kits available for disc brakes

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MLC Dodge

MLC Dodge

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I have a 1974 Duster with a small bolt pattern (5 on 4") in a slant six car. The 10 inch drums up front do stop the car, but I think I want to invest in disc brakes for the front. I want to retain the lug bolt pattern and my wheels are cragar ss 15 inch front and back. I realize that parts and pieces can be assembled more inexpensively, but I'd prefer to buy all new in engineered kit. Could I get some recommendations on good front disc brake conversion kits for the small bolt pattern? I'm a fair wrench turner, just new to Mopar. I guess I need the spindles too? I want to buy everything from a single company to keep it simple.
 
I bought just the brackets from scarebird for around $110, there well built and look nice; I can't tell you how they work as I haven't installed them yet

you can also buy a whole kit from them for about $425 that includes everything you need for a whole conversion and it uses over the counter parts available anywhere
 
If you want a complete bolt on set up , Another option would be Stainless Steel Brake Corp.They have the small bolt pattern and the only requirement is 10'' drum brake spindles, your car has those.
 
Darter6 said:
If you want a complete bolt on set up , Another option would be Stainless Steel Brake Corp.They have the small bolt pattern and the only requirement is 10'' drum brake spindles, your car has those.
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SSBC brake kits are very expensive compared to scarebird

and if your aguement is it uses off brand parts; well I don't too much like that either but I would rather stop then be brand loyal with brake parts

but when it comes to engines and you won't see anything but mopar on my car
 
I didn't see anything in his post about low cost.Just keeping the small bolt pattern in a well engineered kit.That's what I read. Again, just another option.Sorry to offend.
 
Thanks to all. I guess I need to call some of the companies. Most indicate the kits have larger bolt patterns than mine. I don't want to drill rotors.
 
MLC Dodge said:
Thanks to all. I guess I need to call some of the companies. Most indicate the kits have larger bolt patterns than mine. I don't want to drill rotors.
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Do you mean you don't want to drill the rotors yourself? I think you can get pre-drilled rotors from scarebird
 
kittypancake said:
Do you mean you don't want to drill the rotors yourself? I think you can get pre-drilled rotors from scarebird
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yeah it comes as his $425 kit, I would rather spend $75 for a pair of rotors and $25 at a machine shop then wait a week and spend $300 on a set of rotors from SSBC or wilwood
 
If you really want to keep your 4 inch bolt pattern, and go to disc brakes, there is another way to do it if you want to go that route.
Locate a rebuildable 65-72 Kelsey Hayes disc brake system, if one could be found anywhere.
They are small, 4 inch bolt pattern.
I used to sell quite a few rebuilt set up's through the for sale pages on this forum.
But then you would have to change your upper control arms over to 62-72 UCA's and use disc brake lower ball joints for the 65-72 cars.
Would be expensive, but it can be done.
I have seen one car done like that, because the guy already had the majority of the parts to do it.
Upper control arms are a dime a dozen.
Every car of those years had to have them, so no big deal, it's the lower ball joints that get expensive.
 
Thanks people. As I've come to understand, there is really no way to upgrade my car to disc brakes AND retain the 4 inch bolt pattern. Just goes to show that an impatient novice will make very costly mistakes! I have just purchased new Cragar SS wheels and tires that would be useless if I upgrade. What a dumb mistake. Now I am at a real crossroad. The car is a slant six. I really wanted a V8 and thought that I could easily upgrade to the V8 since the body and paint were so nice. If I did it right, I would need a new engine, tranny, driveshaft, rear end, wheels, radiator, and front disc brakes. While the car is nice, I'm thinking it would be much cheaper to sell it and start with a V8 car. Any opinions?
 
I started with a slant six car. Got a 360/727 and put that in but I only changed the radiator and driveshaft when I did the swap. I finally got a new rear end after 4 years of beating the old 7 1/4 and I still have not touched the breaks on my car. I eventually will upgrade to discs but as long as you rebuild your drums then you should have no problem stopping a v8 car. Plus I can vouch for the 7 1/4. I put the v8 in when I was 18 and went through some serious tires with that rear end and it never gave me any trouble at all. Just dont put slicks on it and you should be able to take your time and build as you go.
 
i am running the scarebird kit on my dart drag car. i runs 10.30
and have no issues stopping.works great. has the celebrity rotors and calipers.
i have no complaints. since then i have added the wheel adapaters and run them with the 4.5 inch pattern now.
 
Just finished installing the Scarebird conversion on my son's 65 B'cuda... Drilling the rotors was not a problem at all... I was going to take them to a machine shop but decoded to give it a go... Scarebird gives you a template - just center punch the marks and drill em out... I was surprised at how easy they were to drill - used a 18v dewalt 1/2 drill.... no drill press here. Had to grind/file the calipers a little for clearance on the spindle - just a result of these particular castings of the calipers..
 

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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ So it was a pretty straight forward install then? I have a 6 cylinder 71 Duster that i want to convert to Discs. This kit comes with the correct spindles etc?
 
MLC Dodge said:
As I've come to understand, there is really no way to upgrade my car to disc brakes AND retain the 4 inch bolt pattern.
Click to expand...

Umm, sure there is. The Scarebird conversion using GM calipers and rotors and the factory Kelsey Hayes disks from 67-72, both mentioned above...
 
So is every 6 cylinder car a 9" front drum brake car. and i need a kit with spindles to replace it all.
 
Fisher said:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ So it was a pretty straight forward install then? I have a 6 cylinder 71 Duster that i want to convert to Discs. This kit comes with the correct spindles etc?
Click to expand...

you reuse your drum brake spindles for the disc brakes, go to scarebird brakes and read the writeups
 
Fisher said:
So is every 6 cylinder car a 9" front drum brake car. and i need a kit with spindles to replace it all.
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ususally if there factory, but most A bodies are 40 years old so its always a good idea to measure your drums to make sure someone didn't upgrade to 10" drums
 
MLC,

I used the SSBC kit on my '71 Dart GT that had the 10" front drums and the 5 on 4" small bolt pattern with 14 x 5 1/2" Rallye wheels.
My car also has the 8 3/4" 3.23:1 sure-grip rear end also sporting the 5 on 4" small bolt pattern with the same 14 x 5 1/2" Rallye wheels.
The SSBC kit was expensive ($830 to my door (from Mancini Racing)), but was a breeze to install. I'd use them again!
Good luck with your decision.
 
abs just came out with a 4" patern conversion kit, they are available from classic industries. i just put their kit on a couple of vehicles at the shop, easy breasy.
 
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