Whilst I have no reason to doubt the theory behind Dicks description of the physics I still have to say that from a purely practical point of view, the disc brake / dual M/C conversion on my '61 has made a distinct improvement in the braking characteristics of the car. It is not only the shorter stopping distance but the feel and sensitivity of the pedal which has improved.
Now I will freely admit that by the time I did the conversion, I had developed serious hot spots on the front drums which did nothing to improve their stopping power. In addition, the improved sensitivity may be partly due to the new M/C but even when the drums were
perfect and all four wheels were quite capable of locking up, there is no doubt in my mind that the discs have been a major improvement. There seems to be more to braking than simple friction. It is about how the car handles under sharp deceleration. Perhaps some of this improvement arises from the necessary addition of a proportioning valve that governs the pressure ratio between the front and rear brakes.
Apart from the improved braking characteristics, the other advantage is simpler maintenence. No more painstaking adjustments and fiddly bleeding. On the downside, the dust from the pads turns your white wall tyres into gray walls in no time at all. Easy enough to clean but annoying all the same.
Just some observations from someone who has direct experience of both drums and discs.
Best wishes,
Tony V.
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