Stude disc brake option, my opinion...

[Mike]

Thought I'd post this here too, just in case it was missed over on the Stude Drivers site..
Note - everyone wants pictures....open their website...the Stude kit is pictured.

As noted a few weeks ago, I ordered a Hot Rods and Brakes full kit.
http://hotrodsandbrakes.com/

For whatever reason, some of you bad mouthed them without even seeing them...!

Well, I've got a set and don't see anything to bad mouth about.
With a relationship to the old Dave Levesque kits...it is very much the same. A little nicer, but the same. But really...in keeping things "simple", how can you be much different..?
A coupla things different.
1. the Hot Rods and Brakes bracket is much nicer cut out. Still 1/4" steel, and while it's not a machined part and it is flame cut, it looks more like a Plasma cut rather than a worn out torch tip as Daves did. I have a set of Daves, that's how I know..!
The bearing spacer is a nice fit at the inner bearing and the inner grease seal. Fits snugly on the spindle.
The store bought parts are a mix of NAPA and CarQuest parts.

Compared to the Turner kit.
Night and day. The Turner bracket is much cleaner and better done. It's also HEAVY. It's a two piece bracket which from a design standpoint..."isn't" good. On the other hand, everything is heavy enough that I doubt he's had any problems with that bracket.
But also from a design point, it's WAY too heavy, MAC Truck stopping heavy.

The Levesque kit under my 59 Lark wagon has almost 100,000 miles that I've put on it (don't know how many the last owner put on it with those brakes on it..!) with zero problems.

The only concern I have the the Hot Rods and Brakes kit is the way the bracket is bolted to the spindle.
Unlike the Levesque kit, that used a thru bolt with a nut, the Hot Rods and Brakes kit...the bracket itself is threaded, with no nut. On its own accord, that's ok when used with LocTite (as is recommended in the instructions) along with a split lock washer.
The split lock washer is kind-of-a joke as far as locking a fastener, but the LocTite will do the job. The split lock washer is already in the trash, I don't use them.
I bought longer bolts and lock nuts to be a little more secure. I will tighten the bolts as designed, then add the lock nuts to secure things better from there.
The basic fastening design is a good idea, I just like a little more security.

All in all, I would not hesitate to recommend using these brakes at all to anyone needing a perfectly good disc kit. Not "over" engineered, done just right.
This is all...just my opinion of course..!

Mike

P.s the brakes are on my car and all is well. Waiting for the rear to finish things up...

[Mike]

The only concern I have the the Hot Rods and Brakes kit is the way the bracket is bolted to the spindle.
Unlike the Levesque kit, that used a thru bolt with a nut, the Hot Rods and Brakes kit...the bracket itself is threaded, with no nut. On its own accord, that's ok when used with LocTite (as is recommended in the instructions) along with a split lock washer.

Mike

[Mike]

Welcome Saimon -

On one hand, I bought longer fasteners, used Locktite...AND a locking nut with star lock washer on the back of the caliper bracket.
On the other hand, I see no real reason to be concerned with the bracket being threaded and no nut.

And for the record, good star lock washer is a much better design thAn the "normal" split type lock washer.

Mike

[londondreams]

Spare parts locally manufactured are cheap and easily available which means you can save your time and money at same time. We have been looking forward to write on auto industry because writing is my hobby and i usually provide tips for students on my blog, i am a professor of English and most of my students get help from my blog when ever they feel any problem in their assignments, its totally free.

[Mike]

A heads up on this kit...

I bought the Wilwood aluminum calipers to replace the heavy cast iron OEM calipers. They use the same pads, so the braking is the same, just lighter, overall weight.
"Lighter", is easier on the tires, the springs and the shock absorbers. All that adds up to increased item life and also overall handling is better.

Mike

[hi-per al]

Thanx for the tips Mike!!!

[Mike]

Heyyy Al...

Mike

[TaylorIsaiah]

Unlike the Levesque kit, that used a thru bolt with a nut, the Hot Rods and Brakes kit...the bracket itself is threaded, with no nut. On its own accord, that's ok when used with LocTite (as is recommended in the instructions) along with a split lock washer.



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