[WANTED] 66 Barracuda Disk Brake setup

[Michael Brisebois]

I want to get better braking out of my 66 and wanted to pick your brains.

1. As my car came through with 13" wheels, my understanding is that I'll need 14" to fit a caliper
2. Does the spindle assembly need to be replaced, or can I strip it down and add calipers and dust shield? ( of course the rotors)
3. I've never added a proportioning valve to a "single" master cylinder, I imagine that there won't be an issue
4. does anyone have a setup for sale? I'm trying not to pay the $500, or more, that I'm finding on line

Suggestion/experience appreciated. I'm heading to Carlyle in July, but exactly sure of what I need or looking for

 

[valiantwagonguy]

First off throw away the single master and upgrade to a 67 and up dual. There is a reason the govt. mandated this change and if you are worried about originality ponder this : When your single master fails and you slam into someone your car is wrecked and all that original is wrecked with it forever.5 dollar trophies from the car show aren't worth the price of keeping that piece of junk on your firewall . You need the spindle from a disc brake car up to 72 or 3 whenever it was that they went to the large center hole rims .The spindles and dust shields will be used,I have never seen new ones , the rest of the stuff can be bought as replacement parts . It will cost .

 

[65 Dartman]

I want to get better braking out of my 66 and wanted to pick your brains.

As my car came through with 13" wheels, my understanding is that I'll need 14" to fit a caliper

Yes, at least 14 in wheels

2. Does the spindle assembly need to be replaced, or can I strip it down and add calipers and dust shield? ( of course the rotors)

If you use the late 65 to 72 Kelsey Hayes 4 Piston calipers, yes the spindle needs to be changed to that style for the disc brakes. There are kits out there that allow you to retain the original spindle and uses their caliper adapters. You buy locally whatever calipers/rotors they specify for their kits. Lots of threads in the brake part of the forum - start reading! As an aside to using those kits, you might be required to go to 15 inch wheels. The Kelsey Hayes uses 14 in wheells.

I've never added a proportioning valve to a "single" master cylinder, I imagine that there won't be an issue

Use either a stock or adjustable proportioning valve

does anyone have a setup for sale? I'm trying not to pay the $500, or more, that I'm finding on line
Suggestion/experience appreciated. I'm heading to Carlyle in July, but exactly sure of what I need or looking for

I’ve seen several more or less complete setups in the appropriate For Sale section of the For Sale ads. Keep in mind that even though they will be locked after 30 days, they might still be for sale. Start a conversation with the individual to check. Good luck!

EDIT: and as Valiantwagonguy said, ditch the single pot master cylinder and go to a 2 pot!

 

[KosmicKuda]

According to Ehrenberg the 9" lower ball joint is much weaker than the 10" drum or disc brake LBJ. I think he calls them dangerous.

The optional factory SBP discs were 4 piston Kelsy Hayes. Pretty much the same as early Mustangs.

If you eventually want go to the LBP discs then one of the more economical swaps is to 73-76 A body discs. Or F body snd similar.

 

[Michael Brisebois]

According to Ehrenberg the 9" lower ball joint is much weaker than the 10" drum or disc brake LBJ. I think he calls them dangerous.

The optional factory SBP discs were 4 piston Kelsy Hayes. Pretty much the same as early Mustangs.

If you eventually want go to the LBP discs then one of the more economical swaps is to 73-76 A body discs. Or F body snd similar.

That will take me out of the 4" bolt circle and into a 4-1/4".....right?

 

[cosgig]

That will take me out of the 4" bolt circle and into a 4-1/4".....right?

That’s correct!!....almost! The larger bolt circle is actually 4 1/2”. And, in order to use the 73 and up single piston setup you would need either the larger ball joint UCA’s from a 73 and up car, or the conversion ball joint from Dr. Diff. You will also need the 73 and up spindles, and the caliper brackets! The rest can be bought over the counter.

The earlier K-H 4 piston setup needs to have a different lower ball joint, the spindles, caliper brackets and bolts, and the hose brackets for the crossover line, dust shields, and 14x5.5” small bolt pattern rims! The rest can be bought over the counter!

 

[Michael Brisebois]

Let's get my mind straight, please correct any misconceptions that I have

Early A bodies (64-66 Valiant's & Barracuda's) were available with 13" and 14" wheels.
Both 13" & 14" wheels came with the 4" bolt circle.
Cars fitted with the optional disk brakes ( Kelsey & Hayes) had 14" wheels to clear the calipers and these wheels were the 4" bolt circle.

Correct?

If so, then an original K&H style disk brake system will fit right in with the existing spindles, control arms and ball joints.

I've already exceeded the value of the car and I know there is a few $1,000's more to go before my desires are satisfied, it seems to me that the best and most affordable direction is to locate an original setup.

Does anyone have this setup?

 

[cosgig]

Let's get my mind straight, please correct any misconceptions that I have

Early A bodies (64-66 Valiant's & Barracuda's) were available with 13" and 14" wheels.
Both 13" & 14" wheels came with the 4" bolt circle.
Cars fitted with the optional disk brakes ( Kelsey & Hayes) had 14" wheels to clear the calipers and these wheels were the 4" bolt circle.

Correct?

If so, then an original K&H style disk brake system will fit right in with the existing spindles, control arms and ball joints.

I've already exceeded the value of the car and I know there is a few $1,000's more to go before my desires are satisfied, it seems to me that the best and most affordable direction is to locate an original setup.

Does anyone have this setup?

Yes, you are correct that it will bolt right in, but not with any of your existing drum brake spindles or lower ball joints! The upper ball joints and A arm can stay, but you need disc brake spindles, lower ball joints and all of the brackets from the K-H setup!

I have this exact setup on my 66 Cuda. I sourced all of my parts from a 67 Cuda, including the distribution block, and the intermediate block. As a matter of reference, I also ordered a line kit for the 67, which is the same as 66, and used a master cylinder correct for a 69 Dart with manual disc brakes! My car was a manual drum brake car, now manual disc!

 

[hemi71x]

This is what a factory set up will look like.

 

[Michael Brisebois]

Yes, you are correct that it will bolt right in, but not with any of your existing drum brake spindles or lower ball joints! The upper ball joints and A arm can stay, but you need disc brake spindles, lower ball joints and all of the brackets from the K-H setup!

I have this exact setup on my 66 Cuda. I sourced all of my parts from a 67 Cuda, including the distribution block, and the intermediate block. As a matter of reference, I also ordered a line kit for the 67, which is the same as 66, and used a master cylinder correct for a 69 Dart with manual disc brakes! My car was a manual drum brake car, now manual disc!

You said the upper control arm can stay, but the lower ball joint needs to be replaced.........does the lower A frame accept the new ball joint?

 

[cosgig]

You said the upper control arm can stay, but the lower ball joint needs to be replaced.........does the lower A frame accept the new ball joint?

Yes, the lower control arm can stay, just the ball joint needs replaced!

 

[hemi71x]

You said the upper control arm can stay, but the lower ball joint needs to be replaced.........does the lower A frame accept the new ball joint?

If your existing ball joints are still pretty tight and you want to continue using them, if you find a 65-72 Kelsey Hayes disc brake set up, all you have to do is drill out the mounting bolt holes to 9/16 diameter.
Easy peasy.

 

[Bigboy 68]

I have a k&h disc brake setup if you're interested hubs spindles dust Shields a nice used set of ball joints all the hardware the rotors need to be turned or cut as they are rusted or replaced and the calipers are cores please PM me if you're interested no distribution block but you can pick one of those up along with the Dual master cylinder

 

[Michael Brisebois]

I have a k&h disc brake setup if you're interested hubs spindles dust Shields a nice used set of ball joints all the hardware the rotors need to be turned or cut as they are rusted or replaced and the calipers are cores please PM me if you're interested no distribution block but you can pick one of those up along with the Dual master cylinder

I'm interested if it's an original setup with a 4" bolt circle. What condition are the calipers in? What's the price?

 

[hemi71x]

I'm interested if it's an original setup with a 4" bolt circle. What condition are the calipers in? What's the price?

He stated the calipers are "cores"