Brake Conversion Options

[Austin Spencer]

I've got a 65 Dart GT Convertible with a 318 and a 727 with a Gearvendors. It came with Manual, single reservoir MC, Drum brakes on all 4 corners. The rears are 9", not sure about the front but I'd assume the same. I've got a leak somewhere at the rear, and I was about to just replace wheel cylinders and shoes since everything else looked fine, and now I'm thinking I may as well start on some sort of conversion.

For the rear, how much is required to swap to a larger size drum? I'm assuming most everything, backing plate, wheel cylinders, shoes, springs, self-adjuster, other hardware. I've got stock steel 14" wheels, so would I only be able to go up to 10"? Lastly, would that even be worth it?

For the front, I want to eventually get to front disc brakes. For a short time I may just work with the front drums, mainly just to drive it around the block and test things, but front disc with a dual reservoir MC is definitely on my list. This is one of the kits I was looking at, but I'm open to any ideas or if anyone has used this kit and had issues that'd be good to know. This does say that I'd need 15" wheels, so if there's a kit where I can keep my 14" wheels that would be better.
https://www.classicindustries.com/p...lnDJqa-wLCDQR-ODStlWJ1Ks0XCyXrbicAaAsHjEALw_w

This is another kit I saw recommended, it says it fits most 14". I'll have to measure mine to see if it would fit in with mine, but it also states it is a manual system.
1962-74 Dodge Dart Mopar A-Body Front Disc Brake Conversion Kit for 5x4.5 Bolt Pattern & Manual Brakes

I also would like to look into power brakes for this, so options/opinions on that would be appreciated. If I end up with one of the above kits which both say they are a manual system, I'd just need to replace the MC and add a booster to make it a power system, correct?

For now before I order anything for the rear I'd like to see how much harder it'd be just to swap to 10" before I go buying parts for the current 9" system.

 

[junkyardhero]

#1 do you want to keep your wheels? and if so, why?

this answer lays out which fork in the road you take
(mostly)

swapping to 10" is pretty much all the same work and parts as swapping to disc (minus the wheels).

 

[Austin Spencer]

#1 do you want to keep your wheels? and if so, why?

this answer lays out which fork in the road you take
(mostly)

swapping to 10" is pretty much all the same work and parts as swapping to disc (minus the wheels).

I'd prefer to keep them just to keep costs down right now. I hadn't planned on swapping them, I still have all 4 of the chrome dog dish caps and didn't plan on swapping them anytime soon. I'm not opposed to swapping them, but if I'm going to have to go in on new wheels and tires than I'll probably be keeping the 9" drums all around until I can do everything at once.

Perhaps I'll just keep the 9" in the rear since I have the 7 1/4" rear end, and I'd rather not spend money on that unless I'm replacing it. Just get it working and put the money toward a front disc kit.

 

[junkyardhero]

honestly, you'd be doing it piece meal. personally, i'd wait and just do everything at once.

though, you can usually find take off 10" drums for a song you're really just trading the same set of problems-- and you'll [likely] have to rebuild everything anyway. that's money, time, effort and curse words better spent on a well function disc system.

i would consider the upgrade to dual master an absolute must, though. even with 9" drums. and i'd make that happen even if i had to jump back and re-do portions of it later.

 

[Austin Spencer]

honestly, you'd be doing it piece meal. personally, i'd wait and just do everything at once.

though, you can usually find take off 10" drums for a song you're really just trading the same set of problems-- and you'll [likely] have to rebuild everything anyway. that's money, time, effort and curse words better spent on a well function disc system.

i would consider the upgrade to dual master an absolute must, though. even with 9" drums. and i'd make that happen even if i had to jump back and re-do portions of it later.

Yeah I'd like to get most of it done at the same time, at least do all of the rear, and then all of the front.

I'm going to measure my front wheels and see if it fits the second kit I posted, since they say they're kit will work with most 14" wheels. If I can do that, I'll probably just get my rear 9" drums completely working, and put the effort into the front disc conversion including the dual master.

 

[Professor Fate]

I've got a 65 Dart GT Convertible with a 318 and a 727 with a Gearvendors. It came with Manual, single reservoir MC, Drum brakes on all 4 corners. The rears are 9", not sure about the front but I'd assume the same. I've got a leak somewhere at the rear, and I was about to just replace wheel cylinders and shoes since everything else looked fine, and now I'm thinking I may as well start on some sort of conversion.

For the rear, how much is required to swap to a larger size drum? I'm assuming most everything, backing plate, wheel cylinders, shoes, springs, self-adjuster, other hardware. I've got stock steel 14" wheels, so would I only be able to go up to 10"? Lastly, would that even be worth it?

For the front, I want to eventually get to front disc brakes. For a short time I may just work with the front drums, mainly just to drive it around the block and test things, but front disc with a dual reservoir MC is definitely on my list. This is one of the kits I was looking at, but I'm open to any ideas or if anyone has used this kit and had issues that'd be good to know. This does say that I'd need 15" wheels, so if there's a kit where I can keep my 14" wheels that would be better.
https://www.classicindustries.com/p...lnDJqa-wLCDQR-ODStlWJ1Ks0XCyXrbicAaAsHjEALw_w

This is another kit I saw recommended, it says it fits most 14". I'll have to measure mine to see if it would fit in with mine, but it also states it is a manual system.
1962-74 Dodge Dart Mopar A-Body Front Disc Brake Conversion Kit for 5x4.5 Bolt Pattern & Manual Brakes

I also would like to look into power brakes for this, so options/opinions on that would be appreciated. If I end up with one of the above kits which both say they are a manual system, I'd just need to replace the MC and add a booster to make it a power system, correct?

For now before I order anything for the rear I'd like to see how much harder it'd be just to swap to 10" before I go buying parts for the current 9" system.

You say you want to keep your original wheels, yet you post links to kits that convert to a 5x4.5 bolt circle. Your stockers are 5x4.
IMO, skip Classic, skip Pirate Jack's. Skip EBay kits.
Go directly to Dr. Diff. Do not pass go, do not collect $200.
Call Cass and tell him exactly what you have and what you want to do, he can set you up with everything you need. Best customer service in the business, and his stuff flat out works.
Quality Body Shop Drivetrain

 

[Austin Spencer]

You say you want to keep your original wheels, yet you post links to kits that convert to a 5x4.5 bolt circle. Your stockers are 5x4.
IMO, skip Classic, skip Pirate Jack's. Skip EBay kits.
Go directly to Dr. Diff. Do not pass go, do not collect $200.
Call Cass and tell him exactly what you have and what you want to do, he can set you up with everything you need. Best customer service in the business, and his stuff flat out works.
Quality Body Shop Drivetrain

I'll give them a call, I must have read about the bolt circle size incorrectly somewhere and thought I had 5x4.5. Thanks for the recommendation.

 

[junkyardhero]

I'll give them a call, I must have read about the bolt circle size incorrectly somewhere and thought I had 5x4.5. Thanks for the recommendation.

that's the rub-- the 4" bolt circle hems you into specific brake kits and the 14" wheels further limit your choices. there are workarounds, but all of them require some type fiddling about.

Dr. Diff has the goods and exceptional customer service. a great resource to have.

 

[DentalDart]

I agree with above, call DrDiff let him know your intentions and what you’re wanting. Then buy your stuff from him.

Piecing a kit together has not been fun in the past. I’ve been fighting with an old kit that I’m swapping from one car to another the past couple of weeks.