Re: {Chrysler 300} 300G Disc brakes / downshifting

Just a couple personal comments on the brake issue. Like many in the group, My wife and I have driven many tens of thousands of miles on properly adjusted stock drum brakes with no major issues, especially when my wife and I were using 60-62 Newports, 300 Sport, and New Yorkers as pretty much daily drivers. It wasn't until around the year 2000 or so when my letter car versions became driven less frequently as 'collector' cars that didn't see inclement New England weather and sat for half the year that I began having minor but annoying issues from time to time with adjusting cams getting frozen up, or the occasional wheel cylinder weeping and contaminating brake shoes that I looked into discs.

AAJ was a simple bolt on that didn't cost much, and used readily available off the shelf parts like loaded calipers from a late 70's Monte Carlo and discs from a Cordoba that I haven't needed to touch in the 10+ years since I first put them on my G. I still have the original stuff that some future owner may want to bolt back on in a couple of hours, but really can't imagine why at this point. The discs don't actually stop all that much better (distance wise, maybe 10-15%) than correctly adjusted original drums, but never pull to either direction and never need adjustment. A fully loaded caliper, should I ever need one, costs less than one of the four front wheel cylinders, and the rotors are cheap and on the shelf, as opposed to drums. Only drawback I had initially was not getting the best pads so I had black brake dust on the slotted wheel covers and bottom 6" of the fender/rocker/quarter panels to remove with detail spray once a month or so. Another potential issue is for cars with 14" wheels like a C or D, as the disc brake kit is then based on a Dodge Dart rotor due to fitment issues. Seems too small for my liking. I got some H wheel covers and 15" wheels for my C and used the G kit to have larger discs. This also helps with finding tires, too.

One other 'less radical?' mod I tried on a 62 with good results was to swap over the front brakes from a 63/64 Chrysler that uses a single wheel cylinder configuration and a self adjusting star wheel set up that gave more stopping power and used parts that were less expensive and more readily available but were still 'all Chrysler'. Brakes are the most important system (maybe tied with steering?) on the car, so whichever way one chooses to go, make sure they're always functioning properly, and don't forget those rubber hoses that go to each front wheel and the rear axle!

Don't worry, northerners- the days are getting longer and Spring is on the way, even though it sure won't feel or look like it this weekend up in New England. We had our TX winter a couple weekends ago with some sleet/freezing rain, but that's long gone and we'll be near 80 today and mid to upper 70's this weekend, so the top will be going down on the G for tomorrow's shows.

Happy Motoring.

On Thu, Feb 5, 2026 at 9:19 PM 'dave mason' via Chrysler 300 Club International <chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I just want to footstomp this message from Noel for the email archives. This is an important point especially for younger folks who may get into restoring and driving these cars in the future but who may not be familiar with downshifting for long downhill mountain stretches. What frequently happens? Constantly laying on the brakes going down a long stretch overheats them, the fluid can begin vaporizing causing bubbles in the brake fluid which defeats the hydraulic pressure ability of your brake fluid then it doesn’t work because stepping on the pedal you are now trying to compress gas vs liquid so you can’t create enough hydraulic pressure to keep the wheel cylinders actuated. Second gear is your friend (slower driving obviously) going down a long several percent grade. First gear for extreme grades, go slow. Last place you want to get brake fade is on a steep downhill. Just what you have to do. Let the speed racers behind you get mad. Better than the alternative.

D&K

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 5, 2026, at 14:59, 'Noel Hastalis' via Chrysler 300 Club International <chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Hi Mike,

I'll add my 2 cents to this discussion by saying 'It Depends' on where you'll be concentrating most of your G's cruising. If you're mostly in the mountainous topography of the eastern or western U.S. then your thoughts of converting to discs are reasonable. For me, living in the flatlands of metro Chicago, I've driven my factory drum brakes equipped F over 90,000 miles since 2009, and this brake setup has served me well. Have never bumped or slid into anything, rain or shine. That said, those of us running drums are well-served using our pushbuttons to downshift into Second and/or First when driving down curvy steep mountain grades. We need to anticipate and drive our classics as they would have been driven 60+ years ago and not like our modern cars with their brakes that never fade.

Noel Hastalis

Burr Ridge, IL

Awaiting your Asheville Meet Registration Forms!!!

On 02/05/2026 1:39 PM CST Drew W Carl <drew@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I never understood the desire to convert. Jay Leno seems to be a big fan of this. I always felt you drive the car for the car it is. And if the drum brakes are adjusted properly they have always worked fine for me. Semi trucks have drum brakes. What is the big deal? I would prefer completely original car with original brakes and just drive it for the car it is, but everything is opinion and preference.

On 02/05/2026 2:16 PM, John Grady wrote:

agree, jkg

On Thu, Feb 5, 2026 at 12:32 PM dplotkin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <dplotkin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Mike-

You will no doubt find folks who say they converted an F or G to disks and are happy. I am not among them. Pedal travel will be too long, master cylinder selection severely limited by booster and right carb. I hated it. I had it on my F and removed it last year, back to stock drums.

There is no technical reason to convert. The G brakes, stock, are fine in good condition.

-----Original Message-----
From: "Mike Spencer" <mikespencer377@xxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, February 5, 2026 11:58am
To: "Club International Chrysler" <chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: {Chrysler 300} 300G Disc brakes

Has anyone installed the full disc conversion from Andy Bernbaum? I’m considering converting my G during restoration.

Thanks,

Mike S
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