Speedster Brakes

Recently I posted a comment that read something like if I were to build a new speedster I would choose disk brakes on all four wheels.

This quote from the SOC site:

"Front disc and rear drum are fine, considering the weight of a speedster, four wheel disc brakes are over kill and a waste of money...Four wheel discs will require a 2 lb. in line residual valve on the rear brake line to assure a high brake pedal."

Conventional wisdom has been to have disks on the front, drums on the back, everything works out because of forward weight transfer, like with front engine or fwd cars.

My current speedster has disks on the front and drums on the back. Stopping is great but I wonder about optimum? All four disks or disks on the front drums on the back?

Regardless of what it says, 4 wheel discs are better... If not, then why do you see them on very light foreign cars and just about every new car on the road.
If you have a problem with the rear's locking up first then add a proportioning valve. I did just that on my Spyder. A few panic stops and a little adjustment gave me brakes that felt firm, stopped in less distance than disc/drum and a lot easier to maintain than drums.

Disc's are great, especially in the rain as they shed water rather than water soaking like drum brakes.

Regarding forward thrust weight during braking. The front brakes provide between 75 to 80% of overall braking. Why not get the most out of your brakes by having disc's in the rear?

I'm with Larry. I started out doing the fronts and liked them so much I did the rears. Besides, I could never get the drum brakes adjusted evenly. If they had self adjusters, they might be livable with, but they don't. No adjusting with the discs and they do stop great.

~WB

So Mike...you replacing Fern then?

Think we all agree they are best - it just can get costly real quick. You start pushing over 100hp and the lightly loaded front wheels lock and skid down the road under heavy braking. However, many rear kit don't even have an emergency brake! These are for racing use and probably would not pass most state safety inspections. I don't like using a brick under the wheel. Those that have provisions for the emergency often increase the rear width of the wheels. I've bearly got 1/4" outside rear wheel - fender clearance now with Fuchs 914 2L 5.5" alloy wheels (on classic not wide-body car) - widening stance is not feasible as it would require changing trailing arms and axels which again add to cost. Front discs add $300 - rears are double that as a starter.

Wrong Mike; Brian, put down that bottle of skidoo oil!

That Brian sure knows how to throw a party in Yellowknife!

"Front disc and rear drum are fine, considering the weight of a speedster, four wheel disc brakes are over kill and a waste of money...Four wheel discs will require a 2 lb. in line residual valve on the rear brake line to assure a high brake pedal."

That was my quote... unless you are puting huge HP to the wheels it's difficult to justify the expense and it is expensive with the parking brake option.

Four wheel disc brakes will be beneficial if you plan on really, really working your brakes hard. For most daily driving front disc/rear drums will work fine. Having said that, I have rear discs and I'm in the process of upgrading my old front Ghia discs to a 'BAD' kit from Airkweld (if he ever ships them). It may be overkill, but when it comes to brakes I don't mind going overboard.

You can see that almost any day downtown Yellowknife where I work. Although, believe me, you don't want to cause they're rummies and far from the looker that that girl is.

No, had the right "Mike" just too lazy to spell it out full. ;-)

Ron, you have to keep on Pete. Took a call or two before he got around to sending my kit out...was about 2-3 weeks from whe I placed the order.

I just received the shipping order-the kit is on its way!!
The car is sitting on jack stands waiting for the new brake kit and spindles. Once I get them installed it's back to Henry's.