Joined: Tue Mar 01 2011, 04:53PM
Location: Seattle
Posts: 39
Is the SSBC kit really that undersized or just not optimum compared to other choices?
I ask because, like many, I'd prefer to keep my 14 inch wheels with the factory hubcaps.
While the SSBC kit is not as good as say the 73 upgrade or any of the other non-OEM offerings, I have to believe it is an improvement over factory front drums???
Joined: Wed Nov 17 2010, 03:28PM
Location: florida
Posts: 1311
i had the ssbc kit from years ago when they first came out and they were exact replicas of the kelsey hayes style calipers used on 60's mustangs and disc braked a-bodies of the 60's.i would think they should be a tad bigger for a c-body.they were also aluminum that had issues with the area where the pads rest.i think the newer kits use cast iron calipers now and i believe you can even upgrade them to a bigger caliper also.after i upgraded to 73 spindles i built my own kit using first gen brembos on a stock unicast rotor.
Joined: Sat Mar 29 2008, 03:36PM
Location: North eastern Wis.
Posts: 1638
john66ny wrote ... I don't know if you can even get 14" tires these days...
I have been looking for 14" tires, as I have some vintage 5 slot aluminum rims I want to get some use out of. "Coker tire" has some BFGs and a few others, but they seem small in diameter to me. The local Fleet Farm and Ace hardware sells "Road Runner" tires in 14". They are trailer tires so I don't think they would be good for much more than "show car" use. Although trailers go down the highway, so I don't know what the difference is exactly.
I found a set of General Grabber ATs @ 27" X 8.5" X 14" on the tire rack. They were well priced but are a "small truck" tire. Not an issue for me for now. Just need something to get it around for a bit as I am planning to install the drive train and brakes this spring. I will continue to look for a better option. I really don't want to go to 17" rims.
Joined: Tue Oct 06 2009, 09:37AM
Location: Paris, KY
Posts: 1496
jazzandmoparguy wrote ...
Cooper still sells 14" tires I believe.
Cooper Cobras still come in a 14 inch size. I have a set on my '68 VIP but I am looking to go back to some kind of white wall tire as soon as the budget permits. The Cobras ride and handle good but I was surprised how loud the tread noise is compared to the previous Cooper Trendsetters I had on before. All the people who hated Cooper Trendsetters at the time I bought mine turned out to be right. In my case, 3 of the 5 Trendsetters I had on the VIP were out of round.
Joined: Tue Oct 06 2009, 09:37AM
Location: Paris, KY
Posts: 1496
GranTorinoSport wrote ...
Is the SSBC kit really that undersized or just not optimum compared to other choices?
I ask because, like many, I'd prefer to keep my 14 inch wheels with the factory hubcaps.
While the SSBC kit is not as good as say the 73 upgrade or any of the other non-OEM offerings, I have to believe it is an improvement over factory front drums???
The last catalog I got from PST featured a disc brake conversion kit that was advertised as being for C-bodies that would allow you to keep the original factory 14 inch wheels. I'd like to have disc brakes without losing my original wheels and hubcaps. The kit is by Leed Brakes. This link is from the maker's page and not PST but the prices are the same and the item listed is the top of the line power brake kit. They have variations of this kit for manual brakes and with less fancy rotors. https://leedbrakes.com/i-23439002-power-front-disc-brake-conversion-kit-mopar-c-body-maxgrip-xds-rotors.html