Are you running stock drum brakes?

[Rigger]

Hi all, I need some help.

For some time, I have had it in mind to pull my '40 front axle and replace it with a disc brake axle. Same time, I'd replace the old single-stage master cylinder. I even went so far as to buy a disc axle from Igy down in Colorado and haul it home. Since I'm such an excellent decision-maker (NOT!), I have been going back and forth with trying to decide whether to do the axle replacement and go discs or just rebuild my '40's drum brakes. I read an excellent thread on fixing drums a while ago so now I'm thinking maybe I should rebuild what I have. Fact is, I'm not confident that I could do the disc conversion successfully. I'm more or less a rookie mechanic.

Have you had good luck with fixing and/or rebuilding the stock drum brakes? If so, post up.

Follow up question: Is it reasonable to keep all the drum brakes and also replace the master cylinder with a two-stage (safer) unit?

 

[Poser]

Follow up question: Is it reasonable to keep all the drum brakes and also replace the master cylinder with a two-stage (safer) unit?

Yes, you could go this direction.


If you have the complete disc brake axle assembly from a 40/55 series, I would go though it, replace what needs attention and install that.



After you do this project, you will look back on it and be surprised at how easy it really is.

 

[ocdbeetle]

I have new wheel cylinders, brake shoes, brake lines and freshly rebuilt single master and it stops on a dime....I'm used to driving/maintaining drum brakes so I don't mind them over discs....
However, If I already had the parts to go disk I'd probably use them...especially if I was contemplating forking over some bread for drum parts...

 

[amaurer]

Have you had good luck with fixing and/or rebuilding the stock drum brakes? If so, post up.

Drum brakes work just fine, especially if you're a mostly street driver. Someone will chime in with caveats like "except when wet/muddy", and thats true, however humankind drove on drums for decades, so can you.

I fixed my drums and never think about them, they work great. I do have late model nonUS drums, which are different in some ways, though, full disclosure.

I'll be honest with you, if I had a disk axle all ready to go, it'd be hard to convince myself not to swap it in...

 

[Dusty 66]

All New Drums, pads, wheel cylinders, 9 mm brake lines, & Master Cylinder

 

[lc69hunter]

I have new wheel cylinders, brake shoes, brake lines and freshly rebuilt single master and it stops on a dime....I'm used to driving/maintaining drum brakes so I don't mind them over discs....
However, If I already had the parts to go disk I'd probably use them...especially if I was contemplating forking over some bread for drum parts...

Exactly. Stock setups need TLC. If done properly, they work very well. I'm still running that set up on my 69.

But if I had the parts already to go disc, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

 

[slvrbck]

I ran drums up until I put the 81 disc front in last week. I didn't mind the drums, you get used to messing with them. I will tell you one thing, the discs are amazing!!! Like Poser said, if you have the set up, go with it!

 

[Kroll]

I rebuilt my drums about a year ago.
They work fine. A small job to adjust them every so often. I have found problems with them when wheeling here in Alberta...since 80% of our terrain is mud, bog or some sort of marsh.
A disk swap is on my agenda! The benefits outweigh the costs IMO.
You get better Birfs, better hubs, and self adjusting disc brakes. If the opportunity arises, take advantage of it.
cheers.

 

[vtcruiser60]

Here is one other thought for you......Drums indeed work well even great when tuned. However, if you are primarily on the road, and if you carry precious cargo (kids), you may wish to have discs up front. Most every other vehicle on the road has discs up front, some on all four wheels. Their stopping power exceeds yours with drums. Invariably you'll have some nut job cut you off or otherwise rubber neck your cruiser....and cause you to slam on the brakes. The question is, do you want to rear end / broadside them...or stop.

Disc brake conversions for the 40 series are generally thought to be the best modification you can perform on the 40 series........for the reasons we all have mentioned.

Good luck.

 

[zuluzeugma]

Here is one other thought for you......Drums indeed work well even great when tuned. However, if you are primarily on the road, and if you carry precious cargo (kids), you may wish to have discs up front. Most every other vehicle on the road has discs up front, some on all four wheels. Their stopping power exceeds yours with drums. Invariably you'll have some nut job cut you off or otherwise rubber neck your cruiser....and cause you to slam on the brakes. The question is, do you want to rear end / broadside them...or stop.

Disc brake conversions for the 40 series are generally thought to be the best modification you can perform on the 40 series........for the reasons we all have mentioned.

Good luck.

Exactly my thoughts...

If you have the axle, this is a NO-BRAINER. Buy Marlin's axle rebuild kit and throw it all on at the same time. If you have super bad luck it might take you all weekend. More likely: All-day saturday kinda of event.

 

[Mtrunner]

Outside the box thinking. Just an idea to toss around.
Keep the disc brake conversion stuff and store it away.
Fix up your drums paying super close attention to all the details on how to do it right and then use them.

If you don't like them, get bored or whatever, change them out, you've already got the disc ready to go.
You'll pay more to do this, drum brake parts aren't cheap but you'll have some added wrenching experience, more knowledge and understanding about brake systems and then you can later on advise others about the pros and cons of both systems because you have firsthand experience with both...

 

[bsmith123]

drums vs discs

Yeah I am from the drum era myself but cant hardly recommend them. They are okay but you have the discs ---use em. It's not a big deal and plenty of folks here to help you if you get in a jam.

I've done my share of both but disc maint is much easier so you will be saving work in the future and they work better.

I have drums but like many have pointed out disc brakes and power steering make a lot of sense

The cost of drum parts just keeps going up too from what I hear

I know discs and power steering will be in my fjs future before long

 

[BC40]

Here is one other thought for you......Drums indeed work well even great when tuned. Most every other vehicle on the road has discs up front, some on all four wheels. Their stopping power exceeds yours with drums.
Good luck.

I only agree with that (re: stopping power) when comparing the earliest non-assist drums to they latest power disk brakes.

There are variations in the years between and a drum setup does not have less brake swept area than disk. It will stop you as quickly provided everything is functioning and within adjustment.

On my 40, there was a definite and noticeable improvement going to the bigger drum brakes of a '78 FJ45 in the back (bigger cylinders and much wider shoes). I have a dual circuit master cylinder in the truck but no booster.

All that said, I will be swapping out the front drum brake, ball and claw axle from my 40. The setup has noticeable brake fade in the mountains and I have had two shoes delaminate from overheating over the years. Combine that with an already heavy pedal of the 1" bore master cylinder and it can make for unpleasant times.

 

[badass]

when you dd your truck, you have to adjust the drums every 3 weeks, at least i did.

I know have 4 wheel disk.

I don't care what ANYONE says, drums suck ass, disks are the way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ocdbeetle]

when you dd your truck, you have to adjust the drums every 3 weeks, at least i did.

I know have 4 wheel disk.

I don't care what ANYONE says, drums suck ass, disks are the way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!

You must be beating those drums like you're Ringo.....

 

[crushr]

Drums will stop your truck, if adjusted properly. Disks will in general stop it faster. In wet conditions, there is no comparison - disks are vastly superior. Drums are also much more prone to brake fade, as they tend to overheat quickly.

There are several valid and important reasons why all modern cars have for decades had disk brakes.

 

[RicardoJM]

Earlier this year I had a front brake cylinder develop a leak. My initial thought was to rebuild the cylinder or replace all 4 up front with new cylinders. I ran into a couple of snags in finding the correct parts for my build year and when I did locate the correct parts they were relatively expensive - so I decided to do the conversion to disc brakes. I consider myself a rookie mechanic and it took me quite a while to work through everything, but I was able to find answers to my questions here and on Rising Sun. Knowing much more about the brake system (drum or disc) than I did before the conversion, it is my opinion that neither is significantly more complicated to work on than the other and each can be made to be safe and reliable. To answer your question, I did not have good luck in finding the parts needed for my drums, so it became my opportunity to upgrade to discs.

Regarding your second question, everything I have learned would indicate it is reasonable to upgrade.

As indicated by others that have responded, I would go ahead an make the switch. Presuming the disc brake axle you have is in decent shape, you should be able to bolt it right on and go. Worst case, you do a full front end service including bearings, new calipers and new rotors- a bit pricey but you will be rolling just like new.

 

[Hugh Heifer]

Here is some good Drum Brake Tech from RSBCruiser that will help you with a proper rebuild.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/229294-74-drum-brake-system-tech.html