Recently, we wrote about converting manual to power brakes whether your car originally came from the factory with drum or disc brakes. We received several follow up questions from people with drum brakes looking to upgrade to better braking - but trying hard to stay on a budget.  Since the hardware at the wheels and brake lines can remain untouched after converting to a power assisted pedal, we were asked, "Can I just add a booster and new master cylinder to my car?"  Essentially the questioners were asking whether the booster master conversion kit or the complete brake conversion kit was their best solution.

Of course, like the answer to a lot of questions, it depends!

When customers inquire about upgrading their classic car’s brake system, all of our team members are trained to start the conversation with simple questions.  We ask about the vehicle’s application,  how the customer drives the car, and wheel size.  We take this approach because as a classic car owner, you have lots of brake systems options.  Our team wants you to purchase the kit that best suits your needs, and more importantly, keeps you safe.  A recent call from the owner of a 65 Mustang and the discussion that ensued is case in point.  During our chat, the Mustang owner showed interest in our Pro-Driver series with slotted and cross drilled rotors, asking if the extra dough spent on this kit would give him more stopping power.

From there, we started asking all of the right questions. The customer mentioned he had a really nice set of wheels --he sent a picture like a proud papa, and they were definitely worth using.  He also wanted a brake conversion kit that had some visual presence behind the wheels. While looking at the pictures, our customer also mentioned his wheels came in at 15”. Well, this last detail changed everything.

All of our disc brake conversion kits are bolt-on solutions, but have you ever wondered if you can tackle an install project on your own?  We filmed a  1962 Impala disc brake conversion to show just how easy it is to convert an older GM or any classic from drum to disc brakes.   When you view the video, pay particular attention to the closing credits, and as always, if you have questions before or during your installation, just give us a call and we'll be glad to lend a hand.

We recently received a note from the owner of a 65 Mustang asking us to justify the cost and expense of converting his car from drum to disc brakes.  We field this question on a regular basis, so we thought it made sense to share our thoughts with our readers.

Most classic car owners are willing to invest large sums of money on custom paint jobs, new interiors, and re-built or upgraded engines restorations.  At the same time, many of these same owners balk at investing restoration funds on new brakes.  Obviously, we think this is a mistake, but even if didn't sell brakes, we would urge classic car owners to consider swapping out inefficient drum brake systems for disc brake technology. 

For many years, folks associated restoring a 60’s to 70’s era truck with the Chevrolet C-10 option. Ford’s have always had a loyal following, but for a variety of reasons, we see increased interest in older F100’s.  There is an abundant supply of spare parts for these vehicles and the selling prices at auctions, and the car corrals are reasonable.

If you are lucky enough to own one of these workhorse classics, you may be tempted to buy used brake parts during restoration, but let’s be honest—trucks are heavier than their sedan counterparts, and the original drum brakes found on older F100’s aren’t well-suited for today’s driving conditions.  Instead of going the salvage route, consider a disc brake conversion kit from Master Power Brakes.