Re: IML: '61 Disc brake conversion. First hand account

[<fretwellt@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi my name is Todd and after reading your story I was considering changing my 63' Imperial to four wheel disc brakes. I did it on my 93' Buick Regeal and you could feel the differrance like night and day. I do belive in keeping alot of my car original, but my car is going to be an everyday driver and I just feel a little safer with a four wheel disc system. Could you send me some of those pictures of the conversion I would love to see them since the year of are cars are pretty close. My email address is fretwellt@xxxxxxxxxxxxx


Thanks,
Todd- 1963 Imperial Crown

> 
> From: Lib596@xxxxxxx
> Date: 2005/08/11 Thu PM 03:29:55 EDT
> To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: IML: '61 Disc brake conversion. First hand account
> 
> This week I fitted an AAJ disc brake conversion to my '61 LeBaron.
>  
> After all the speculation and discussion, I thought you guys might want to  
> hear a first hand account from someone who has actually been there and done  
> that.
>  
> I did the job in two stages. The first stage was to install a dual M/C and  a 
> proportioning valve.
> This was a very straight forward job. The only complications were the need  
> to shorten the brake push rod to accomodate the shallower piston cup and, in my 
>  case, to find U.S. brake couplings which are shorter than European ones.  
> Fortunately the local US parts supplier had plenty. Once I had bled the system I 
>  took the car for a test drive. I wanted to make sure everything was  
> behaving properly before I went on to stage two, fitting the discs. The new M/C  did 
> improve the feel of the pedal but did little to make the car stop better. No  
> surprises there then.
>  
> The next day I started on the discs. This is really very easy. The kit is  
> simple to fit and I had both sides done by lunchtime. More bleeding  followed 
> with my wife pumping the pedal for me. (This is the one job on the car  that she 
> is totally familiar with). Then, out on the road to test the new brakes  and 
> adjust the proportioning valve. One final problem. when I came to put the  
> wheel covers back, I discovered that the new studs are too long and the cover  
> would not fit. I had to circumcise the studs with an angle grinder before I  
> could put the covers back.
>  
> I have to say I am very happy with the results. No more shuddering  stops, no 
> more dead areas on the pedal stroke. The whole feel of the braking  system is 
> more sensitive and responsive. I know that I had hot spots on the  drums 
> which caused the shuddering but apart from that the old brakes never felt  as good 
> as this. Most importantly of all, it has shortened my braking distances  
> considerably. It means I can drive the car with a lot more confidence than  
> before. When I ordered the kit I wondered whether I was wasting my money.  I 
> certainly don't think so now.
>  
> To be objective and in case any other club members are planning to go down  
> this route, here are the negative sides to the conversion. First, although I 
> can  lock the wheels before it happens, I can push the pedal right to the floor 
> when  the booster is working. It does not affect the braking but it feels 
> wrong. I am  also getting a little bit of binding, particularly on the left side. 
> I hope this  will wear off as the pads bed down. Finally, the studs are a bit 
> thinner  than the originals. I guess they are all right but I have to say, I 
> am tempted  to ask my local engineering firm whether they could replace the 
> studs with the  Imperial originals.
>  
> I know there will always be some people for whom originality is the  priority 
> and I respect their views but for someone like myself who uses their  
> Imperial on a regular basis, often in heavy and difficult traffic conditions,  this 
> has made a huge improvement. For what it's worth, I have all the  original 
> equipment and a new owner could put the car back to the way it was  without any 
> sign of interference.
>  
> For any that are interested, I have pictures of the different stages of the  
> conversion.
>  
> Best wishes
>  
> Tony V.
> 
> 



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