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Extreme Veteran
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| Hello to all, I am planning on switching out the rear drum brakes to discs on my 56 Dodge Custom Royal. I have converted the fronts to AAJ and now time for the rear. Other than AAJ, does anyone know of any other company or individual who supplies a kit or component for the job? I do not want to change out the rear axle and I know and understand about the park brake.
Del S |
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Expert
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Location: Chestertown, NY ( near Lake George) | Pretty sure this cannot be done with that axle housing and rear axle configuration. You would need the later model, 66 up axle assy. |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 9647
 
Location: So. Cal | AAJ does sell a disc conversion for the '57-up 8 3/4. I haven't heard if they have something for the earlier 8 1/4 or if it is compatible with the other kit, but you can ask them. If they do sell it, you can be assured that no one else will sell anything for such an obscure axle. |
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Extreme Veteran
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| I have spoken with Roger at AAJ some time ago, he does have a conversion for the tapered axle. AAJ's conversion does not give you an E brake so you must rely on the good old drum on the tranny out put shaft. I took my car out on a short road trip today and found a nice steep grade downhill to test my Park brake holding ability. No runaway not even with a push froma friend. I stayed in the car just in case.
Del S |
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Regular
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| Look in the Chrysler 300inc site,, this is done on many early 8 3/4 axle. I Have
the wilwood kit for my rear...your choise use your old park brake or use whats comes in the kit. Some works has to be done as producing.a custom retainer and drill a new hole for stud in the axle flange... check the 300site.it describes the process with pics etc.. |
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| Thanks, I will take a look.
Del |
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Location: Connecticut | dels56 - 2022-05-20 9:57 PM Hello to all, I am planning on switching out the rear drum brakes to discs on my 56 Dodge Custom Royal. I have converted the fronts to AAJ and now time for the rear. Other than AAJ, does anyone know of any other company or individual who supplies a kit or component for the job? I do not want to change out the rear axle and I know and understand about the park brake. Del S Since most of your braking is done with the fronts, this is really not necessary. You'll be spending lots of $$$$ with little-to-no gain and probably lots of headaches. Ron |
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Location: northern germany | Shep - 2022-05-21 6:35 PM
Pretty sure this cannot be done with that axle housing and rear axle configuration. You would need the later model, 66 up axle assy.
Is that 4.5" bolt pattern? If so, it can be done pretty easily with the modular Wilwood parts. Choose your disc mounting hat and rotor and go from there. Follow my instructions in one of the threads about that here.
You will have to cut the backing plate to use as a shaft retainer only, sandwiched between the axle hsg and your custom bracket (thats about the "instruction"). if you feel that you are capable doing such a job, everyting is self-explanatory.
While it is true, that most of the braking is done with the front, the weight saving will be noticed.
Edited by 1960fury 2022-07-19 11:22 AM
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Extreme Veteran
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| The 56 rear drum wheel mounting studs are a 4-1/2” bolt pattern. I am not concerned with a weight saving, my concern is stopping ability in today’s world of fast moving traffic. AAJ also requires cutting up the backing plates. I have no problem in that area as I have all the tools needed. However I want to find a pair of backing plates to use so I do not tie up the car while getting everything ready. If there are some out there, let me know.
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Location: So. Cal | ronbo97 - 2022-07-18 12:51 PM
Since most of your braking is done with the fronts, this is really not necessary. You'll be spending lots of $$$$ with little-to-no gain and probably lots of headaches. Ron
I agree with you, most of the time. But for a wagon, or a car that you are going to use for towing a trailer, rear disc brakes are a real benefit. My '70 Satellite wagon came with the xtra large 11x2.5" brakes on the rear of it from the factory. They work OK, as long as the car isn't loaded down very much. But if you fill it with the family & some neighbor kids in the back, load it up with swap meet items, or tow a camping trailer etc, the brakes definitely could use some help back there.
Edited by Powerflite 2022-07-19 3:33 PM
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Location: Connecticut | There will be very little difference in stopping ability between disc/drum and disc/disc. The main advantage for discs is heat dissipation. Otherwise, they will stop just about as well. Are you planning to do constant panic stops ? If not, then I wouldn't worry about it. Ron |
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Location: Connecticut | Powerflite - 2022-07-19 3:30 PM ronbo97 - 2022-07-18 12:51 PM Since most of your braking is done with the fronts, this is really not necessary. You'll be spending lots of $$$$ with little-to-no gain and probably lots of headaches. Ron I agree with you, most of the time. But for a wagon, or a car that you are going to use for towing a trailer, rear disc brakes are a real benefit. My '70 Satellite wagon came with the xtra large 11x2.5" brakes on the rear of it from the factory. They work OK, as long as the car isn't loaded down very much. But if you fill it with the family & some neighbor kids in the back, load it up with swap meet items, or tow a camping trailer etc, the brakes definitely could use some help back there. In Del's case, with a 56 Dodge, I think he'll be fine. He didn't mention towing a trailer or whether it was a wagon. In 'edge case' scenarios, yes, the four wheel discs may have an advantage. If he could theoretically put 20" drums on his car, they would work great as well. IMHO, 11 x 2.5" is not adequate, even for a sedan. That's why both my 58 Plymouth and 59 Dodge have 12 x 2.5" brakes all around. It makes a world of difference. Braking surface area and thickness of the drum are increased significantly. Ron |
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Extreme Veteran
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| I also have 71 Scamp with 10” drums all around and it stops just fine except for a little tug to the left or right the first time you apply the brakes. Once the bit of dust or whatever is cleared out of the drums it is very acceptable. My 74 valiant has discs front and drums rear.
I have looked at the cost of new rear drums that shocked the crap out of me. I can put AAJ conversion on for about the same cost as one drum.
You are correct, I am not towing a trailer and my 56 is not a suburban, it is a very pretty 2 door hardtop that I want to keep looking that way.
Del
Edited by dels56 2022-07-19 6:58 PM
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Location: northern germany | ronbo97 - 2022-07-19 3:39 PM
There will be very little difference in stopping ability between disc/drum and disc/disc. The main advantage for discs is heat dissipation. Otherwise, they will stop just about as well. Are you planning to do constant panic stops ? If not, then I wouldn't worry about it. Ron
Right about the 1rst point, I would even say none at all, but what you called an "advantage", can be the contrary in this case.
Usually less than 20% of braking is done by the rear brakes, that in case of Mopars not rarely have the same size as the front ones and since heat isn't a problem with 20% of usage, they do not fade unlike the front brakes, which leads inevitably to very dangerous rear overbraking.
I say it again, the main advantage of discs in the rear is weight reduction. It is not only power robbing rotation weight, it is also dangerous unsprung weight. Less unsprung weight, better, safer roadability a smoother ride and longer suspension component life... and of course reduced fuel consumption.
Edited by 1960fury 2022-07-19 8:20 PM
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Veteran
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Location: 33844 | There are disc-brake calipers that also serve as parking / emergency brakes.
They would be a great way to go !! |
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Location: 33844 | I bet this kit would be easy to adapt to our cars !!! On eBay.
Item #: 291835774153
NEW REAR BRAKE ROTOR,WELD-ON BRACKET,& GM METRIC CALIPER SET W/EMERGENCY PARKING
kratter (43877)
99.7% positive feedback
$299.99+ $29.99 Shipping
Edited by Richbo 2022-07-23 6:20 AM
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Regular
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| Wilwood 140-11386-d is a kit used on tapered 8 3/4. Some mods & a custom retainer has to be fabricated. |
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Expert 5K+
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| disc brakes are so much better than drums... heat dissipation also.. longer and better performance, less brake fade.. Also disc brakes are self cleaning... easier to maintain and require less maintaince... no adjusting needed. the only reason drums exist is because they are cheap . utilize ABS with disc brakes is unmatched in performance...
Edited by mikes2nd 2022-07-24 2:39 AM
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Location: 33844 | Per my post above--- PS -- this kit does NOT fit in 14" wheels !!
Edited by Richbo 2022-08-08 11:40 AM
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Location: 33844 | https://www.facebook.com/groups/ForwardLook/permalink/10159202658429... |
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Location: Denver | i put the aaj kit on the rear of my '56 plymouth with a tapered axle. not for more stopping power but because now i can buy brake parts at any auto parts store. i daily drive my car whenever i can so continually messing with stock drums was getting old. people don't always mod their cars for performance. |
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Location: 33844 | Per my post above - PS #2 --
I did mount this weld-on bracket kit on my Christine with 14" wheels -- I used a deep offset rotor (90's Jeep Wtangler) to move the caliper out from the wheel.
Christine has 4 wheel disc-brakes. Stops on a dime every time. |
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Location: 33844 | Next step -- hook up parking-brake cable to the rear disc calipers. |
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Expert 5K+
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Location: So. Cal | Cool, can you post some pictures? |
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Rear Disc Brakes
