Disc brakes for '69 4x4

[bm52]

One of the first things my son and I are going to tackle on our truck is the brakes. I would like to replace the front drums with disc brakes. I wanted to ask some questions to make sure we are on the right track with this. From all I've read, it sounds like we will need to replace the entire front end, preferably from a 73-79 model 4x4? This will bolt and connect up properly to our '69? Also, is there any particular 4x4 year model in the 73-79 range I should target, or stay away from, for these parts?

[FoMoCo]

Have you thought about power drum brakes? I built my 67 with power drums and is as touchy and powerful as disk. Another thing to look for is a disk brake proportioning valve if you go that direction. I think there might be a section on the home page discussing this.
http://www.fordification.com/discbrakes01.htm

Nick

[heep70]

Yes, you will need to swap the whole front end out for disk brakes.

I have also done the power drum brakes conversion. My brakes are great, but do take awhile to get bake into shape if they get wet.

I would go with disks if you can, but if you are just looking for better brakes put a booster on and a power brake MC.

[willowbilly3]

I agree that for normal driving you may find the power brakes suitable. Especially if you have good contact pattern on the shoes.
This is kind of old school but still important. They probably isn't a handful of technicians left who even know what arcing the shoes means. This means by either bending the shoe or grinding the linings, you make sure the whole shoe makes contact with the drum. This is a problem with drums that have been resurfaced and especially ones that are getting out to the limit. You now have a very small section of the shoe contacting the drum. And also make sure they don't turn your drums past the limit. If you can't read Max. Dia. somewhere on the drum, then find a spec book and look it up.

Personally, I would look for an F-150 of the 76-79 vintage, as a donor truck. Then you would have the good integral power steering, all the disc brake front end components, and quite possibly a married 205 T-case. I am pretty sure the 4x4s in the F-100 73-75 vintage were still drum brakes too and they had that horrid power assist steering, if any at all.

[bm52]

The truck has only about 43,000 original miles on it, so I'm hoping that the drums have some life left in them, unless rust has taken a toll. We'll pull 'em and check them out, and probably try the power drum brake approach first, as it sounds like it might be the easiest, quickest and less expensive route.

If the drums are trashed though we may go back to the disc brake solution. Either way, is it also recommended to change out the brake lines when converting to power brakes?

[heep70]

Brake line should be fine unless you see something unsafe.