The Ford Barn

38 Conv · 10-15-2014, 08:01 AM

Who has installed a front disc brake kit on their 1953 to 56 Ford F-100, is it worth the COST and TIME over the stock drums in STOPPING differance and pedal pressure to push down to stop-- -- I got the frame mount brake power master cylinder with 10 lb. residuel valve to front drums , and am looking to go Front DISC kit --- WANT ANSWERS FROM SOMEONE WHO DID IT AND HAS IT INSTALLED and driving the truck, to let me know the kit you used and what valves did you use. Is it how much better over stock front drums, pedal pushing to stop truck-- I got my system new with 700 miles on it and ADJUSTED correctly and when it gets hot it SUCKS for stopping or is that how OLD SCHOOL brakes were--Thanks

JeffB2 · 10-16-2014, 02:28 AM

Maybe not,one issue with older Fords is improper shoe adjustment which is done by hand with a brake spoon some guys just don't have the knack for it.In 1964 Ford added self-adjusting brakes,your 1955 uses the same shoes as a 1964 F-100 if you get the self adjuster kits and hardware kits for a '64 F-100 you can do the conversion for less than $40 also finally some brake shoes for drums are available in ceramic linings which will cut brake fade by about 20% Advance Auto has some shoes available in ceramic,if you want to upgrade the rears the same way you will need the kits for a 1964-67 Ford P-100.

joe plumber · 10-16-2014, 10:51 AM

I went the with the Mustang II setup.Dont need power steering.It was simple to install .I guess it depends on what you want to do

willowbilly3 · 10-16-2014, 06:19 PM

One of the biggest problems with drum brake poor performance is that nobody arcs the shoes in anymore. If you have turned the drums much, put the shoe in there and see just how small the contact patch is with new shoes.
All that being said, I never buy the "kit" for discs. I get the cheapy weld on rear disc brackets from Speedway or a local dirt track car supplier and modify them to bolt on. I did the whole front on my rpu with an econoline axle for about $125, using used rotors. I found that Aerostar or crown vic rotors would go right over my original hubs. I also did my buddys 39 IH the same way. but sometimes you have to do a little homwork on bearings to match up a whole hub. We did a 37 Ford and used S10 rotors and had to have the machine shop make a sleeve.

estout81 · 10-16-2014, 08:18 PM

I have stock drum brakes on my '48 and I couldn't ask for better brakes! I used new drums all around as well as everything else. In the few years I have been driving it I have had to make a few panic stops and as you can on my avatar there is no bent metal.

38 Conv · 11-20-2014, 02:49 PM

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1oldtimer · 11-27-2014, 12:41 PM

ALL drum brakes have fade issues and if not properly maintained work poorly. 2 of the main maintenance problems are adjustment and shoe arching. The two main reasons for going to disc are low maintenance and less fading. If you go to disc you can sell you front drum set-up to hot rodders.

10-15-2014, 08:01 AM	#1
38 Conv Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Allentown, PA Posts: 594	1955 Ford F-100 Front disc brakes Who has installed a front disc brake kit on their 1953 to 56 Ford F-100, is it worth the COST and TIME over the stock drums in STOPPING differance and pedal pressure to push down to stop-- -- I got the frame mount brake power master cylinder with 10 lb. residuel valve to front drums , and am looking to go Front DISC kit --- WANT ANSWERS FROM SOMEONE WHO DID IT AND HAS IT INSTALLED and driving the truck, to let me know the kit you used and what valves did you use. Is it how much better over stock front drums, pedal pushing to stop truck-- I got my system new with 700 miles on it and ADJUSTED correctly and when it gets hot it SUCKS for stopping or is that how OLD SCHOOL brakes were--Thanks Last edited by 38 Conv; 11-20-2014 at 02:48 PM. Reason: wording

10-16-2014, 02:28 AM	#2
JeffB2 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Phoenix,AZ Posts: 1,417	Re: 1955 Ford F-100 Front disc brakes Maybe not,one issue with older Fords is improper shoe adjustment which is done by hand with a brake spoon some guys just don't have the knack for it.In 1964 Ford added self-adjusting brakes,your 1955 uses the same shoes as a 1964 F-100 if you get the self adjuster kits and hardware kits for a '64 F-100 you can do the conversion for less than $40 also finally some brake shoes for drums are available in ceramic linings which will cut brake fade by about 20% Advance Auto has some shoes available in ceramic,if you want to upgrade the rears the same way you will need the kits for a 1964-67 Ford P-100.

10-16-2014, 10:51 AM	#3
joe plumber Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 820	Re: 1955 Ford F-100 Front disc brakes I went the with the Mustang II setup.Dont need power steering.It was simple to install .I guess it depends on what you want to do

10-16-2014, 06:19 PM	#4
willowbilly3 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Black Hills, SD Posts: 577	Re: 1955 Ford F-100 Front disc brakes One of the biggest problems with drum brake poor performance is that nobody arcs the shoes in anymore. If you have turned the drums much, put the shoe in there and see just how small the contact patch is with new shoes. All that being said, I never buy the "kit" for discs. I get the cheapy weld on rear disc brackets from Speedway or a local dirt track car supplier and modify them to bolt on. I did the whole front on my rpu with an econoline axle for about $125, using used rotors. I found that Aerostar or crown vic rotors would go right over my original hubs. I also did my buddys 39 IH the same way. but sometimes you have to do a little homwork on bearings to match up a whole hub. We did a 37 Ford and used S10 rotors and had to have the machine shop make a sleeve.

10-16-2014, 08:18 PM	#5
estout81 BANNED Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Utica, Ohio Posts: 522	Re: 1955 Ford F-100 Front disc brakes I have stock drum brakes on my '48 and I couldn't ask for better brakes! I used new drums all around as well as everything else. In the few years I have been driving it I have had to make a few panic stops and as you can on my avatar there is no bent metal.

11-20-2014, 02:49 PM	#6
38 Conv Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Allentown, PA Posts: 594	Re: 1955 Ford F-100 Front disc brakes Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Btt

11-27-2014, 12:41 PM	#7
1oldtimer Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Orange County, Ca. Posts: 685	Re: 1955 Ford F-100 Front disc brakes ALL drum brakes have fade issues and if not properly maintained work poorly. 2 of the main maintenance problems are adjustment and shoe arching. The two main reasons for going to disc are low maintenance and less fading. If you go to disc you can sell you front drum set-up to hot rodders.