Front End Work

[LeAnne]

We have a '66 Barracuda that still has drum brakes. Everything is in bad shape and needs to be replaced anyway, so we are planning to convert it to disc brakes. We would like to spend as little as possible, as there are so many other things that also need to be redone/replaced.

What year did disc brakes become standard on a Barracuda? What other years/models would the parts be interchangeable with a '66 Barracuda?

Any help and direction would be appreciated.

 

[Cerwin]

my 1966 plymouth valiant is currently running 1973 dodge dart 11"disks.

In your journey dont forget(which some will argue) to take the proportioning valve for the disk/drum. its different from the drum/drum proportioning valve.

hope that tidbit helps down the line. but as far as what other barracudas had disks? im oblivious.

Wish you luck.

Cerwin

 

[Jim Lusk]

Disc brakes were available on your car, but those are getting harder to find than the later brakes, but the later brakes have a different bolt pattern for the wheels, so there's more to consider. For either brake upgrade, I'd also upgrade to a dual master cylinder and late a-body prop valve. Set aside about $1,000 and you should be able to rebuild the front end and do the brakes. You might also be able to find a late a-body rear end with the larger bolt pattern for reasonable money, too.

 

[redfastback]

65 is the first year of disc on an a-body. even the aftermarket kits require you to have a 10" drum brake spindle, you may have the 9" brakes and that won't work. ditto the prop valve, it helps keep brake bias so your fronts will lock up before your rears, which is correct.