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4 wheel disc with manual brakes - anyone running this combination?

dsd1967

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I just got off the phone with RamMan Brakes and they said they highly recommend a booster for 4 wheel disc brakes due to the pedal effort. I decided to go the manual brake route because of a concern with sufficient vacuum due to my cam.

Has anyone run 4 wheel disc without a booster on the street....opinions on drivability? Am I a glutton for punishment by going with a manual system?
 
I have Wilwood 4 wheel disc and a Wilwood 15/16 non power master. Haven't driven the car yet, but this is what Wildwood recommended. The tech guy said they use this setup a lot.
 
That's what's on my car now but have never driven it either...
Ive been toying with the idea of hydroboost. Should be >$800 and can apply more psi than p-brakes...and don't have to worry about valve cover clearance issues.
 
You can go with a smaller piston master cylinder and improve pedal PSI but you're going to end up with more travel....
 
The lady I talked to at RamMan recommended the 15/16" piston for a manual setup too.

The thing that really sucks is that I sold my booster, reinforcement plate and pedal linkage from the original car....that worked fine for a power 4 wheel drum brake setup. I was thinking the manual brake route was pretty much a sure thing and now I'm second guessing myself.
 
Yep, Have manual 4 wheel disc from SSBC on my 65. Installed them back in 2004. I ain't dead yet so they must work.
 
A vacuum booster could be next to useless if you have no manifold vacuum.
I would go Hydro boost and you know it will work.
 
I went with a vacuum pump from Summit and the Bendix style booster with the 1.125 Hemi style MC. Been driving it all season and the brakes perform as planned. It will plaster you on the windshield if you forget to buckle up. The pump is a simple install, just use a relay
 
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I don't have 4 wheel disc, but I have Viper disc brake conversion on the front of my 62, and drums on the rear. It's a small bore dual M/C. Petal effort is great and it stops great. I don't think I will ever think about power assist on it.
 
Thanks for the replies. It’s giving me confidence to go without the booster. That will allow me to order my brake line set tomorrow.
 
Thanks for the replies. It’s giving me confidence to go without the booster. That will allow me to order my brake line set tomorrow.
I have 4 wheel disc brakes (Wilwood all the way around) with a Wilwood master 15/16" bore stops great. '64 Polara 500 Make sure you have an adjustable proportioning valve to the rear.
 
I am going to use a small dia. master and manual discs. Then if that isn't sufficient maybe some mods on the brake rod location to increase leverage. Or? Dr. Diff could shed some light.
 
I have a 15/16" master cylinder from Dr Diff that I've had on the shelf for almost 2 years. I just have not gotten around to installing it.
I have the 12" Cordoba front discs, 2.75 single piston iron calipers up front and the Dr Diff 10.7" rear disc kit with the 1.5 single piston calipers.
Years back I removed my '75 Dart power booster and tried 4 different manual master cylinders and they all SUCKED.
* 1 1/16"
* 1 1/32"
* 15/16" iron stock Mopar
* 15/16" aluminum.
Each one delivered similar performance....Rock hard pedal with far too little braking force.
I put the power stuff back on but then later saw that all of that time, I had a disc/drum proportioning valve!
Now I am considering a return to the non power setup for a weight reduction and simplicity.
 
I wound up sending what was apparently the last SSBC conversion kit back to Summit,
paranoid of future availability of proprietary parts in it given SSBC's demise.
Back to square one, actually considering just doing the drums up with the musclecar brakes
stuff instead now.
Wish to heck Wilwood's front conversion kit would work with Magnum 500's....
 
I just rebuilt my rear calipers that are SSBC .Got a kit for a 93 Ford Thunderbird. $8 Same parts. Now to figure out the fronts and who's parts they are.
 
Contact Dr. Diff. They can get you everything you need..
 
I have four-wheel manual disks on the '71 Charger and love them. I used the A-body master that Dr. Diff recommended with Volare front disks and his Ford Cobra rear Disks.
 
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