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By PF Arcand - 7 Years Ago
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Is there a front disc brake conversion kit available for 1957 Ford cars?. Over time I've seen incomplete info on cobbling together parts thru salvage yards & auto parts stores but nothing comprehensive in the way of a reasonably complete kit of new parts.. Recently I found one outfit, Classic Brakes in Texas that listed a kit, but an e mail went unanswered & afterwards I read there return policy, which includes a 20% restocking charge & in store credit only policy, which nixs doing any business with them. Has anybody found a satisfactory kit elsewhere?. Thanks
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By miker - 7 Years Ago
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You might try American Braking systems. I used one of their kits on a friend's 56 Nomad, and they had the best one to fit 14" wheels, which I think your car has. A lot of 14" pre disc rims won't fit over most disc kits. They did move the front wheels outboard a bit, but he's got reversed rims that add to the problem. Be worth asking that, too. They show a Ford kit, but I can't get it to open on the network I'm on now. Might be worth a look.
http://www.abspowerbrake.com/maincatalog_frameset015.html
Sorry, that link is for the 56, which did open. The 57 to 64 full size car is on there too.
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By Rono - 7 Years Ago
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Did you look into a "Drop and Stop" kit?
Rono
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By Richard - 7 Years Ago
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http://www.dropnstop.com/ Dave Gully is the best
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By PF Arcand - 7 Years Ago
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Guys, thanks for the info.. American brake systems seems to have a fairly comprehesive setup to fit a 1957 car.. however, their web site is dated 2010 (are they still in business?) & the hang up for me is shipping to Canada. It states that 1st shipments must go directly to the credit card billing address & that UPS will not ship to a Postal drop box. (in Blaine Washington). Those two requirements will cost me extra for brokerage charges & additional handling & raises the possibility of extra import duties & taxes, if the parts are not described properly. Will have to look into it further. .. My e mail to Drop & Stop was answered eventually & the basics sounded o.k. However, 57 cars are fairly low compared to 55-56 cars & I'm not sure I want a dropped front end, in part because in my durisdiction, British Columbia, my car is licensed & insured as a "stock" collector car. Safety upgrades are permited, but that does not include lowering the car.. Things to ponder. Thanks anyway..
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By 62bigwindow - 7 Years Ago
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You might have better luck calling Dave. He's a great guy and will go out of his way to get you on the right path. If I'm not mistaken I think you can get a kit that will retain stock height on your car.
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By Lg57 - 7 Years Ago
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Try Crites. They have a set of instructions detailing the parts necessary to convert to early 70's T'bird/ Cougar front disc brakes. I have this setup on my '57 and am pleased with it. Ride height is about the same as stock.
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By paul2748 - 7 Years Ago
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.Try Engineered Components (ECI) in Connecticut. They have a lot of conversion Kits and have been in business for a long time. I have one of their kits on my 48 Ford for 20 years with no problems
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By miker - 7 Years Ago
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When I saw your comment about your location the first thing that came to mind was scarebird. When I went to their site I discovered they've moved from Everett to Albuquerque, and are running a month behind. They list a 57 kit, but for 14" wheels you have to use a Granda wheel (which they name). They just make the brackets, and give you the parts list to buy locally. Still, they might have someone in Everett to receive it, and that's not that far south of Blaine. Good luck.
https://www.scarebird.com
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By Lord Gaga - 7 Years Ago
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Whatever you do, DON'T even think about using a Wilwood setup! Tried them on my '57...went back to drums! They might stop a Pinto but that's about all.
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By PF Arcand - 7 Years Ago
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Thanks to everybody that replied. I'll continues looking into a suitable conversion..
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By Joe-JDC - 7 Years Ago
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Lord Gaga (9/27/2017)
Whatever you do, DON'T even think about using a Wilwood setup! Tried them on my '57...went back to drums! They might stop a Pinto but that's about all.
Exactly what was the result of the change? I was contemplating the conversion kit from Speedway that uses Wilwood, and it looks fairly comprehensive and well built. Did it stop the pulling left and right when applying brake pedal? Thanks. Joe-JDC
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By miker - 7 Years Ago
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I don't know about Lord Gaga's conversion, but I've got a set of Wilwood's on my OT car. About the weight of my 'bird, with another 150hp. Big tires, and the Wilwoods stop it like it hit a wall. Same with my friends cars. So I'd guess it was in the system, not in the calipers.
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By Lord Gaga - 7 Years Ago
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Joe-JDC (10/2/2017)
Lord Gaga (9/27/2017)
Whatever you do, DON'T even think about using a Wilwood setup! Tried them on my '57...went back to drums! They might stop a Pinto but that's about all. Exactly what was the result of the change? I was contemplating the conversion kit from Speedway that uses Wilwood, and it looks fairly comprehensive and well built. Did it stop the pulling left and right when applying brake pedal? Thanks. Joe-JDC
My car never pulled to either side with the stock brakes which were non-power by the way.
I didn't like the looks of the Wilwood setup (from Speedway. Who I found out won't back up the product!) as soon as I opened the box. Even though the calipers were 4 piston, they just looked too small. Should have sent them back but I installed them anyway. The rotors which are nothing more than stock '69 Mustang parts and probably Chinese are used with a 1/4" bearing spacer and had .012 and .010" run-out. The industry standard max. is .004". More than a month later I received replacements from them which they said they would check before shipping were worse yet! I persuaded them to buy the wobbly ones back from me and got a pair from Rockauto at less that half the price of the Wilwood junk that were right on the money. So around two months after I started the conversion I drove the car and followed their break-in procedure to the letter. I did everything right. The car did not stop as well as the stock self energizing drum brakes. They wouldn't have faded like drums will, but I don't drive THAT hard! That's my story....NO LIE!
I still have the complete setup with the good rotors, what will you give me for it??? lol
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By miker - 7 Years Ago
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I wasn't questioning your experience, just why. I think the answer lies in the odd spacer to move the wheels out, and the small calipers. Add in out of tolerance cheap replacements. If that was to fit 14" wheels, I've seen similar results on other OT cars with factory calipers off much small lighter cars for wheel clearance reasons. I guess because they can cobble up a kit that "fits" doesn't make it an improvement.
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By charliemccraney - 7 Years Ago
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Was it actually a Wilwood kit or simply a kit Speedway threw together, using Wilwood calipers?
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By Lord Gaga - 7 Years Ago
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charliemccraney (10/2/2017)
Was it actually a Wilwood kit or simply a kit Speedway threw together, using Wilwood calipers?
It was a Wilwood kit in Wilwood boxes shipped from Wilwood in California. Speedway was just a "middle man".
That's why Speedway would not guarantee it. I had to deal directly with Wilwood which was a NIGHTMARE!
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By 2721955meteor - 7 Years Ago
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PF Arcand (9/26/2017)
Guys, thanks for the info.. American brake systems seems to have a fairly comprehesive setup to fit a 1957 car.. however, their web site is dated 2010 (are they still in business?) & the hang up for me is shipping to Canada. It states that 1st shipments must go directly to the credit card billing address & that UPS will not ship to a Postal drop box. (in Blaine Washington). Those two requirements will cost me extra for brokerage charges & additional handling & raises the possibility of extra import duties & taxes, if the parts are not described properly. Will have to look into it further. .. My e mail to Drop & Stop was answered eventually & the basics sounded o.k. However, 57 cars are fairly low compared to 55-56 cars & I'm not sure I want a dropped front end, in part because in my durisdiction, British Columbia, my car is licensed & insured as a "stock" collector car. Safety upgrades are permited, but that does not include lowering the car.. Things to ponder. Thanks anyway.. have mail at napa in blain no issues,tell cn customs its for 57 ford safety be nice most likely right threw no tax
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