TheAMCForum.com Homepage
Forum Home Forum Home > The Garage > Suspension, Steering, Brakes & Wheels
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - front disks stockish upgrade on 73 javelin
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Click for TheAMCForum Rules / Click for PDF version of Forum Rules
Your donations help keep this valuable resource free and growing. Thank you.

front disks stockish upgrade on 73 javelin

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
Author
Message
raser13 View Drop Down
AMC Addicted
AMC Addicted


Joined: Dec/11/2009
Location: st.louis,mo,usa
Status: Offline
Points: 1003
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote raser13 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: front disks stockish upgrade on 73 javelin
    Posted: Apr/21/2017 at 3:14am
hey guys, i'm finally going to earnestly start my javelin build this summer. with hopes to have her moving under her own power by fall. i have most of the go stuff. but now i'm looking to make sure i have the stop stuff inplace first. i have a 73 javelin with stock disks up front. is there a better bolt on option?

i need something in the way of cheap. i'm on a verrry tight budget. that's why i don't need something form summit, or wildwood. this car is getting a 304 with a five speed stick. she's not going to be winning any drag races. but if there is a nice easy swap out that i can get from a parts store. or mod that i can get parts from a junkyard(spindles and such. calipers and rotors will be new) I'd love to do it since i have to get all new for the car any how. the ones on it are rusty junk. and i don't want the risk of re using just to be cheap and killing my family or some one elses. don't know if there is anything better or not. but i figured i'd ask.

also any way to disk out the back axle??? amc 20 same kind of thing. can't spend $500 on a disk conversion when i got the car for $700.i think the wife would kill me. but if there is an easy bolt on swap out. then it would be all good.

Back to Top
304-dude View Drop Down
AMC Addicted
AMC Addicted
Avatar

Joined: Sep/29/2008
Location: Central Illinoi
Status: Offline
Points: 9081
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 304-dude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Apr/21/2017 at 7:07am
IMO a stock 73 disc brake setup is plenty good, unless you really need to stop performance wise.

Many choose a brake booster setup. I never had driven mine with one, and found it nice and firm, positive action feel.

I suggest... If unable to use rotors safely after being turned. Then you may look into various aftermarket setups. I think scare bird is the least expensive.

But most all replacement brake setups require changing out brake components. So if your 73 brakes are beyond being used without a proper rebuild, the cost of obtaining rebuilt components with your cores, may be the least expensive route as long as you have good rotors.

I think the other option may be obtaining late disc brakes, spindle and mounting brackets, which are easier to find rotors for will be an option.

On a budget I'd work with what I got if possible and save for later on the big upgrade. After all you just wanted to get it operational first as to enjoy it. Stock brakes when properly operational, are enjoyable.
71 Javelin SST body
390 69 crank, 70 block & heads
NASCAR SB2 rods & pistons
78 Jeep TH400 w/ 2.76 Low
50/50 Ford-AMC Suspension
79 F150 rear & 8.8 axles
Ford Racing 3.25 gears & 9" /w Detroit locker
Back to Top
WesternRed View Drop Down
AMC Addicted
AMC Addicted
Avatar

Joined: Aug/03/2010
Location: Australia
Status: Offline
Points: 5787
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote WesternRed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Apr/21/2017 at 7:10am
If you are on a tight budget, sounds like that is the case, then reconditioned factory parts will do the job just fine.
Back to Top
Red Devil View Drop Down
AMC Addicted
AMC Addicted


Joined: Jul/10/2007
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 1743
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Red Devil Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Apr/21/2017 at 10:04am
Best bang-for-the-buck, assuming it still has the Kelsey Hayes calipers:

1) Rebuild calipers (not hard to do) and can get pistons, seal kit, pins and hardware kit from most local parts stores. Try for steel pistons, not the plastic ones. Or get new, rebuilt calipers. New or resurface rotors ... IIRC, someone posted how they used a Jeep or other rotor as a lower cost replacement on a drum or machined disc hub, so try a search.

2) Replace flex lines if old - could go stainless, flush complete system with new high temp. brake fluid. New CuNi (copper-nickel) hard lines if steel ones are old or corroded.

3) Pad change to a street performance pad (most noticeable gain):

(a) Hawk HPS (Hawk part no. HB643F.595):
- higher CoF at operating temperature than typical parts store pads, higher temperature range, low dust, low noise. Good basic street pad upgrade where you are concerned about dust and noise. Noticeable increase in braking torque and fade resistance.

(b) EBC Yellowstuff (EBC part no. DP41176R)
- higher CoF than Hawk HPS, higher temperature range for better fade resistance and light track use. More dust and noise.

IMO, the stock Kelsey Hayes caliper & rotor combination is at least as good if not better than the 12.19" Wilwood AMC street kits ... except that it is heavier and no bling and harder to get replacement parts. It has more braking torque (assuming same bore master and pad CoF), more heat capacity (wider, heavier rotor with more vanes), more pad area and pad volume. Remove dust shields for better cooling.

Rear drums:

1) New drums - ones that are heavily finned for better heat capacity and cooling.

2) Replace wheel cylinders, hardware, flex line, new CuNi hard lines if steel ones are old or corroded, ensure park brake is working - replace parts as req'd.

3) Porterfield R4-S shoes (Porterfield part no. SHOE151 R4-S)
- higher CoF than stock shoes at operating temp, higher temperature range for much improved fade resistance. Good match for upgraded front pads. Match shoe to drum.

If you want pads or shoes more suited to racing, contact Porterfield brakes. My understanding is they can put any compound they sell on a pad or shoe as long as they have the backing plate ... but at that point, you'd likely be better to go with aftermarket rotors and calipers for better pad and rotor availability to suit frequent replacements.

And most importantly, sticky tires. Improved brake parts don't do any good if you lock them up

Hope this helps, RD.
Back to Top
raser13 View Drop Down
AMC Addicted
AMC Addicted


Joined: Dec/11/2009
Location: st.louis,mo,usa
Status: Offline
Points: 1003
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote raser13 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Apr/21/2017 at 10:24am
yeah, all my hard lines are dust. so everything is going new or rebuild. i was planing to go with power brakes. i'll look into the better lines both hard and soft. if what i have is that good then i'll look into trying to find a rebuild kit for the calipers. i'm not worried about the "bling" factor. your not going to see the calipers behind those turbo cast rims. might derust them and add some red caliper paint to them. that's about it. 

since it was mentioned. any recommendations on tires? i might be a cheap arsed son of a gun when it comes to the rest of the car. but brakes and tires are where i see there being no compromises. that and seat belts. i had to many bad accidents in my youth that were someone elses fault that i was lucky enough to walk away from. i want to be able to stop on as close to a dime as possible. or have enough traction to swerve out of the way if need be. and now i'll have my family in the car with me. so i will definitely want to even more.

Back to Top
Red Devil View Drop Down
AMC Addicted
AMC Addicted


Joined: Jul/10/2007
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 1743
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Red Devil Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Apr/21/2017 at 11:29am
Depends on wheel dia. and width for tire options. Not many all-weather performance tire options in 15" ... likely need to go 17" or bigger.

Hope this helps,RD.
Back to Top
raser13 View Drop Down
AMC Addicted
AMC Addicted


Joined: Dec/11/2009
Location: st.louis,mo,usa
Status: Offline
Points: 1003
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote raser13 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Apr/21/2017 at 12:11pm
but i love my turbo cast rims.Cry there has to be a good 15 inch tire.
Back to Top
Red Devil View Drop Down
AMC Addicted
AMC Addicted


Joined: Jul/10/2007
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 1743
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Red Devil Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Apr/21/2017 at 3:17pm
"Good" is relative. BFG TAs are good for basic cruising ... as are Cooper Cobras/Mickey Thompson Sportsman STs. Beyond that are Mickey Thompson Sportsman SRs, drag radials, and a few exotics like Avon CR6ZZ.

As OEMs moved on to bigger wheels, tire makers moved with them, so not much left for smaller diameters, particularly in sizes to suit old muscle cars.

If a 235/60-15 fits those wheels, a Pirelli P600 may be a nice tire ... not cheap, but maybe less than a wheel upgrade. It has a 180 UTQG rating vs. the rock-hard 400 rating of a BFG T/A.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Pirelli&tireModel=P600&sidewall=Blackwall&partnum=36WR5600&tab=Sizes

Hope this helps,RD.
Back to Top
6768rogues View Drop Down
AMC Addicted
AMC Addicted
Avatar

Joined: Jul/03/2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 6231
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 6768rogues Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Apr/21/2017 at 6:05pm
I like the KH brakes so much that I put them on two of my Americans. If you do decide to change to something else, there is a market for your existing parts.
Content intended for mature audiences. If you experience nausea or diarrhea, stop reading and seek medical attention.

Located usually near Rochester, NY and sometimes central FL.
Back to Top
farna View Drop Down
Supporter of TheAMCForum
Supporter of TheAMCForum
Avatar
Moderator Lost Dealership Project

Joined: Jul/08/2007
Location: South Carolina
Status: Offline
Points: 19610
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote farna Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Apr/27/2017 at 8:34am
The KH brakes are good as any. You can get rebuilt calipers for little more than the rebuild kits -- I wouldn't bother with the kit. The only thing expensive is the rotors. They are over $100 each, and you will likely have to go through an AMC vendor. If your rotors will turn you're good for now.  I wouldn't worry too much about using standard steel lines and stock replacement rubber lines. The old lines are over 40 years old, the replacements should last that long, but if only half that long (20 years!) they will be fine for most of your lifetime. Won't hurt to use more expensive, longer lasting stuff, but you did mention being on a budget...
Frank Swygert
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.03
Copyright ©2001-2019 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.219 seconds.
All content of this site Copyright © 2018 TheAMCForum unless otherwise noted, all rights reserved.
PROBLEMS LOGGING IN or REGISTERING:
If you have problems logging in or registering, then please contact a Moderator or