Are 11" brakes desirable?

[rklewis1005]

All, I bought another 70 K-Frame & suspension. Why - well honestly it's a bit of addiction

I spotted it online from a 70 Charger Big Block. I noticed the drums looked in decent shape and it still had the anti-vibration springs. I thought they'd be nice to have and a few spare parts and sell what I don't want to keep. Good plan right?

Well I checked out the drums and they seem to have life left and the groove for the vibration spring are rust free, so I bought it.

This morning while disassembling I noticed they seemed different than mine. Well duh - they're 11" drums.

So before I go and list them in the marketplace, is there any reason I should consider replacing my 10" front drums with them? My car goal is to put it back to original condition with factory/period parts where possible. Not a concours restore as those folks are on another level. I don't have a build sheet, but I think 11s on front and 10 on rears would be a giveaway. I also suspect the brake system is designed for 10s all around, but I'm not an expert.

Thoughts or arguments to use the 11s? Do people seek them out.

Thanks
Ross

 

[eldubb440]

you should consider running discs and toss that crap....... some will disagree, I'm just trying to help a brotha out

 

[rklewis1005]

you should consider running discs and toss that crap....... some will disagree, I'm just trying to help a brotha out

Maybe someday, but initial intent is to keep it like it came from the factory, so I'll keep my 10" drums as I've already started rebuilding them. Thanks for the clarity.

 

[Sixpactogo]

Bib block B bodies got the 11" drums up front in those years and 11" drums out back. Small block cars got 10" all the way around. I upgraded my 68 Charger to discs and sold the 11" drums. I'm not up to speed on if or how much better a 11" is.

 

[rklewis1005]

Bib block B bodies got the 11" drums up front in those years and 10" drums out back. Small block cars got 10" all the way around. I upgraded my 68 Charger to discs and sold the 11" drums. I'm not up to speed on if or how much better a 11" is.

Interesting mine was a 383 HP / SE and has 10s all around.

 

[R413]

What is your car? What engine? How do you drive it? Does it have heavy options like A/C and power windows? Yes disc is much better. 11's have more braking power and take longer to over heat. Front Disc brakes are the upgrade to make. Manual or power, up to your leg power.

Bib block B bodies got the 11" drums up front in those years and 10" drums out back. Small block cars got 10" all the way around. I upgraded my 68 Charger to discs and sold the 11" drums. I'm not up to speed on if or how much better a 11" is.

No they didn't. And they never mixed 10" and 11" drums on the same car. They were all 10" or 11"

383 2bbl cars had 10" brakes standard.
383 4 bbl engine in a belvedere, satellite or Coronet 440/500 came with 10" brwkes also.
383 4 bbl SuoerBee and road runners came with 11" standard.

 

[rklewis1005]

383 HP / Auto / No Air. It was my late brother's car and parked for 40+ years. It was undrivable when I got it a year ago and probably a year from being back together. I'm going to continue on my path of using the 10" drums that were on it. Numbers matching SE that will be back to original / OE specs when I'm done.

Once I get to enjoy it for a few years, I can think about upgrades.

 

[Rusty knuckles]

you should consider running discs and toss that crap....... some will disagree, I'm just trying to help a brotha out

Count me in the disagree category. My drums will slide fat 100tw tires.

 

[Sixpactogo]

What is your car? What engine? How do you drive it? Does it have heavy options like A/C and power windows? Yes disc is much better. 11's have more braking power and take longer to over heat. Front Disc brakes are the upgrade to make. Manual or power, up to your leg power.


No they didn't. And they never mixed 10" and 11" drums on the same car. They were all 10" or 11"

383 2bbl cars had 10" brakes standard.
383 4 bbl engine in a belvedere, satellite or Coronet 440/500 came with 10" brwkes also.
383 4 bbl SuoerBee and road runners came with 11" standard.

What is your car? What engine? How do you drive it? Does it have heavy options like A/C and power windows? Yes disc is much better. 11's have more braking power and take longer to over heat. Front Disc brakes are the upgrade to make. Manual or power, up to your leg power.


No they didn't. And they never mixed 10" and 11" drums on the same car. They were all 10" or 11"

383 2bbl cars had 10" brakes standard.
383 4 bbl engine in a belvedere, satellite or Coronet 440/500 came with 10" brwkes also.
383 4 bbl SuoerBee and road runners came with 11" standard.

My 68 Charger 383-4 automatic came with 11 X 2.5 drums in the front and I thought 10" in the rear. I verified they are 11"
It makes sense that they would be. I sold the front ones when I upgraded to discs.

 

[WileE]

No they didn't. And they never mixed 10" and 11" drums on the same car. They were all 10" or 11"

Having done brake jobs back in the day, I don't recall any having mismatched size drum brakes.

 

[gtx6970]

Bib block B bodies got the 11" drums up front in those years and 10" drums out back. Small block cars got 10" all the way around. I upgraded my 68 Charger to discs and sold the 11" drums. I'm not up to speed on if or how much better a 11" is.

Wrong

It was either 10s
Or 11s.

Not both


Disc brakes on front had 10" rear drums

Only exception was TransAm E bodies

They were disc ft and 11 drum rear

 

[Runner 68]

Count me in the disagree category. My drums will slide fat 100tw tires.

I disagree to disagree.
My Baer disc system, 13" rotors on all 4 corners, manual, shuts my Runner down 10 times faster than the tubs and shoes ever did.
Can lock 8" fronts and 11" rears up in a heart beat. Although "sliding" tires is never a good thing when braking hard.

 

[Dave6T4]

11" drums all the way around was a factory upgrade option over standard 10" drums. 440 and Hemi B-bodies came with them as standard equipment. They did not come with self-adjusters, like 10" brakes. Disc brakes on the front were a further upgrade option on '66 and up B-bodies, and used 10" drums on the rear.

 

[Geoff 2]

If you keep the brakes in post #1, new need a new rt hand spring...or bend the tang. It is about to let go. Nothing wrong with drum brakes, but I would fit self adjusters if you keep them.

 

[Mopar Miki]

Drum brake cars equipped with modern lining material stop very well.

 

[rklewis1005]

Thanks all for the info & opinions. I've decided to keep it simple and continue rebuilding my 10" drums.

I'll get the 11"s posted in Marketplace per forum rules.

Thanks
Ross

 

[AR67GTX]

I think later year 11 drums did receive auto adjusters. My 66 has a Dana from a later year car, don’t remember the year, 68 or 69, and the 11x2-1/2 rear brakes have self adjusters. I may remove them but I need to make sure that’s possible without consequences.

 

[Slipping727]

In the old days when doing a brake job, they would arc the shoes to match the drum.
It made a huge difference then just replacing brake shoes.
Don't know if anybody does that now a days.

 

[icetech]

Thanks all for the info & opinions. I've decided to keep it simple and continue rebuilding my 10" drums.

I'll get the 11"s posted in Marketplace per forum rules.

Thanks
Ross

Great choice! i converted to disc and really wish i hadn't.

 

[R413]

66-72 B bodies were 11x3" front 11x2.5" rear.

Self adjusters started in 1970 model year for 11" brakes.
66-69 11" were manual adjusters.

Yes arcing the shoes to the drum gets you full contact on the shoes from the start, big difference over waiting for them to wear in. Brake reline shops still do that.