without spending a ton of money. I don't think rear disc is the answer though....

Any suggestions?

A power booster would help as long as the engine vaccum is not to low.  I also have maunal disc/drum so I am not sure of the exact difference, but I know it would be easier to stop.

[EvilTwinATX]

I think you can add a vacuum canister to hold additional vacuum if your engine cannot provide enough constant vacuum..

Again.. I dont know for sure but this is what I have heard... 

[Jacksboys]

I think you can add a vacuum canister to hold additional vacuum if your engine cannot provide enough constant vacuum..

Again.. I dont know for sure but this is what I have heard... 

[ChallengerHK]

So what all is required to switch to power? I'm assuming:

Power booster, intake tapped for vacuum port, vacuum canister for vacuum reservoir, hoses and clamps ...

Am I missing anything?

[GoodysGotaCuda]

90% of what i heard on rear discs recommends to upgrade the fronts very well before even needing to consider rears given the fronts end up doing about 70% of the braking anyways. Depending on your budget, I would recommend picking up a 11 3/4" brake setup off a later b-body. Should be a bolt on for your later spindles, You'll need the caliper adapters if you plan on using the stock calipers. However, depending on your budget there are kits to let a wilwood dynalite, or a viper caliper bolt right on. Wilwood isnt very recommended for lots of street, it doesnt take conditions well from what i understand. Viper caliper of course is probably the best thing you can do with the 11 3/4" rotors, you can also get the 13" full viper brake setup for your ride, but expect to pay up.

You want killer braking? lose the stock 10" and go with a 11 3/4" factory late b-body rotor and the viper calipers. You wont even need to think about rear discs...they'll toss you through the windsheild if you arent wearing your seatbelt lol.

look up magnumhp.com they have the caliper adapter setups.. I have a 11 3/4" factory caliper setup for my cuda that needs to go on.

http://www.moparaction.com/Tech/archive/disc-main.html

[GoodysGotaCuda]

So what all is required to switch to power? I'm assuming:

Power booster, intake tapped for vacuum port, vacuum canister for vacuum reservoir, hoses and clamps ...

Am I missing anything?

Most intakes have a tap for it in a intake runner from the factory and aftermarket. if factory manual there will be a plugged port in the intake. You'll need a booster, different pushrod (afaik) a power brake master cylinder, and depending on your motor you might need a vac can. A vac can is used for big cams to store vacuum because they dont make much as it is, a mild motor will make enough to support power brakes just off the booster..

[EvilTwinATX]

I have all my stock front disc stuff that I was going to put back on.... can I get a power booster, pushrod and MC at a local autoparts store? Usually one of the autoparts places has it in stock or can order it for MUCH less than ordering it over the internet..


 
Brent

[MoparMatt383]

Now if I would want to go for the viper calipers with the 11.75 rotors up front would that work with manual brakes?

Matt

[Chryco Psycho]

the proportioning valve limits the work the back brakes do so even the drums are more powerful than nessisary so I wouldn`t be in a hurry to do rear disc , upgrading the fronts makes more sense , I have not tried the 11.75 / viper setup