Re: disc brake conversions

Posted by Mike Dowd On 2013/4/25 9:13:10

The project is proceeding slowly...I just completed the installation of a 10 kW photovoltaic system on the roof of my workshop...with today's tax structure that's the best investments I've made in a long time. Also, the bearings on my Staber horizontal axis washing machine are making a bit of noise and are going to need to be replaced soon.

Back to the disc brake conversion:

After re-assembling the front end with new parts (from Kanter) I slid the passenger side rotor assembly in place and noted that the inner grease seal didn't quite reach the sealing surface on the spindle. (I'll attach photos later as they are on another non-networked computer).

Sure enough, measurements indicated that the seal was just not going to work. Once again I visited the Dowd Family Ancestral machinist and made aluminum adapters that relocated the seal about 0.300" inboard. I researched the available seals and selected on with a slightly smaller O.D. and now the seal rides where it is supposed to ride.

Next funny event: I adjusted the axle nuts and started to install the dust caps...oh oh...the caps are fine for the smaller nuts of the non-Custom-Eight front ends...but the large nuts used in the Custom-Eight series prevent the supplied cap from fitting properly. I have still not found a replacement for the supplied cap but I have come up with something that will do for the moment.

Yet More: Of course the installation of disc brakes will require the use of a dual chamber master cylinder and the re-plumbing of the brake lines...but the flex lines supplied in the kit do not have the same size fittings as the basic Packard brake system (1/4" tubing, I think). This isn't a big deal as I'll have to fabricate new lines anyway of the right size...but I wish this had been mentioned in the rather sparse documentation.

Still, the installation looks great, so far, and the 12" rotors do fit fine inside the standard wheels.

Mike