disc brakes on 55 Century

[BCCR55]

Hi all,

Anybody any experience with mounting disc brakes to the front wheels of a '55 Buick? Perhaps tips and/or tricks on what to do and what not, types and measures, maybe even a place where to buy these (online?) ??

Any info is welcome. Modern traffic makes me want to put these on for some more serious braking power. B.t.w.: I have no power brakes on my '55 Century. Is this a limitation, advantage or does it make no difference w.r.t. what I want?

Cheers, Peter.

[chuk0823]

Hey I've been fighting the same old story for years. I can't find an affordable way to put decent brakes on my 55 special. I wish Fatman fabs (they make a stock dropped spindle) would make a conversion. How hard would it be for them to cut down a Buick spindle to chevy size? Master power brakes says that they are working on it and the first spindle of thiers will be out in a few years. But it hasn't came out either. I have taken my car to street rod shops and got estimates to install different subframes, it all comes down to one thing. There is not a cheap solution... the answer I get every time is that it takes gobs of your money to make it the way you want it. Maybe if enough people call and they see a demand Fatman would give us what we want. There # is 704-545-0369. There's been talk about drilling drums. I haven't tried it yet but might. heres the link for that http://www.chtopping.com/CustomRod4/

I am calling fatman tomorrow (again) PLEASE do the same

[nailhead55]

I saw an add and checked out Stainless Steel Brakes. They had a setup for late 40's early 50's Chevy pick up trucks ( did I really say that?) They said they would need the spacing for the mounting holes, and some other stuff I don't have for spacing, ect.
Good luck
Walt

[chuk0823]

I am in the process of adapting a disk to the stock hub and making a 1/2 inch steel caliper bracket. Should be about 3 weeks and I will have disk brakes.

[nailhead55]

Keep us posted on your progress and problems. I know there are many others out there that will be very interested. PLEASE!!!
Good luck,
Walt

[BCCR55]

Yes, please keep us posted. If you can, make a complete picture story of the work you're doing.
At the moment I'm trying to work something out with a local rod shop as well, if it works I'll let you all know.

cheers,
Peter.

[chuk0823]

Here's what I am doing and it will work. I bought 3 inch brake hats and rotors to fit my calipers that I got off a 78 GMC van which are pretty standard calipers. If you grind off the rivets that hold your drum to the hub and remove the drum then you will have to have 1/8" shaved off of the outside of the hub for clearance into the brake hat. You will also have to put a wheel spacer over that to make room for the steering knuckle. I found that the 3" hat will not work as the bracket would also have to be spaced back an extra inch. So, I have decided to order the 2" brake hat and save some trouble making the bracket. But, the 2" are 40 more dollars a pieces because you can only get these in aluminum. Speedway Motors sells all parts for this and most parts are IMCA racing legal. Install a power booster in the trunk complete with RCV and a Prop valve and you have disk brakes. You don't even have to remove your stock master cylinder because you can use it to power the slave cylinder for the booster in the trunk. The bracket I have started to make out of 1/2" steel and onle requires two pieces and will mount rear of the front wheel. I have all of the dimensions and after I get done with my set and make any improvements that I deem necessary I am contemplating making many sets and distributing them. My email is charles1955b@msn.com for more info.

[nailhead55]

One small question. What is a

brake hat? Good luck

[chuk0823]

Ok, First take a front complete front disk brake hub. It has three parts acting as one: 1) Hub mounts to spindle. 2)adapter to mount brake disk 3) the disk itself. You already have a hub assembly so that takes care of #1. To adapt a bare brake disk to that the simplest way is the brake hat which slides over the hub and studs (or in the case of the buick.... holes) The disk bolts directly to the Hat. Go to speedwaymotors.com go to street rod section go to Brakes View All and they are on the second page

[chuk0823]

Disk looks like this

[mdapperdan]

Has anyone tried to use a later model upper/lower with spindel that allready has the disk brake?

[erosales]

Front Disc brakes fro 55 Buick Special.

Mike Pemberton 510 501-6299 makes an adaptor bracket with instruction and what parts to buy to install disc brakes for 1955 to 58 Buicks. You buy the rotor,caliper,hose and parts you need. Mike ONLY supplies the brackets and instruction of how to do it.

Also you can use a 2 ich drop spro=ings in the front from rareparts.com Dave Waters.

Goodluck

[buick195646r]

Hey Guys

Can this same procedure be performed on a 1956 Buick? The Front ends are a bit different The '56 has conventional tube type shocks, where as the '55's have the Lever Action Shocks.

It sounds like a pretty good Upgrade.

Thanks,

Tom Gallagher

[BJR]

Hey Guys

Can this same procedure be performed on a 1956 Buick? The Front ends are a bit different The '56 has conventional tube type shocks, where as the '55's have the Lever Action Shocks.

It sounds like a pretty good Upgrade.

Thanks,

Tom Gallagher

The 54-56 Buicks share the same front ends, and do NOT have lever action shocks on the front. All 3 years use tube shocks. Brian

[Judd]

Tom
The spindles are the same from I think 40 to 56. I would guess the convertion would work on any of these cars. I still like your polished finned drums idea though.
Judd

[buick195646r]

Hi Brian,

Thank's for clearing up the SHOCK Issue. Your Valued Information is Greatly Appreciated

Tom Gallagher

[buick195646r]

Hey JUDD,

I think the Polished Finned Aluminum Brake Drums are the way to go.
It is difficult finding a Good Set with enough "meat" on them. Most do not have enough material remaining or just enough for one "Turn"

Tom Gallagher

[Judd]

Tom
I was told on a traditional hot rodders list that some one was going to do reproductions of the Buick finned drums.
Judd

[buick195646r]

JUDD

I believe the name of the Firm is Wilson Enterprises Engineering or Reproductions They are located in Flowermound, TX.
I know a while back they were planning on reproducing the Finned Drums. I don't know if they have progressed to the actual reproduction. I don't know what applications they will fit. I haven't inquired. But rumor has it that they will be about 200 bucks a wheel.
So I better start saving those empty aluminum beverage cans and recycle.
How many cans will it take to make a Rim? LOL

Tom Gallagher

[Airy Cat]

Roadmaster front drums, shoes, and backing plates are larger than the Special/Century brakes and will help with the stopping a lot better. They will bolt right in.

[buick195646r]

Airy Cat

Thanks' for the Response and for forwarding that Valuable Information. I was not aware that, the simple bolt-on modification was possible :Dou: (You learn something New Everyday). Thank's for passing that along. :TU: :beer

Tom Gallagher

[BJR]

Roadmaster front drums, shoes, and backing plates are larger than the Special/Century brakes and will help with the stopping a lot better. They will bolt right in.

Do the Supers have the bigger brakes like the Roadmasters? Are the brakes the same for all 3 years, 54,55,56? If so that gives us more cars to choose from for donors. Brian

[Airy Cat]

Only the Roadmasters have the larger front brakes not the Supers.

[sue55buick]

On E-Bay under 1955 Olsmobile a shop called Street Rod Garage is offering a full disk brake kit listed for 52-57 Buick and Olds. I hope this helps, good luck.

[buick195646r]

Hi Sue,

Thanks for forwarding to us that Valued Information.

The Kit appears to be pretty comprehensive. Bidding starts at $819.00!

A little to rich for my "as time any money permits" project.

There has to be another alternative application that would be a little easier on the wallet.

Tom Gallagher

[kindacool]

Regarding the kit on ebay:
Considering the very individual lay-out of the 1956 Brake System with the one-year-only master cylinders, which are mounted very low at the frame, I highly doubt that this multi-application-kit really is suitable for 1956 Buicks.

What does everybody else think ?

Best regards
Kindacool

[buick195646r]

Hey Kindacool,

Upon furthur inspection of the Disc Brake Conversion Kit offered on E-bay,
it appears that one would have to convert quite a few things including installing a New, Modern (firewall mounted or other modified location) Master Cylinder, Brake lines among other things. This is certainly NOT a bolt-on application for any Mid-Fifties Classic. More Mods more money more headackes as well as time, patience and problems.

I think that I'm going to stick with my 59-60 Finned Aluminum Drum and Roadmonster front brake set-up. It's "bolt-on" and keeps with the nostalgic theme. Isn't that the reason we bought mid-fifties classics in the first place?

Tom Gallagher

[kindacool]

Hi Tom,

that is exactly what I meant. For converting to disc brakes under no circumstances you can use the old master cylinder ! This issue is very good explained here: http://www.mpbrakes.com/ in the "About master cylinders"-section...
Thus, you will have to use a different master cylinder anyway and I doubt that there is one available for the unique construction of the 1956 Buick brake (even the original ones are difficult to come by...) and when you mount them in a different location, almost everything changes in respect of pedal leverage and so on...

I guess converting a 1956 Buick will always stay a hell of a lot of work... http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0304/teufel/devil-smiley-029.gif

Best regards
Kindacool

[buick195646r]

Hey Kindacool,

I thought that this topic is right up You alley, sice You are in the midst of doing a Mater Cylinder Rebuild.
A Modern Master would have to be Relocated for sure. But where too? And still have access to it to refill brake fluid? Nevermind the Other Modifications involved.

Keeping a '56 in operation is certainly tough enough. I don't think there is a need to Complicate existing conditions. You would also have to convert the hubs, find the correct lug bolt configuration, ya da, ya da, ya da!

By the way, I think the annimated Devil and the flames of hell is very appropriate. It's also Kindacool.

Try not to work too, too hard.

Best Regards,

Tom Gallagher

[Judd]

I have a friend with a specialty built for racing sports car that has 4 wheel Wildwood disc brakes. The master cylinder is a disc brake no power cylinder with remote reservoir that looks to be easily adapted to my 56 in the original location? The clutch has the same set up.
Judd