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Re: [Spridgets] Drum Brake to Disc Brake Conversion

To: Bob Spruck <raspruck@gmail.com>, Spridgets <spridgets@autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: [Spridgets] Drum Brake to Disc Brake Conversion
From: Kevin Valentine via Spridgets <spridgets@autox.team.net>
Date: Mon, 4 May 2015 21:31:42 -0400
Delivered-to: mharc@autox.team.net
Delivered-to: spridgets@autox.team.net
References: <5547CA79.4080106@gmail.com>
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Bob,

This can be a dangerous swap if not done correctly!   Here are a few notes
from Peter and Frank on the subject :



>From Peter C:

The minimum parts required are:
1. Spindle or swivel axle, as it has the caliper attachment bolt holes that
the BE spindle doesn't have.
2. Kingpin, as it is a different diameter to fit the spindle
3. The caliper and all its attachments
4. Hub and brake rotor.

But, this gives you an opportunity to use the best a-frame and lower
trunion pin between the early and late. The A-frame might or will have
provision for a sway bar that you might want. You might want to use the
newer springs if your BE ones are fading. Given the difficulties associated
with removing the lower trunion pin, the most expeditious method is often
to just swap out the Aframe with kingpin and spindle attached. There is
less disassembly involved. You don't even need to remove the hubs or
anything. Do check for play in wheel bearings first, and also in the king
pin and trunion. Leave the steering arms attached to the spindle, and undo
the connection at the tierod end. You also need to move the steel brake line
a little.



>From Frank:

What Peter said and buy new rubber brake hoses, don't even think about
using the ones from the 70 unless you can see a date code on the hose and
it is 5 years old or less.
Never ever use rubber brake hoses 10 years old or older. They all have a
date of manufacture on them, if it has no date, it's
PRE 1976 and will fail when you need it most during that panic stop.
Also I have run across disc brake conversions on Bugeyes where the PO just
put the disc spindles on the drum brake king pin.
The top of the pin and the top hole in the spindle are the same and it
looks like it works but the lower end of a disc brake king pin is much
thicker, if you just drop the later spindle on a Bugeye king pin it will
work but when (not if) it fails, it will be catastrophic.
Similar to the failing of a 30 year old rubber brake hose ;)

Be careful.

Kevin V.
Tuscarora, Pa



On Mon, May 4, 2015 at 3:37 PM, Bob Spruck via Spridgets <
spridgets@autox.team.net> wrote:

>  Now that I am also a Bugeye owner, I've acquired a whole new set of
> acquaintances. A guy I met at the Atlanta British Car Day Show yesterday is
> interested in converting his disc wheeled Bugeye from  drum brakes to disc
> brakes. All my square body parts cars are disc brake equipped so I will
> give him the parts  he needs.
>
> I am sure many of you have done this conversion and can tell us what parts
> are needed. My understanding is that the A-arm, kingpin, axle, steering
> arm, and tie rod are the same on a drum brake Bugeye and a disc brake
> square body and all he needs are the hub, caliper, and rotor. Can anyone
> confirm or correct that understanding? Can you point us to any tech
> literature/ instructions, etc that will help? Of course, he will rebuild
> the calipers, and install new bearings, braided hydraulic hoses, rotors,
> and pads.
>
> Bob Spruck
>
> ------------------------
>
> spridgets@autox.team.net
>
> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
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>
>

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<div dir=3D"ltr">Bob,<div><br></div><div>This can be a dangerous swap if no=
t done correctly! =C2=A0 Here are a few notes from Peter and Frank on the s=
ubject :</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>From Peter =
C:</div><div><br></div><div><span style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px">Th=
e minimum parts required are:</span><br style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349=
px"><span style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px">1. Spindle or swivel axle,=
 as it has the caliper attachment bolt holes that the BE spindle doesn&#39;=
t have.</span><br style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px"><span style=3D"fon=
t-size:12.8000001907349px">2.=C2=A0</span><span class=3D"" style=3D"font-si=
ze:12.8000001907349px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">Kingpin</span><spa=
n style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px">, as it is a different diameter to=
 fit the spindle</span><br style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px"><span sty=
le=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px">3. The caliper and all its attachments<=
/span><br style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px"><span style=3D"font-size:1=
2.8000001907349px">4. Hub and=C2=A0</span><span class=3D"" style=3D"font-si=
ze:12.8000001907349px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">brake</span><span =
style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px">=C2=A0rotor.</span><br style=3D"font=
-size:12.8000001907349px"><br style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px"><span =
style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px">But, this gives you an opportunity t=
o use the best a-frame and lower trunion pin between the early and late. Th=
e A-frame might or will have provision for a sway bar that you might want. =
You might want to use the newer springs if your BE ones are fading. Given t=
he difficulties associated with removing the lower trunion pin, the most ex=
peditious method is often to just swap out the Aframe with=C2=A0</span><spa=
n class=3D"" style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px;background-color:rgb(255=
,255,255)">kingpin</span><span style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px">=C2=
=A0and spindle attached. There is less disassembly involved. You don&#39;t =
even need to remove the hubs or anything. Do check for play in wheel bearin=
gs first, and also in the king pin and trunion. Leave the steering arms att=
ached to the spindle, and undo the connection at the tierod end. You also n=
eed to move the steel=C2=A0</span><span class=3D"" style=3D"font-size:12.80=
00001907349px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">brake</span><span style=3D=
"font-size:12.8000001907349px">=C2=A0line a little.</span><br style=3D"font=
-size:12.8000001907349px"><br style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px"><span =
style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px">=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0</span><br></div=
><div><span style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px"><br></span></div><div><s=
pan style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px">From Frank:</span></div><div><sp=
an style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px"><br></span></div><div><span style=
=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px">What Peter said and buy new rubber=C2=A0<=
/span><span class=3D"" style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px;background-col=
or:rgb(255,255,255)">brake</span><span style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349p=
x">=C2=A0hoses, don&#39;t even think about using the ones from the 70 unles=
s you can see a date code on the hose and it is 5 years old or less.</span>=
<br style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px"><span style=3D"font-size:12.8000=
001907349px">Never ever use rubber=C2=A0</span><span class=3D"" style=3D"fo=
nt-size:12.8000001907349px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">brake</span><=
span style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px">=C2=A0hoses 10 years old or old=
er. They all have a date of manufacture on them, if it has no date, it&#39;=
s</span><br style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px"><span style=3D"font-size=
:12.8000001907349px">PRE 1976 and will fail when you need it most during th=
at panic stop.</span><br style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px"><span style=
=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px">Also I have run across=C2=A0</span><span =
class=3D"" style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px;background-color:rgb(255,2=
55,255)">disc</span><span style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px">=C2=A0</sp=
an><span class=3D"" style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px;background-color:=
rgb(255,255,255)">brake</span><span style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px">=
=C2=A0conversions on Bugeyes where the PO just put the=C2=A0</span><span cl=
ass=3D"" style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px;background-color:rgb(255,255=
,255)">disc</span><span style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px">=C2=A0spindl=
es on the drum=C2=A0</span><span class=3D"" style=3D"font-size:12.800000190=
7349px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">brake</span><span style=3D"font-s=
ize:12.8000001907349px">=C2=A0king pin.</span><br style=3D"font-size:12.800=
0001907349px"><span style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px">The top of the p=
in and the top hole in the spindle are the same and it looks like it works =
but the lower end of a=C2=A0</span><span class=3D"" style=3D"font-size:12.8=
000001907349px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">disc</span><span style=3D=
"font-size:12.8000001907349px">=C2=A0</span><span class=3D"" style=3D"font-=
size:12.8000001907349px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">brake</span><spa=
n style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px">=C2=A0king pin is much thicker, if=
 you just drop the later spindle on a Bugeye king pin it will work but when=
 (not if) it fails, it will be catastrophic.</span><br style=3D"font-size:1=
2.8000001907349px"><span style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px">Similar to =
the failing of a 30 year old rubber=C2=A0</span><span class=3D"" style=3D"f=
ont-size:12.8000001907349px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">brake</span>=
<span style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px">=C2=A0hose ;)</span></div><div=
><span style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px"><br></span></div><div><span s=
tyle=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px">Be careful.</span></div><div><span st=
yle=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px"><br></span></div><div><span style=3D"f=
ont-size:12.8000001907349px">Kevin V.</span></div><div><span style=3D"font-=
size:12.8000001907349px">Tuscarora, Pa</span><br></div><div><div class=3D""=
 style=3D"font-size:12.8000001907349px"><div id=3D":346" class=3D"" tabinde=
x=3D"0"><img class=3D"" src=3D"https://ssl.gstatic.com/ui/v1/icons/mail/ima=
ges/cleardot.gif"></div><div id=3D":346" class=3D"" tabindex=3D"0"><br></di=
v><div id=3D":346" class=3D"" tabindex=3D"0"><br></div></div></div></div><d=
iv class=3D"gmail_extra"><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Mon, May 4, 2015=
 at 3:37 PM, Bob Spruck via Spridgets <span dir=3D"ltr">&lt;<a href=3D"mail=
to:spridgets@autox.team.net" target=3D"_blank">spridgets@autox.team.net</a>=
&gt;</span> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0=
 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
 =20

   =20
 =20
  <div bgcolor=3D"#FFFFFF" text=3D"#000000">
    <font size=3D"+1"><font face=3D"Arial">Now that I am also a Bugeye
        owner, I&#39;ve acquired a whole new set of acquaintances. A guy I
        met at the Atlanta British Car Day Show yesterday is interested
        in converting his disc wheeled Bugeye from=C2=A0 drum brakes to dis=
c
        brakes. All my square body parts cars are disc brake equipped so
        I will give him the parts=C2=A0 he needs.<br>
        <br>
        I am sure many of you have done this conversion and can tell us
        what parts are needed. My understanding is that the A-arm,
        kingpin, axle, steering arm, and tie rod are the same on a drum
        brake Bugeye and a disc brake square body and all he needs are
        the hub, caliper, and rotor. Can anyone confirm or correct that
        understanding? Can you point us to any tech literature/
        instructions, etc that will help? Of course, he will rebuild the
        calipers, and install new bearings, braided hydraulic hoses,
        rotors, and pads.<span class=3D"HOEnZb"><font color=3D"#888888"><br=
>
        <br>
        Bob Spruck<br>
      </font></span></font></font>
  </div>

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