Drum brake discussion

[biddie_gibbs]

Hey guys I have a 68 ford f100 with manual brakes all drums. I see all the topics of crown vic ifs an also disc brake conversions but are the drums all that bad? I will soon but a booster on it but a full front conversion...... do I have to?? I don't have a lot of time between my wife an my first child due in two weeks. And I wouldn't be gettin much time after that. I do regular drivin. I am a victim of heavy-rightfoot-itis but that's it. I don't tow much but I wanna boat. What really are the draw backs of drums. A old friend of mine swears by drums. He actually still drag races his el camino with four wheel drums. So what's up with all this? Also I want my truck to steer great is the twin I beams that bad too?

[fordman]

after driving discs for all these years now and getting back into my bump. i do think dum brakes are worse at stopping power myself. and i do have power drum brakes. the twin i bemas werent made for lowering a truck. they were made for a better ride in these trucks.

[flyboy2610]

While disc brakes are more efficient at stopping your truck, there is absolutely nothing wrong with drum brakes. Keep them properly adjusted, and they will serve you well. Semi's, dump trucks and concrete trucks all have drums.

[m-mman]

The real advantage that discs have/had over drums is their abilty to disapate heat.
When drums get hot they have a difficult time cooling off. (because the lining is not out in the airstream)
Hot brakes of any kind lose their friction when hot and 'slip' (called fade)

So, are you "dragging" your brakes?
Doing REPEATED high speed braking without a cool down period?
Riding your brakes while decending a hill instead of gearing down?

If you are driving 'normally' (a word that has quite a variable meaning) you will have no trouble with your drums.
They worked fine on automobiles for 70+ years

[biddie_gibbs]

Ok now that's what I like to hear before it seemed like it was basically mandatory.

[biddie_gibbs]

Ok what about pedal pressure. I don't squat hundreds of pounds for fun, but I enjoy being able to stop wothout gettin a charley horse. What can I do about adding power assist to my drums. I have no idea plz help

[fordman]

power brakes just requires a booster and the bracket to mount it.

[timmytim]

Ok what about pedal pressure. I don't squat hundreds of pounds for fun, but I enjoy being able to stop wothout gettin a charley horse. What can I do about adding power assist to my drums. I have no idea plz help

I have basically the same question. I see fordman says booster and bracket. How about the proportioning valve? Is it the same as on the manual brakes. And what about the brake lines plugging into the master cylinder,are they the same. The rod that works the brake pedal the same?

[flyboy2610]

The valve is the same.

[fordman]

the proportioniung valve is a disc brake valve. the pressure differential switch or also called istribution block is what we have on our trucks.
the liens will be the same lines for the master. usually the master comes with a set of line adapters for use on the truck you have to make the lines fit the master cylinder.
when puttign a booster on the push ro dis made into the booster. so it will be the same lenght as the one you took off. except that the rod will be made to work with the booster and brackets so it may be longer but the brackets take up the extra length.

[timmytim]

so i would add the proportioning valve and take off the pressure differential block?

[flyboy2610]

so i would add the proportioning valve and take off the pressure differential block?

Not for drum brakes. The proportioning valve is only used for disc brakes.

[timmytim]

oh ok

[oil_dripper]

Sooo to make it simple... No proportioning valve is needed and all you need is a booster, mounting bracket and the correct rod and you can use your factory macter cyl...? I want to do this to my truck soon.

[Mach428]

Gents - I just did this exact manual drum to power booster drum conversion. Everything these guys have said is accurate...as usual!

Rather than fight the compatibility issue of different master cylinder rod lengths with boosters, I bought the booster with the MC installed. Then there was no question about compatibility. I did have to add an adjustable brake pedal rod to connect the pedal to the booster.

I added the booster brackets purchased from ebay (most guys here will probably have sets available. Fordman seems to always have these types of parts) and added the correct vacuum fitting to the intake and connected with a rubber hose.

The stock brake lines had PLENTY of room to move toward the front of the truck to connect to the MC, which is now sitting forward by the distance of the booster and bracket. Bled the MC, connected the brake lines, cracked the fittings on the brake lines & MC to bleed any air there. Started the truck and away I went. The entire conversion took less than two hours and the difference (for me anyway) was night and day. I can't believe I waited this long to do this!