• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Original front disc brakes?

rakort

Well-Known Member
Local time
3:07 PM
Joined
Oct 4, 2014
Messages
695
Reaction score
293
Location
Wisconsin
So do these look like OEM disc brakes for a b-body? They look like 2 or 4 piston calipers.

Are they worth having or go with aftermarket? What models / years would have actually came with these?

1969 Disc Brakes.jpg
 
If they are made by Bendix, they are for a B body. There were other 4 piston set ups such as Kelsey-Hayes and I think Budd was also available. I think the Budd brakes were more for the larger C bodies and the Kelsey-Hayes were for the A body's.
 
I have been buying these up because they are the correct disc brakes for 66-69 B-body.
Others have been replacing these with cheaper later model setups, or going aftermarket also.
 
I agree. I have a complete second set up for my 69 charger.
 
I agree. I have a complete second set up for my 69 charger.

My question is how well will they work? Are they hugely expensive to get back in order? New pistons, rotors, etc?

I know these aren't vette brakes although some folks have compared these 4 pistons calipers to those on a vette and talked about stupid things like sleeving the calipers with stainless steel. A vette caliper has a seal that slides in bore of the caliper and the bore must be perfect. I'm assuming these have the more conventional arrangement with the seal fixed in the bore with a chrome piston that slides in the seal.
 
I dont think they work that great. I know the Budd brakes for Cbodys are impossible to find parts for. Just the Special lower Ball joints alone are 350$ a piece. Unless you are doing a 100% Original Resto, i would just go aftermarket. Or 73 and up Bbody Disc Brake set ups are what you want. F,M,J Bodys all have Set ups you could use. Dont limit yourself
 
I dont think they work that great. I know the Budd brakes for Cbodys are impossible to find parts for. Just the Special lower Ball joints alone are 350$ a piece. Unless you are doing a 100% Original Resto, i would just go aftermarket. Or 73 and up Bbody Disc Brake set ups are what you want. F,M,J Bodys all have Set ups you could use. Dont limit yourself

Good input, that's the kind of info / debate I want to hear. I'm not racing or anything like that so I'm sure I won't be worrying about fade and things like that, but I do want brakes that work and stop straight! I'm totally into the OEM thing so I'm kind of attracted to the OEM 4 piston calipers, but also don't want to go broke doing it.
 
What bore dia. is the master cylinder pictured?
 
My question is how well will they work? Are they hugely expensive to get back in order? New pistons, rotors, etc?
.

They look just like the Bendix 4 piston setup on my '68 Charger.

I am in the process of restoring mine since one was weeping fluid from the piston seal. Here's what I've found:

Caliper restoration:
  1. Seal kit: Centric makes one which isn't hard to find. There are some other seal kits but many are discontinued and the only stock is what may still be floating around
  2. Pistons: harder than seals but do-able. Found at least 2 suppliers. Centric and Harmon
  3. Sleeving: only a couple rebuilders out there will still do them
Other parts to make it all work:
  1. Rotors/hubs: pretty hard to find. Only ones I found single piece units from Year One (they had some custom cast for them)
  2. Bearings: easy peasy. even Advance had them in stock
  3. Pads: Centric makes them and they aren't hard to find
  4. Hard lines: available from several manufacturers, not hard to find
That's what I've found so far. If you guys have more/better info, I'd sure appreciate it.
 
I know these aren't vette brakes although some folks have compared these 4 pistons calipers to those on a vette and talked about stupid things like sleeving the calipers with stainless steel. A vette caliper has a seal that slides in bore of the caliper and the bore must be perfect. I'm assuming these have the more conventional arrangement with the seal fixed in the bore with a chrome piston that slides in the seal.

any thoughts on where the seal on these calipers is?
 
I gotta say, I have a set on my 69 charger that came with it from the factory. They are by far better brakes for stopping power than what my 2012 Ram has that has the dual piston calipers up front. The main issue why everyone "hated" these brakes was that the pistons and cylinders would rust up from lack of maintenance with the brake fluid getting contaminated and then you'd have hanging up calipers due to stuck pistons or leaks. Think of it this way, the new Brembo calipers are a fixed 6 piston caliper. If fixed piston calipers were that bad, why would they put them on the Hellcats today?
 
They look just like the Bendix 4 piston setup on my '68 Charger.

I am in the process of restoring mine since one was weeping fluid from the piston seal. Here's what I've found:

Caliper restoration:
  1. Seal kit: Centric makes one which isn't hard to find. There are some other seal kits but many are discontinued and the only stock is what may still be floating around
  2. Pistons: harder than seals but do-able. Found at least 2 suppliers. Centric and Harmon
  3. Sleeving: only a couple rebuilders out there will still do them
Other parts to make it all work:
  1. Rotors/hubs: pretty hard to find. Only ones I found single piece units from Year One (they had some custom cast for them)
  2. Bearings: easy peasy. even Advance had them in stock
  3. Pads: Centric makes them and they aren't hard to find
  4. Hard lines: available from several manufacturers, not hard to find
That's what I've found so far. If you guys have more/better info, I'd sure appreciate it.
 
I don’t have it off hand but it’s listed in the Rock Auto web site for repair parts.
 
I really don't understand why no body want free spindles( a body) , have an extra set of original Chrysler parts when i remove my brake conversion, the yunk yard already have an extra pair I buy the extra pair, the rest is easier to get for your brake conversion, let me check If I have the calipers yours if you want them pay for shipping FedEx is available for me to ship it to you if you want
 
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top