Disc brake conversion (70 Dart)

Yup, you've got it. DoctorDiff will have all the parts you need to refurb/replace everything for the 73+ mopar brakes.

Also keep in mind your tire choice. If you're planning on running 15" wheels and BFG T/A's, you can put the biggest, most expensive brakes you can afford on there and it won't make a lick of difference, because you'll be traction limited before you're braking force limited. Doesn't matter how much clamp force you generate at the rotor if you can't put it to the ground.

And, the "new tech" thing isn't really accurate. The old Kelsey Hayes calipers that were used on the A-bodies from '70-'72 are actually 4 piston fixed calipers, just like the Wilwoods are. The biggest drawback to them isn't their braking performance, it's the scarcity of reproduction parts available to rebuild them.



I'm not sure what your problem is. I don't "play" a Mechanical Engineer, and I wouldn't claim to be an ME anyway because it would be selling my education short. I hold an Aerospace Engineering degree from UCLA, which required me to take every class a ME would take and then Fluid Dynamics on top of that. I participated in Formula SAE for two years while I was in school, and then a couple of Aerospace competitions after that. I left the industry after college, but let's face it, brake calipers are not rocket science and I'm more than qualified to weigh in.

I would have no problem understanding any data you posted. Of course, you haven't posted any, not in any of your threads here. I know if I worked at a "suspension R&D shop" and had access to that kind of equipment I would be testing the crap out of all the stuff I was installing on my car, but I guess you don't bother.

And I certainly didn't "make up" any data. I used the specifications right off of Wilwood's site, as well as the dimensions I pulled off of an extra set of the Mopar 73+ calipers that I have. Hell I even linked to the specs.

I DO understand why clamping force is a benefit. And I said in post #12 of this thread that multi-piston, fixed calipers are more efficient at transferring force at the piston into actual clamping force. They lose less of the generated force at the piston to flex and have more even pressures across the pads, both of which improve the clamping force. But, the Wilwood calipers in questions have a significant disadvantage because of their smaller pad and piston area. They generate less force at the piston than the Mopar calipers, that's just the reality of their piston area. I have NEVER argued that single piston sliding calipers are better than fixed multi-piston calipers in general. But that's not what we're talking about, we're talking about two specific calipers, and while the Mopar calipers do have a simple, less efficient design they also have a lot more piston area.

Now, neither one of us knows for sure if the actual clamping force is better for the 73+ Mopar brakes or the Wilwoods. That number can't be calculated like the force generated at the pistons, it has to be measured because you have to know how much force is being lost to flex and uneven pad pressures. No caliper will transmit 100% of the force at the pistons to the rotors. The 73+ mopar calipers would need to lose an extra 24% of the generated force at the piston though, which is a lot, to end up having less clamp force than the Wilwoods we're talking about, because that's what the Wilwoods are giving up for piston area. Is it possible the Mopar calipers are losing that much force? Sure, it's possible. But again, someone would actually have to test it in order to know that for sure.

Now, if you've tested every OEM brake system available since 1996 why don't you actually test a set of 73+ Mopar calipers against the Wilwood Dynalite's and post up the actual clamp forces? You can easily do that if you have the equipment and experience you claim to have, and personally I'd LOVE to see the testing results. Even if they prove me wrong. At least then people can make an educated choice between the 73+ mopar calipers and the Wilwoods, weighing the cost of the Wilwoods against their actual performance.

YOU are the one that claimed YOUR Brake Force Calculator was the best thing to use to evaluate a braking system. And you are also the one who claimed to be a Aerospace Engineer?

Now you have a problem with admitting you calculated the Wilwood calipers which are (4) piston and not (2) to get wrong info.

Just admit you were wrong and be done buddy!

i have tested almost all these brake systems on our brake dyno with brake pads and solid steel replacement pads. I work at an R&D OEM and everybody comes to us for evaluation. I don't have to look much further than your amateur numbers you came up with to know you had a mistake in obtaining your data. Your numbers weren't even close. But just using it to prove you didn't calculate your numbers right will never be enough for 72bluNblu will it.

Where is your data? As always, it's just you opinion and a Brake Force Calculator you screwed up and won't admit you calculated wrong. You yourself admit you have never taken any of your cars to a race track and claim to drive like a little old lady everywhere on the street, so where are you getting your testing results? And your correction numbers are wrong too. But I like the fact you took my reasons where multi-piston calipers benefit a braking system and retyped it on here like you discovered that info.

If your an Aerospace Engineer and machinist like you say you should be able to build your own brake force dyno on your lathe, then post REAL data here instead of your opinion that hurts our aftermarket. I'm sure it won't be up to SAE parameters for testing, but it would be real data, a big step for 72bluNblu!

Until I see REAL data you have collected, this is all just your opinion. As usual... So just suck it up like a big boy and admit you were blowing smoke out your ***.

Most of the people on this forum are happy with drum brakes or stock disc set ups. So that's really all they need here about.