Now that Centric is gone...what now for Disc brakes with 5x4 SBP

[Miranthis]

Ok, the first brands bankruptcy has hit and many of our brands for older parts (centric rotors, for example) are gone. I have been searching for a factory KH front disc set up for a 5x4 small bolt pattern 1966 Barracuda with 14x5.5 formula S wheels. That seems unsustainable now, unless someone starts making them. So, that leaves 4 possibilities:

1) ABS Power #8024M 10" Drum - w/ 5 x 4" Bolt Pattern Front Disc Brake Kit

OR

2) Wilwood Dynalite Pro A-Body 10" Inch Drum Brake Spindle - Front Brake Kit Part No.: 140-11023

OR

3) SBBC W153-7 Comp S 4-Piston Billet Aluminum Front Drum to Disc Brake Conversion Kit W/Rotors .Clear I keep reading in FABO threads that the SBBC stuff won't fit under factory 14x5.5 steel wheels. Is that true?

OR

4) Dr Diff Front Disc Stage 1 upgrade (with spindles) (~$825, the best price of the bunch and that includes master cylinder and such)

Who has done this with factory 14 inch steels wheels specifically the 14 x 5.5 Formula S wheels? Wilwood and SBBC have a clearance diagram; ABS does not. Dr. Diff says their 10.95 rotors are the largest that can fit factory disc wheels like my 14x5.5s I am looking for actual experience before I can justify the expense. The 4 wheel drums are passable, but I like the idea of upgrade to discs.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Rockauto shows Centrics and other brands in stock.

 

[Miranthis]

Rockauto shows Centrics and other brands in stock.

They only have them until current stock is gone as Centric and a number of other brands under the First Brands umbrella ceased to exist when the sale failed and production of new parts Shut down.. Wagner still makes the rotors, but with the supply narrowing it is a choice between which way to go. I dont want to convert to discs only to have to again convert to another brand of disc as the rotors are not readily available.

 

[toolmanmike]

@mobileparts may have what you need.

 

[dr dodge]

They only have them until current stock is gone as Centric and a number of other brands under the First Brands umbrella ceased to exist when the sale failed and production of new parts Shut down.. Wagner still makes the rotors, but with the supply narrowing it is a choice between which way to go. I dont want to convert to discs only to have to again convert to another brand of disc as the rotors are not readily available.

a very good question

 

[RustyRatRod]

They only have them until current stock is gone as Centric and a number of other brands under the First Brands umbrella ceased to exist when the sale failed and production of new parts Shut down.. Wagner still makes the rotors, but with the supply narrowing it is a choice between which way to go. I dont want to convert to discs only to have to again convert to another brand of disc as the rotors are not readily available.

So are you saying the other brands RockAuto shows are under the Centric umbrella? I was totally unaware if that's true.

 

[dr dodge]

So are you saying the other brands RockAuto shows are under the Centric umbrella? I was totally unaware if that's true.

a bit disconcerning if true, and seems to be
this is not good

 

[RustyRatRod]

a bit disconcerning if true, and seems to be
this is not good

They've never been widely available. Much the same with a lot of our other Mopar parts.

 

[Professor Fate]

They're not gone yet.
Ford and GM are providing operational capital to keep factories going (and supply chains intact) while First Brands goes through Chapter 11 reorganization, the plan for which is pending court approval on May 29th. Not saying some brands won't get sold off, but some will likely get absorbed into "offshore" corporations. Their value lies mostly in name recognition (Autolite, Raybestos, Fram, Trico, etc.), so don't expect any major corporate comebacks here. Ford and GM could conceivably take over some of the operations (if not the names) as part of debt settlement.
Their fate is still ongoing.
None of this helps with 50 year old brake rotor availability, though. But we can hope...

 

[halfafish]

PM on the way, I have a set of KH available.

 

[junkyardhero]

powerstop AR8305XPR

 

[toolmanmike]

PM on the way, I have a set of KH available.

I didn't see where this was a Parts Wanted ad.

 

[halfafish]

I didn't see where this was a Parts Wanted ad.

Agreed. I saw this and thought I could help.

I have been searching for a factory KH front disc set up for a 5x4 small bolt pattern 1966 Barracuda with 14x5.5 formula S wheels.

If you need to delete my post please do so.

 

[66fs]

Most of these cars ran the original K-H discs for 10 to 20 years before the rotors needed replaced. Just run good organic pads and you or your heirs will never have to replace the rotors. I run the original K-H small bolt discs on all but one Barracuda. Just find a set and do it. Actually, I have also run the original 10 inch drums on the 68 383 Formula S. Firm Feel sells premium brake shoes for them.

 

[mobileparts]

A pack of 5 of us ( now 4 — 1 passed on ) made the
1965 - 1972 “ A “ Body Kelsey - Hayes Rotor ( Plates Only)
a decade or so back , when N O B O D Y had the , period , U S A or Chineseum….. such that , I always have them….

At this moment in time , I do have a few sets of
*** N.O.S.*** Asbestos *** Brake Pads for that application—- the softest , smooooooothest braking surface known to mankind , and does not rip up Rotors to smithereens…..

For anyone reading this , P.M. me as per forum rules , if interested…..

Yours, Craig….

P.S. — Thanks Again , Toolmanmike ….

 

[mobileparts]

P.S. 2 —- Interesting ( but sad really ) reading :
Google “ First Brands Situation “ and you will read about two Malaysian brothers who bilked billions of dollars from all these companies they defrauded , and are now in an
Ohio Jail , courtesy of the FBI , as their new attorney tries to sell of all these companies; whose doors have all been shuttered , and all those companies’ manufacturing has been suspended !!!!

These companies include Anco , Trico , Centric , Raybestos , and over a dozen more….
( Buy extra Wiper Blades for your current driver cars or trucks NOW !! )

 

[racerdan80]

The ssbc 153’s would not fit my factory 14” steel wheels. I’m told they would fit the 14” rallye but I can’t confirm that. It has to do with the depth of the taper on the inside of the rim. I went with 15” steels.

 

[jos51700]

I suspect the OEMs will absorb these brands. You know they aren't making their own oil filters

 

[Dartnut]

To be a bit of a spoilsport here, why wouldn't you upgrade to the '73 and up BBP brakes at this point?
A much better selection of wheels are available as well as cheaper parts overall.
And they have better braking power and are stronger to boot.
Sure, you would have to get BBP axles in your rear end and 10'' brakes to match, but overall, you would be better off in the long run.
BTW, I hate SBP anything since I saw the light...

 

[RustyRatRod]

To be a bit of a spoilsport here, why wouldn't you upgrade to the '73 and up BBP brakes at this point?
A much better selection of wheels are available as well as cheaper parts overall.
And they have better braking power and are stronger to boot.
Sure, you would have to get BBP axles in your rear end and 10'' brakes to match, but overall, you would be better off in the long run.
BTW, I hate SBP anything since I saw the light...

My reasoning is, IMO, the small bolt pattern is what makes the early cars the early cars. It's not something I'm willing to compromise on. I even had my Ford 9" axles made with the 5x4 pattern so I could retain it when I make that swap.

 

[Dana67Dart]

The rotors are not that expensive and we are old, buy a couple sets as future spares 2 sets as spares should be a lifetime supply unless its a daily driver

 

[mvh]

Yeah, I can't see the logic of spending thousands to replace the entire brake system now, when you could just buy ONE spare set of rotors and be fixed for life, realistically. That's going by my observation that most owners are at least as old as their cars, and their cars get driven less than 5000 miles a year.

The museum that owns your car in 2040 won't be putting any miles on it, so brakes won't be a problem.

 

[Dana67Dart]

I did that with 10x1.75 Drums and now the KH front rotors I have several sets incoming

 

[340sFastback]

Like others said buy a few spare sets of spare rotors if your worried about them going away.

Some ppl want to stay small bolt pattern cause they like it that way. So yeah going to big bolt pattern is greatest thing since sliced bread but not something everyone wants to do because that's not what they want to do.

 

[66fs]

To be a bit of a spoilsport here, why wouldn't you upgrade to the '73 and up BBP brakes at this point?
A much better selection of wheels are available as well as cheaper parts overall.
And they have better braking power and are stronger to boot.
Sure, you would have to get BBP axles in your rear end and 10'' brakes to match, but overall, you would be better off in the long run.
BTW, I hate SBP anything since I saw the light...

I swapped to the 73 disc brakes in the mid 70's. Daily driver 64 Barracuda 4 speed HP 273. Carried 2 spares, swapped in an 8 1/4 rear and carried 1 spare. Then, I went back to the original small bolt pattern K-H discs and an original 8 3/4 A-Body rear. All is now well, no problem with brakes, 1 spare, wheels centered in the wheel well with original offsets. I can swap any pumpkin with gears ranging from 2.76-3.91, within and hour or two. I have a set of custom 15 x 6 Minilites, 15 x 7 Rallye wheels, 14 x 5.5 Ralleye wheels, and original 14 x 5.5 Formula S wheels with exposed lug hubcaps. All fit the original K-H disc brakes. Good enough for me, I'm tired of chasing the latest "best" anything. They were great cars when new, and they still are.