Re: [Amc-list] cheap brake conversion

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

If you want to keep drum brakes get 9" drums from a Classic with six. They are 1/2" wider and have 1/8" larger wheel cylinders in front. I used 64 Classic front drums on a 61 American as my first ever brake upgrade and you'd have thought it had discs up front -- the improvement was easily noticed! 

58-63 Americans have 9"x2" drums, 139.5 sq.in. braking area, 1" wheel cylinders.

62-66 Classic six has 9"x2.5" drums, 153.76 sq.in. braking area, 1.125" wheel cylinders. Also used on 67-69 Rebel and Javelin six, 65-66 American w/232, 67-69 American six, 70-75 Hornet/Gremlin (with slightly more braking area, 158.xx sq.in.).

Lots of choices for a nice drum brake upgrade, but unless you have them on hand I'd go ahead with the disc brake upgrade. I never had problems with the bigger drums, but drums can fade and are harder to service. Drums can even be harder to find than rotors too. Use a 79-83 AMC disc brake setup, the Scarebird kit, or Stohler's Mustang brake upgrade. 

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Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:07:49 -0700
From: Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>

> i am thinking about doing this with my new american also. i have to space the spindles out far enough for the rotor to clear the steering arm. 


I was gonna see if my 10" drums would fit on the front of the 63 
American if I simply spaced them out far enough. But it looks like it 
needs 1/2" - 3/4" to work, so that makes me a bit leery of strength and 
geometry. I was gonna mock it up with washers to get the measurements 
(not to drive on!)

But hey, you go first, I'm lazy!


> > o ya, the only thing im missing with my kit is the backing plate/dust shield, what ever you want to call it. i havent had any problems with it as i dont drive in mud and all. i dont think shields would be hard to fab up to fit on there.
>   

Yeah, I was wonderign about that. It's not fatal.

-- 
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars" 
Magazine (AMC)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html
(free download available!)

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