best all in one front disc brake kit for a 65 Dart

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B Taylor

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What is the best all in one front disc brake kit that will fit my 65 Dart. I don't want to try and source multiple parts new and old to get disc brakes.
 
What is the best all in one front disc brake kit that will fit my 65 Dart. I don't want to try and source multiple parts new and old to get disc brakes.

Aerospace has a nice kit that allows yo to use your 9" drum spindles. There's another kit that works with 10" drum spindles
 
Wilwood has a kit for 9" drum brakes that I installed about 3 years ago on my 65 Dart, I've been very satisfied with them. There's a few aftermarket kits out there that are very good.
 
I used Scarebird.
bruce how do you like this kit? what wheels do you have and can you add a parts list? 105 for the brackets and then i saw previa rotors and 1990 celebrity calipers. scarebird doesn't list any other parts needed, but im sure hoses? this direction appears to allow a conversion for well under 200....not including bigger wheels.
 
bruce how do you like this kit? what wheels do you have and can you add a parts list? 105 for the brackets and then i saw previa rotors and 1990 celebrity calipers. scarebird doesn't list any other parts needed, but im sure hoses? this direction appears to allow a conversion for well under 200....not including bigger wheels.
I bought the complete kit from Scarebird. Check their website. It includes loaded calipers that have a nub ground down to fit. Hoses and clips, rotors drilled for the 5x4 pattern. That is what held me back in the past because they would supply you with a paper template to drill the holes. The complete kit is under $500. You use your hubs minus the drums. Strip off all the parts down to bare spindles, install the brackets, calipers hoses, etc. No breaking down the front end. I am very happy with the system. Very easy to install. I am running 14 x 5.5 steelies. I don't think the factory rallye wheels fit. I had a set of repop 14x6 rallyes on it that worked fine. It's a mix of parts, but all easy to get pads, etc at Napa,and others. Scarebird also sells just the rotors predrilled separately if needed. It doesn't widen the front track either. The thickness of the rotor hat is a little thicker than the brake drum it replaces. Scarebird suggests you install longer studs which I did, but I don't think it was necessary. I don't have a parts list in front of me, but they give you the list for reference. Toyota rotors, Chevy celebrity calipers and pads, Caddy brake lines If you Goggle Scarebird, someone posted their install step by step with pictures. Bruce
 
First time that I had to give it a good teat was jumping in to a right turn lane at 60 mph. Brought me down straight and to a safe speed to make the turn. That sold me on the system. Bruce
 
great, i'll check around. i did a quick generic rockauto on the parts and saw rotors were super cheap less than 20/piece. calipers plus core on top was just around 20 per. bearings couldn't be much and then hoses....maybe right at 200 w/ the bracket. lemme find that link. thanks!
Vern
 
With Scarebird, you will need to drill new holes in the rotors for your 5 x 4" bolt pattern, or buy the rotors from them already drilled. Most all the choices can be bought as complete kits, it is just a question of price: ~$800 for Wilwood, ~$600 for the 1973+ front disk setup, ~$200 for Scarebird. Replacement parts will be easier and cheaper w/ Scarebird.
 
With Scarebird, you will need to drill new holes in the rotors for your 5 x 4" bolt pattern, or buy the rotors from them already drilled. Most all the choices can be bought as complete kits, it is just a question of price: ~$800 for Wilwood, ~$600 for the 1973+ front disk setup, ~$200 for Scarebird. Replacement parts will be easier and cheaper w/ Scarebird.

You can get the 73+ Mopar disk kit from Dr diff with the small ball joint adaptors to keep the stock UCA's for $480. Includes everything- spindles, caliper brackets, calipers, rotors, bearings, hoses, dust shields and hardware. But it does convert you to BBP. The replacement parts are all stock 73+ A-body though, so, I don't see how that's difficult. Maybe more expensive than the metric stuff the scarebird kit uses though.

The scarebird kit is $105 for just the adaptors, the entire kit is $480 and I don't see bearings and a few other things you'll need in there. Not gonna get that conversion done for $200.
 
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Forgive me for hijacking OP! Though I think this is valid information for all :)

I actually have LBP on my 63 vert front and back. 10" front drum. I am leaning on the scarebird as I can piece it together over time and not hit the bank all at once. Plus with the rock auto coupons I'm getting :)

Side note, Bill I believe u r the poster of the dual master. Thank you...I just completed it last week. Big difference even on drum. I believe I locked it up just a tad up front on a tester :)
 
You can get the 73+ Mopar disk kit from Dr diff with the small ball joint adaptors to keep the stock UCA's for $480. Includes everything- spindles, caliper brackets, calipers, rotors, bearings, hoses, dust shields and hardware. But it does convert you to BBP. The replacement parts are all stock 73+ A-body though, so, I don't see how that's difficult. Maybe more expensive than the metric stuff the scarebird kit uses though.

The scarebird kit is $105 for just the adaptors, the entire kit is $480 and I don't see bearings and a few other things you'll need in there. Not gonna get that conversion done for $200.

In reference to the bearings, you use your existing hubs and wheel bearings. I like the kit because I had done a complete suspension rebuild earlier in the season, so none of that work was lost. All of these brake conversions are like shocks or tires. Many choices to pick from. Scarebird just happened to be the one that worked for me from both price and ease of install. Bruce
 
You can get the 73+ Mopar disk kit from Dr diff with the small ball joint adaptors to keep the stock UCA's for $480. Includes everything- spindles, caliper brackets, calipers, rotors, bearings, hoses, dust shields and hardware. But it does convert you to BBP. The replacement parts are all stock 73+ A-body though, so, I don't see how that's difficult. Maybe more expensive than the metric stuff the scarebird kit uses though.

The scarebird kit is $105 for just the adaptors, the entire kit is $480 and I don't see bearings and a few other things you'll need in there. Not gonna get that conversion done for $200.

it is hard to beat these mopar pieces.They just work great and were designed for A bodies!
 
In reference to the bearings, you use your existing hubs and wheel bearings. I like the kit because I had done a complete suspension rebuild earlier in the season, so none of that work was lost. All of these brake conversions are like shocks or tires. Many choices to pick from. Scarebird just happened to be the one that worked for me from both price and ease of install. Bruce

I suppose if you knew they were fresh/recently installed wheel bearings that would work. If they were something that "came in the car" with an unknown history I wouldn't do it that way with a full brake upgrade. But maybe that's just me.
 
Hmmm. I'm already 4.5" BP all around on my 63 from the PO. Can I not go scarebird now?
 
Hmmm. I'm already 4.5" BP all around on my 63 from the PO. Can I not go scarebird now?

Depends. There were never any front drums for A-bodies that were BBP. So, you have to figure out what spindles you have on your car...
 
In reference to Scarebird, someone above said, "I don't think the factory rallye wheels fit."

Jake and I did Scarbird on his 65 B'cuda. He is running SBP rallye wheels - Mopar wheels, not aftermarket/repro - up front. They fit fine. And yes, the kit is easy to install. Drilling the rotors ourself was easy as well. I would not pay the mark up to get the rotors pre-drilled.
 
In reference to Scarebird, someone above said, "I don't think the factory rallye wheels fit."

Jake and I did Scarbird on his 65 B'cuda. He is running SBP rallye wheels - Mopar wheels, not aftermarket/repro - up front. They fit fine. And yes, the kit is easy to install. Drilling the rotors ourself was easy as well. I would not pay the mark up to get the rotors pre-drilled.

That issue might have resolved by Scarebird in their contouring process of the calipers. I'm running factory 14x5.5 steelies with no problems. Being able to purchase predrilled rotors is a nice option for anyone nervous about drilling their own rotors and getting them right.
 
Depends. There were never any front drums for A-bodies that were BBP. So, you have to figure out what spindles you have on your car...
so....... maybe I measured them wrong? I ordered off rockauto for my year dart, 63, and got the 10" front drums and the bolt pattern fit them. I just googled how to measure the bp and got 4.5. is there a mopar preferred method?
 
IMG_4640.GIF
 
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