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Old 07-05-2021, 12:21 PM   #41
hardtimes
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Default Re: Economical and effective hydraulic brake conversion.

Hey Jim B,
Thanks for expounding and your details regarding this matter. Your input ‘should provide some important guidelines for everyone to consider.
I learned new information from your input…thanks !
You’re correct that we all have an opinion. Some are ingrained opinions and no amount of ‘evidence’ / logic will change that. Those of us who have been here , well… since the beginning, see the same words from the same people. I respect a persons riight to add to any subject. The world changes constantly !
FORD changed too, thanks God ! Or we all might be driving with antique brakes , that is… those who survived.

ANYONE….have you EVER heard someone (A owner) tell how their mechanicals didn't
stop their car… which ended in tragically??
I haven’t.
Been there, done that , and with a completely brand new installed mechanical system…very expensive too !!
This is simillar to trying to tell others… NOT to keep/store illegal fireworks , as may hurt/ kill someone.
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Old 07-05-2021, 01:21 PM   #42
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Default Re: Economical and effective hydraulic brake conversion.

Quote:
Originally Posted by updraught View Post
The brake drums support the wire wheels. Disc brakes don't, so you'll need later wheels.
Nope.
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Old 07-05-2021, 02:27 PM   #43
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Default Re: Economical and effective hydraulic brake conversion.

Pete,
Which kit is applicable to a stock Model A with stock 19" wheels? I've searched the
Wilwood site and can't quite get there.
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Old 07-05-2021, 07:29 PM   #44
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Default Re: Economical and effective hydraulic brake conversion.

Quote:
Originally Posted by CarlG View Post
Pete,
Which kit is applicable to a stock Model A with stock 19" wheels? I've searched the
Wilwood site and can't quite get there.

I don't know. I did mine 15 years ago and subsequently sold all the original installation parts when I converted to the race wheels and 8 inch tires.
When i put the brakes on initially, I talked to someone at Wilwood to get the right parts. I got a mechanical single puck parking brake assembly also. I still have that. I have ventilated discs also. All race stuff. The really nice thing about the initial installation, there were no mods required to install. It was completely bolt on.
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Old 07-05-2021, 07:31 PM   #45
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Default Re: Economical and effective hydraulic brake conversion.

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Originally Posted by Pete View Post
I don't know. I did mine 15 years ago and subsequently sold all the original installation parts when I converted to the race wheels and 8 inch tires.
When i put the brakes on initially, I talked to someone at Wilwood to get the right parts. I got a mechanical single puck parking brake assembly also. I still have that. I have ventilated discs also. All race stuff. The really nice thing about the initial installation, there were no mods required to install. It was completely bolt on.
I'll give them a call. Thanks for your input.
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Old 07-06-2021, 03:11 AM   #46
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Default Re: Economical and effective hydraulic brake conversion.

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Disc brakes have been discussed before ...

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...akes&showall=1
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...=disc%2Abrakes
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...=disc%2Abrakes
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...=disc%2Abrakes
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...=disc%2Abrakes
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Old 07-06-2021, 07:36 AM   #47
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Default Re: Economical and effective hydraulic brake conversion.

Older Audi's had inside out disk brakes where the disks were mounted on the OD and the calipers were on the ID. I wonder is something like that could be used on a Model A so that the calipers would be mostly hidden and the stock wheels would have the correct support. I am not sure why Audi did that.
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Old 07-07-2021, 02:24 AM   #48
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Default Re: Economical and effective hydraulic brake conversion.

Quote:
Originally Posted by nkaminar View Post
Older Audi's had inside out disk brakes where the disks were mounted on the OD and the calipers were on the ID. I wonder is something like that could be used on a Model A so that the calipers would be mostly hidden and the stock wheels would have the correct support. I am not sure why Audi did that.
Must be these
https://www.quattroworld.com/audi-ne...o-kinda-didnt/
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Old 07-07-2021, 03:25 PM   #49
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Default Re: Economical and effective hydraulic brake conversion.

There's nothing like the feel of steel from pedal to wheel! You can take that two ways, apparently.
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Old 05-17-2023, 11:36 PM   #50
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Default Re: Economical and effective hydraulic brake conversion.

I'm also looking to upgrade my vintage car's braking system, but the prices I've seen for Bendix/Lincoln kits are out of my budget. I've heard that some people have had success with converting to mechanical disc brakes instead of hydraulic ones like describe here https://www.bikethesites.com/hydraul...l-disc-brakes/ . Has anyone here tried that option? And could you share any advice or resources on making the switch?
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Old 05-18-2023, 08:43 AM   #51
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Default Re: Economical and effective hydraulic brake conversion.

Hello, a properly restored mechanical brake system will work well on a Model A, you will most likely have others that will say the same thing. The trick is to completely rebuild the entire system, new bushings, cast iron drums , and have shoes matched to drums , and remove any slop in rods and Clevis pins, and tracks restored. Many past posts on the barn on brakes . I don’t know how well the mechanical disc brakes would work on a car . I sure you will get more posts on this subject. Good luck.
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Old 05-18-2023, 10:26 AM   #52
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Default Re: Economical and effective hydraulic brake conversion.

Quote:
Originally Posted by gdmn852 View Post
Hello, a properly restored mechanical brake system will work well on a Model A, you will most likely have others that will say the same thing. The trick is to completely rebuild the entire system, new bushings, cast iron drums , and have shoes matched to drums , and remove any slop in rods and Clevis pins, and tracks restored. Many past posts on the barn on brakes . I don’t know how well the mechanical disc brakes would work on a car . I sure you will get more posts on this subject. Good luck.
Unless you install wider tires, I don't believe hydraulics will improve your braking.

IMO, the biggest improvements you can make to the Model A brakes is to install cast iron drums along with Randy Gross bonded and arced shoes. But everything else needs to be in top condition.


Attached Images
File Type: jpg Randy Gross.jpg (21.4 KB, 173 views)

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Old 05-18-2023, 11:10 AM   #53
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Default Re: Economical and effective hydraulic brake conversion.

Mechanical or hydraulic, if you can lock up the wheels, then the limiting factor on how well you stop depends on how the rubber grabs the road. The contact area is quite small.
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Old 05-19-2023, 10:47 AM   #54
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Default Re: Economical and effective hydraulic brake conversion.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin in NJ View Post
Hate to break it to you, but juice brakes are not safer.

They need the same amount of work to set up. You still need shoes fitted to the drums.

They will fail on you. Unless you really drive the car regularly they will fail. Maybe just one or even both rears go. Long story on why, but they do. I have a 65 Mustang it gets rear wheel cylinder problems. I asked around at car shows and found many of the cars had one or more wheels not working. More then one person said they knew the brakes were not working but did not fix them cause it was just their show car.

If you want reliable effective brakes with minimal long term maintence you want to pay someone to build a matched set of drums and backing plates. You will do it once and only just do minor adjustments for the next 50 years. If you put in juice brakes you will have to change fluid regularly and futz with wheel cylinders not working every few years.

In the end you really end up with the same level of braking.
The above is only one man's opinion! I have had '40 Ford hydraulics on all of my A's, one since 1960. The answer on little-used hydraulics is DOT-5 fluid. It rejects moisture where other fluids attract moisture which causes rust in the cylinders. Hydraulics are less trouble to set up properly than mechanicals are, and are safer, with bigger brakes, why does he think all cars for many years have them, and not mechanicals?
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Old 05-19-2023, 10:55 AM   #55
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Default Re: Economical and effective hydraulic brake conversion.

I'm new to this, but i'll try to contribute.
I don't think people typically run juice brakes with the stock wheelset. I looked at this and was planning on a set of '35 16" spokes.
My car is built from orphaned parts, so i'm starting from scratch and have no obligation to the mech setup.
As far as cost, here's what i've put into my juice set up:
(I like the wide-fives, so i've probably spent more than i might have with 1940+ drums and wheels)
Backing plates and good used drums, purchased from several sources, about $450.
New wheel cylinders $150
Brake linings and rivets $75
Boling bros battery box/master $400
Spacer kit for front plates from snyders $25
I still need lines and hoses, so consider that.
It's less than one of those kits, but it took months to find good used drums.
I don't know what i would have spent putting a complete mech brake system together, but it may not have saved much $.
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Old 05-19-2023, 04:53 PM   #56
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Default Re: Economical and effective hydraulic brake conversion.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris in WNC View Post
if you want "economical" and "effective", stick with mechanicals.
cast iron drums are the only modification I'd recommend.
find someone who knows how or learn to restore the system correctly yourself......
This is absolutely correct. Cast iron drums mated to turned shoes stop amazingly well and are simple to adjust
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Old 05-26-2023, 05:37 PM   #57
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Default Re: Economical and effective hydraulic brake conversion.

As for the odd Audi brakes with disks which are actually hoops with the calipers grabbing from inside rather than mounted outside the circumference of the disk - I think the theory was to increase the outside diameter of the swept area without increasing the diameter of the wheels. They abandoned it after a while.
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Old 05-28-2023, 01:59 PM   #58
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Default Re: Economical and effective hydraulic brake conversion.

The Model A was the first car to have a safety glass windshield.
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