Disc brake conversion questions and opinions...

[ssppony]

Hi everyone,
I am looking to do a disc brake conversion on my 57 when I have the engine out. I have found alot of kits and seen alot of different prices for what looks like the same equipment.
I did find a guy on ebay out of minnesota i believe, Toms Classics tomsclassic is his ebay name...That has a good looking set up for a very fair price. It includes slotted and drilled rotors along with booster, bearing, brackets, seals, stainless hard lines, prop valve on booster, etc. The kit looks pretty good for 464.00 delivered to my door.
Have any of you guys purchased from him?

Any advise or suggestions? Not looking for show quality system or extremely high dollar stuff, Just looking for something that works and is reliable with replacement parts available.

Thanks in advance,
Greg in ohio

[carls 56]

hi greg. i got and had this kit put in. to me you can't do any better for the money. luv it.

[ssppony]

Thanks for the insight, I just emailed the guy asking a few questions. Looks like it might be a go on this one.

[daves55]

Hi Greg,

I bought the kit from Toms Classic and installed it last winter (08/09). The one thing you will need to plan on is getting the car re-aligned after you install the kit because it will skew your alignment some by changing the setup. When you get ready to intall the kit do yourself a huge favor and chain down those front springs and use a spring compressor (many ideas on style on tri-five site). It will make things a lot safer. Good luck and let us know if you run into any snags that we may have run into before and know the answer to. Also, if you do a search on this site for disc brake instalations there was another person (can't remember name right now) that also installed the kit just before I did and he determined that you will need some bolts and washers that are not part of the kit and he actually listed the NAPA part number and quantity that you will need. That was very helpful to me because it saved me some time trying to figure it out.

Dave

[BigBoyzToyz]

Why would you need a coil compressor? You don't remove the springs with a bracket kit. That particuliar bracket kit does mess up the alignment and steering geometries though. You can get it re-aligned but you can't get back the steering ability.

[daves55]

Originally Posted by BigBoyzToyz

Why would you need a coil compressor? You don't remove the springs with a bracket kit. That particuliar bracket kit does mess up the alignment and steering geometries though. You can get it re-aligned but you can't get back the steering ability.

You are right, I did not read the parts list he listed out. I was assuming that he was adding the drop spindles but it does not look like he is. Just in case you are adding the dropped spindles then you should plan on compressing those coils. If not then you will not need to worry about them. Also, if you are not replacing the spindles you should not need to worry about additional bolts. If you are replacing the spindles then you will need the bolts and I have tracked down the posting and the bolts are as follows:

"While installing this kit, I found out that there were no bolts that bolted the bracket that the tie rod end connects to and the spindle.

I'll get a picture of this soon, I lost my camera.

Here's the part numbers from the local NAPA...

301-679B X 2 of these bolts (1/4 longer than the next bolt) 7/16" bolt, standard thread
301-678B X 2 of these bolts
8076-032B X 4 of these lockwashers
8070-031B X 4 of these flat washers

the stock bolts won't work, cause they used to go through the drum backing plate and bolt with a nut on the inside of the drum. These won't work due to the nut would hit the rotor and the way the spindle is made.

I put locktight on the bolts, ran them down to 40ft lbs, and let them ride!

I'm going slow, but I'll pics up soon!

D Moss"

[BigBoyzToyz]

Even with spindle replacement there's no need to remove the springs, just jack up the car under the a arm and the spring stays put.while you remove the spindles.

[Scottys55]

I have just been reading all the posts relating to the spindles and springs.
I am planning to replace the fron springs to 2" lowered springs. In fact I need to replace all the control arm bushings as well, so I will be pulling it all apart.
I noticed some warnings about the coil spring compressor need, but I have also heard from some people around here, that when you lower the lower control arm, those springs will just come out easy. Is this true, if I'm careful or it absolutely necesarry to have that coil compressor

[BigBoyzToyz]

Originally Posted by Scottys55

I have just been reading all the posts relating to the spindles and springs.
I am planning to replace the fron springs to 2" lowered springs. In fact I need to replace all the control arm bushings as well, so I will be pulling it all apart.
I noticed some warnings about the coil spring compressor need, but I have also heard from some people around here, that when you lower the lower control arm, those springs will just come out easy. Is this true, if I'm careful or it absolutely necesarry to have that coil compressor

Removal is easy, they do just come out with a small amount of caution on your part. Installing is a different story, stock springs will need a compressor, 2" lowering springs shouldn't as the shorter height allows for fitment without compressing them. At least that's been my experiences.

[daves55]

Originally Posted by Scottys55

I have just been reading all the posts relating to the spindles and springs.
I am planning to replace the fron springs to 2" lowered springs. In fact I need to replace all the control arm bushings as well, so I will be pulling it all apart.
I noticed some warnings about the coil spring compressor need, but I have also heard from some people around here, that when you lower the lower control arm, those springs will just come out easy. Is this true, if I'm careful or it absolutely necesarry to have that coil compressor

In your case I would "chain" them in place so that if you accidently release the pressure to fast the spring will not come out flying at you. Just a safety thing.

In the other situation I used a spring compressor to remove the spindles that way I controled the amount and timing of when the spring was released. Just my way of being cautious.