What are the largest front drums that will work on the A-body?
I know there are all sorts of disc brake swaps but I remember my 69 Road Runner had much better brakes than my 63 dart and it was a drum brake car. What are the drum options?

Small bolt pattern came as large as 10 x 2 1/4". Big bolt pattern came as large as 11 x 3". Unless you are getting front drums in good shape for next to nothing I would use disc brakes, but it's your car and your life.

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Joshua

Are you implying that drum brakes are unsafe Josh? I think I could make a set lf 11 x 3s stop my 63 dart pretty well with good linings. I know drum brakes will fade when used hard but I am not road racing so it's really not a concern. Got to be a BIG improvement over the 9 inchers i have now.

No, I'm not saying drum brakes are unsafe. I'm just unwilling to put much time or money into giant drums when I can do better with discs. On your '63 you'll have to change upper control arms, spindles and lower ball joints to use any factory brakes other than the 9" drums the car came with. There is a kit by Scarebird to put disc brakes on the 9" drum brake spindle. Folks who have otherwise good suspension do this, but so many of our cars already need ball joints and other suspension work it often makes sense to upgrade the ball joints and spindles.

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Joshua

I am thinking of a B-body spindle swap anyway. Thanks.

Having done it a few times...I'd just go with the discs if you are swapping spindles anyway ...parts are easy to find as they came on lots of 1973+ cars...

The 11" drums are just a lot of weight for the payback...(and having driven drum cars, that pull to the side when you hit them in a panic stop is just uncool in my book...).

-D.Idiot

Yes, the big B body drums can be fitted on there. But as others have said, it is a lot of work and a lot of weight for poor performing parts. Of course, the NASCAR boys used drum brakes well into the 70's just because they were afraid of those new fangled disc brake thingys.

I am sure I will end up with discs, as they are easier to set up and such though drums can be made to perform very effectively and not pull to one side of the other.
thanks for all the input guys.

To answer your question, you can use the 1966-1970 B-body spindles on your an A-body by using the big ball joint 1973-1976 A-body upper arms with lower balljoints from a 1966-1972 B-body, 1970-74 E-body or 1973-1976 A-body. I believe they all use the same lower ball joints.

I do recommend going the extra distance and upgrading to disc brakes, but I just wanted to point out it is possible to swap on 11" B-body drums.

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Scott - waywardgarage.com
Why is the rum always gone?

I swapped disc from a 74 into my 64 Valiant wagon, and it totally changed the character of the car!
Superior stopping power and no fade to speak of.
It also sets a little wider in the front so the handling is better.
Everything bolted right in, and changing pads is a snap!
You'll never dread another puddle!

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aed