I recently redid my drum brakes on my 57 olds. New springs and she stops on a dime. I toyed with the idea of getting disc brakes but cost too much and a lot of hassle. I am satisfied with the drums and happy was able to refresh my drum brakes.

 

I've run drums for over 45 years and have never had any issues. Know the parameters that they operate within and good maintenance is the key.

 

Couldn't agree with you more, I just drive her and she stops great with no issues

 

I have power drum brakes on my 54 and don't have any problems stopping. I do keep distance between me and the car in front of me. We drive new vehicles with 4 wheel anti-lock disk brakes and have to transition when we drive our old cars. I had the treadle-vac rebuilt several years ago and it works like it is supposed to.

 

I have the treadle vac also, and touch the pedal it stops quickly

 

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Drum brakes stop ONCE pretty well. The biggest (but not only) problem is brake fade--stopping from high speed, or slowing/stopping frequently so that the drums don't cool enough between uses.

Brakes on all these cars were set up for the lowest-common-denominator driving. Enough to get by. Braking power, braking control-ability, and fade resistance can be MUCH better than what they are--but it would have taken bigger tires/wheels, bigger brakes, and more-expensive linings. Which obviously would have cost more, and doing things as cheap as practical is the GM/Ford/Chrysler/AMC/Studebaker/Kaiser/etc. way.

Yeah, under normal driving, if the brakes are in good condition, the car is "safe". There's lots of potential for improvement, though.

 

Always can improve, but I've never had a problem with brake fade, I don't drag race it

 

Any of us who drive these cars regularly know the abilities and limitations of the braking systems. If I was doing any high performance driving I would modify the brakes which would involve installing a swinging pedal which would stand out when you looked under the hood. They are what they are and we know what they are. At 72 years old I don't really need a lesson in brakes.

 

I love the setup just the way it is!!! My dad drag raced this car back in the day and didn't mind the brakes the way they are. He told me this car saved his life a few times

 

^^x2^^

 

The only two problems with drum brakes are heat and water so if you know how to deal with those issues they are great. They have larger contact area than most disc brakes and will stop a vehicle better, once! Under extreme conditions! For normal driving they are no better or worse than discs. But like mentioned, for more spirited driving, they do have their limits. Even the best carbon ceramic disc brakes have their limits so knowing what you have and what limits to stay within are your friends.

 

All these new cars race on the street and still lose control with bigger better brakes and still lose control and crash, so I don't think they are that much better in those conditions

 

It isn't the brakes. It's the driver. Don't drive in other peoples trunk!