Disc brake swap is it worth it

[1965 stepside]

I am considering converting the front to disc brakes but I am
Not building a race car or drag car just a cruiser. It will have
A mostly stock 302 with headers 4b carb aluminum intake
Nothing fancy would it be worth it to swap to disc brakes?
I have a limited budget and would really like to spend the
Time and $ puting it back together and getting it to run. Any
Advice would be great. In case you could not figure it out
My slick is a 65 stepside.

[banjopicker66]

YES.
Not only yes, but OH YES.
What do you mean by limited budget? The best way to do this swap is to buy a '73 - '79 parts truck with disc brakes, power steering and the engine/transmission combination you like.
Harvest, then install the parts you need, then part out the truck and get most of your money back!
This swap is almost a direct bolt in, too.
You will need some fabrication for the master cylinder push rod mostly. If you get a later truck with a flat bar on the booster instead of a round rod, you only need to redrill the hole, and everything else bolts up.
The other fabrication is for a brake light switch, but this is also relatively easy too.
You may even find that you will not need to replace the bushings in the spindle - but even so, that is a regular machine shop job, nothing unusual.

[matt2491]

Unquestionably yes.

[1965 stepside]

Well I can see advantages for this conversion so I will end up doing it

[Brian Taylor]

I rebuilt my stock drums completely and they worked good
I put on the discs and I realized I should have not wasted time rebuilding the drums.
YES put on the discs.

[65f100_Thug]

Yes! Makes a world of difference I can stand her on her nose now.

[William-in-St George]

OKAY! I'll be the contrary opinion. I drove my slick for years with drum brakes. If your drum brakes are in good order I'd spend the money on a tune up and basic safety items to get the truck road worthy. Later as budget allows or perhaps a opportunity to score a parts truck presents itself then you can do the front disk deal. Basic safety items take priority in my opinion, like tires, glass, shocks, exhaust and lights. Inspect the steering components and rubber brake lines and replace any that are worn. Enjoy your truck for a while. IMHO!

[1965 stepside]

Thanks William that was kinda the conclusion
I had come to just get it road worthy and later
Add the disc. Lots of good advice

[Toyz]

From my personal standpoint, even if you exclude the increased performance and safety of disc brakes, the upgrade to a dual master cylinder and resulting redundant braking system alone is well worth the cost of doing the complete conversion, especially when the donor pieces can be obtained as a complete assembly.
Paul

[1965 stepside]

Ya I printed a article on how to do it.
I am interested In doing the conversion
But I just want it road worthy for now, so
I can enjoy it. My dad drove this slick with
The drum brakes since I was twelve I am
35 now he had problems but he may not have
Known he could switch to disc brakes. Anyway
I will do disc when the budget allowes for it

[ICEMAN6166]

OKAY! I'll be the contrary opinion. I drove my slick for years with drum brakes. If your drum brakes are in good order I'd spend the money on a tune up and basic safety items to get the truck road worthy. Later as budget allows or perhaps a opportunity to score a parts truck presents itself then you can do the front disk deal. Basic safety items take priority in my opinion, like tires, glass, shocks, exhaust and lights. Inspect the steering components and rubber brake lines and replace any that are worn. Enjoy your truck for a while. IMHO!

x2
im still driving with the drum brakes. keep them in shape and theres no issues. i did do the dual mc conversion.
btw i have a 66 f250 4x4 so the only disc brake option is a later front end with open knuckles which i will not consider.

[1965 stepside]

So did you go to power brakes with the duel
Master cylinder ?

[Toyz]

OKAY! I'll be the contrary opinion. I drove my slick for years with drum brakes. If your drum brakes are in good order I'd spend the money on a tune up and basic safety items to get the truck road worthy. Later as budget allows or perhaps a opportunity to score a parts truck presents itself then you can do the front disk deal. Basic safety items take priority in my opinion, like tires, glass, shocks, exhaust and lights. Inspect the steering components and rubber brake lines and replace any that are worn. Enjoy your truck for a while. IMHO!

x2
im still driving with the drum brakes. keep them in shape and theres no issues. i did do the dual mc conversion.
btw i have a 66 f250 4x4 so the only disc brake option is a later front end with open knuckles which i will not consider.

I'm checking into a conversion for the tow truck to hang discs on the original I beam; the conversion probably would work with the 4-by 250's also. The 350 stops better with the original brakes than I remember from my original tow trucks; however, I've had nothing behind it yet!
Paul

[Fanatic]

I put a 2000 Ranger power booster and a duel master cylinder. Stops ALOT quicker than I need.

Tim

[1965 stepside]

Good to know

[62galxe]

I still run drums on mine. They stop ok. Having never driven a vehicle with non power disc I cant say how they compare.

[Toyz]

With the non-assisted disc brakes on Spot, the pedal effort is significantly higher than even the drums on the 9000 + lb F350. It stops great, but will get a booster if I choose to keep it.
Paul

[frdnut]

The wife's 65 has power drums..It stops very well..Much better than my 68 mustang with non power discs.

[ezernut9mm]

disc brakes make for lazy drivers. lol.
i wish everyone had drum brakes and no power steering. the road would be a much different place.

[ICEMAN6166]

driving the rambler with the power drum brakes is a lot different than my 66. always feel im going to eat the steering wheel as IMO they are too touchy.