[gchero351]

I finally got my entire braking system done and broke in, ive got manual drum brakes on my '69 f-100. Now that the shoes are broke in and I have "max braking power " from the system it isnt too bad after all. But is there anything that I can do to make the fronts better ? Higher quality front shoes maybe ?

 

[indigo66]

my 65 F100 drums were terrible. A single hard stop from 60 mph would cause severe fade by the time it slowed to around 15mph, pedal was rock solid, just too much heat to grab. It was an easy swap to discs from a 73 p/u. Just knock out the kingpins, and swap the whole spindle/brake assembly, install new hoses, good to go. I got the swap parts for $50, spent another $150 for reman calipers, new pads, new rotors, reman master cylinder. Now it stops like a late model truck, even stops good when I'm pulling a loaded trailer.

 

[gchero351]

I was trying to avoid doing that but I think ill go the distance and make that my next winter project. thanks, sometimes i just need that push to get 'er done ....... it will also be cool not slamming into another car.

 

[FEandGoingBroke]

That's always cool.... not slamming into other cars that is.....

 

[cdeal28078]

I have a 71 F100. I went all out and added power-disc brakes, power-steering and automatic all at the same time. I think the disc brakes are a very easy and good upgrade. I also addd a front sway-bar from Addco. What a differance that made.
clint

 

[v8shadow]

I thought I saw a place that made performance brake drums. They had heat dissapating fins all around the outer circumference. Perhaps a general web search will pop them up for you. I didnt save the site, sorry.

 

[indigo66]

how does the sway bar mount? I want to put one on my 65, but it looks like it mught be a bunch of trouble. Do you have any pics of your sway bar, mounted?

 

[cdeal28078]

The one I got from addco mounted up pretty easily. 2 angle iron brackets bolt to the ibeams on eash side. The bar is mounted to the frame between the radiator and front cross-member. I think it took about an hour to install it. Cost about $145
As far as the brakes go I personally would'nt waist time on installing any aftermarket drum brakes, just buy a cheap beat up 73 donar truck and grab everything you need off of it for the disc brakes then sell the rest for parts or scrap. Very easy and great stopping
clint

 

[htwheelz67]

I have a 73 econoline box van I use for plumbing, the 4 wheel drums have been a major problem. I bought the best shoes,drums and new everything and it didn't stop worth a crap.

An old timer mechanic told me try some cheap or OEM shoes that are a softer material than my ceramic raybestos super duper expensive shoes and I'll be damned the thing stops on a dime now, I couldn't believe it! All the money I spent on new M/C,booster,wheel cyls,drums,shoes, mechanic after mechanic and all I did was buy organic cheap shoes and it solved my problem.

Same with my 2000 f-150, I bought the best pads they sell and they wore out quick but even worse warped my rotors in a month, then the same guy said buy factory ford pads they work the best and once again he was right.

\Some old tech stuff just wasn't made to work with new tech stuff and when you think you are upgrading you are making it worse.

I.E. take a ford 4100 carb then bolt on a 600 holley 1850 the4 4100 will excell everywhere over the modern one.

I know your year of truck came with front disc's as an option go get all the parts at a pick a part even junk stuff and use them as cores to get rebuilt or new stuff.

But on the cheap try some cheap organic shoes you will be surprised.

my 67 vert http://htwheelz.smugmug.com

 

[dablack]

fordification.com has a great write up on the disk swap and the power brake swap. The site covers all sorts of stuff for the 67-72 F100.

check it out.