disc brake conversion kit for stepdowns

[Deleted User]

I am making this post about a disc brake conversion that I made on my stepdown. I installed it in my 53 HH and it works great. The cost is about the same as the LaBud kit but it can be set up so you can add a dual master cylinder. I believe that the seller will sell the dual master cylinder bracket seperately.



The seller's name is Richard Pridemore (the chapter president of the Dogwood Chapter). His phone number is 336-427-4930 and the e-mail address is lbpatstokes@netzero.com

[Deleted User]

You need to explain this setup more. I can't see any reason you can't add whatever master cylinder setup to the Labud kit as well.

[Deleted User]

There is no reason what so ever, that you cannot use a dual chamber master cylinder in the LaBuds kit or in any kit for that matter. It is all a matter of correctly plumbing the the front and rear brakes to the master cylinder. You could even use a dual chamber master cylinder and plumb the drum brakes into a split system. You may have to fab a new mount for the master cylinder like Wes Kitchen did. Oh Yeah,

Wes Kitchen uses a nice dual Master cylinder in his LaBuds kit.

Bob

[Deleted User]

I got to talk to Richard at the Heartland meet, and was really impressed with his brake kit. I actually came back to buy one after spending some "family time", but he was gone. It is a seriously impressive and well thought out conversion. This is the disc brake conversion I will use on the '49. I was impressed with the workmanship and the choice of "off the shelf" parts Richard used to make the kit servicable right from the NAPA parts counter.



Richard explained to me the reason for the master cylinder difference and why the LaBud kit doesn't always work so well with the original master cylinder.



The original master cylinder already has a 10 psi residual pressure built into it. Depending on how good your master cylinder is, that 10psi is retained at varying degrees. If its really good, it may hold 10 - not so good, maybe 7. This is why some folks have problems with their Labud disc conversions heating up and/or locking down. Disc brake systems need no more than 4psi. If you have a Labud's kit and no problems, that likely means the residual feature of your original master cylinder is not working or is very minimal.



Also, the reason for the dual chamber master cylinder in Richard's kit, it allows one to use residual valves independant of each other for the two brake systems. 10psi for the rear drum and 4psi for the disc front. You cannot get the original master cylinder to do that due to the internal 10psi residual valve built into it. It was designed for a dual drum system, which needs the 10 psi.



My hats off to Richard for taking the time to develop the kit, I'd highly recommend it.



Mark Hudson

50C8DAN

What is the price of the two kits?

Unknown

We talked to Richard at the Pittsburgh nationals in 04, nice guy, real nice conversion kit. If I had the extra $$$$ I would do it. Seemed real easy and painless to install. Also, seemed to be really thought out as well.



If memory serves correct, he has a real sweet hornet coupe? white and red?

[Deleted User]

He has a 50 Commodore coupe red and white.

Unknown

Hudzilla wrote:

He has a 50 Commodore coupe red and white.

That sounds right.

Unknown

I have installed one of Mr. Pridemore's kits on my 54 Hornet, very easy to do,I did have a certified welder afix the master cylinder bracket to the frame. You can buy it ready to install from him, or do as I did buy the brackets and follow the instructions and get the small amount of machine work done locally. I did do one thing differently, I reused my Hudson stop light switch, with an Eaton fitting from NAPA, a tad more work but I positioned it so origional wiring worked. Lou

bob ward

`Hudsonator wrote:

Richard explained to me the reason for the master cylinder difference and why the LaBud kit doesn't always work so well with the original master cylinder.



The original master cylinder already has a 10 psi residual pressure built into it. Depending on how good your master cylinder is, that 10psi is retained at varying degrees. If its really good, it may hold 10 - not so good, maybe 7. This is why some folks have problems with their Labud disc conversions heating up and/or locking down. Disc brake systems need no more than 4psi. If you have a Labud's kit and no problems, that likely means the residual feature of your original master cylinder is not working or is very minimal.



Also, the reason for the dual chamber master cylinder in Richard's kit, it allows one to use residual valves independant of each other for the two brake systems. 10psi for the rear drum and 4psi for the disc front. You cannot get the original master cylinder to do that due to the internal 10psi residual valve built into it. It was designed for a dual drum system, which needs the 10 psi.



Mark Hudson

Bill LaBud in his kit fitting instructions certainly recognises the residual pressure problem and shows how to install pressure limiters to overcome the problem.



That said, if someone has come up with a bracket to fit a dual circuit master cylinder under the floor in place of the original that is probably the better way to go.



Even better still, fit a 54 pendulum pedal with dual master cylinder AND a booster on the firewall.

[Deleted User]

I have been looking at a Dual Master Cylinder and Booster with the thought of moving the pedal to a pendulum type off the firewall as you suggest. There are some nice kits out there. Have to investigate all that is involved with that first.

50C8DAN

I plan to install a Hydrovac booster on my '50. Although you cannot use it with a dual master cylinder, they make adding power brakes quite easy and you can put the booster almost any place.



No one has still answered the question of how much the disk brake kits are??

[Deleted User]

I do not know the current price of the kits but I paid a little under $600 for the Pridemore kit - that included everything including the dual master cylinder. I believe the LaBud kit runs about the same. From what I heard, I am sure that the LaBud kit is also a great conversion. It is nice to have a choice and I appreciate the time and effort that went into the design of both kits.

Unknown

Hi All. Thought I'd jump in here and show a picture of the dual mastercylinder I installed in the original location, using the original Hudson pushrod, linkage, and pedal, when I installed my LaBuds kit 5 years ago. The 2 blue things are the 2lb residual valves you need going to disc calipers. If you wanted to use a dual mastercylinder with disc on the front and drum on the rear, you would simply install a 10lb(red) residual valve to the rear drum brakes. If you want fullscreen pictures of my brake system, email me at wkitchen@midsouth.rr.com My goal on my modifications, was to upgrade my Hudson, so my Wife and I could drive it all over the country when we retire, and I want to be able to get over the counter parts anywhere, BUT, in the future, if I sold my Hudson to someone that wanted to put it back original, it would take minimal work. I made the bracket so King Kong couldn't brake it off, but with a torch and a grinder, you could easily make it look like it never was there.

On another note, I took my 1982 Collectors Edition Corvette to a car show last week, and won a 2nd place. I'm proud of my Vette, but I'll be glad when I finish re-assembly of my Hudson, and start showing it again. I only bought the Vette, but I built the Hudson!