Re: Bendix Treadle Vac Study- Serioius Business!!

Posted by PackardV8 On 2011/1/14 14:34:35

I run my 56 Executive with FULL stock drum brakes system EXCEPT for the Master cylinder. Run it at 80 mph for long distances in summer heat as high as 107 degrees F back in 2007. I have NO complaints whatsoever about the brakes on it. Fade is so slight to nonexisant at very high speed and requires conditions of near panic stop conditions. All of the brake shoes and other parts (not MC) were bought from Kanter some 15 years ago by former owner.

A 75 Comet i drove for 10 years Interstate hwy 90 miles perday every day DID have some brake fade that would occur toward the end of a exit ramp on very hot days. I knew it and drove accordingly. BUT that was a cheap car, NOT a luxury car.

Yes the disk brake is better than the drum. Marginaly so under EXTREME braking conditions. I would not call any disk i've driven superior to the Packard nor BIG Buick drums i've driven. Just marginaly better if any.

I have no complaints whatsoever about the brakes on my 56 Executive. Would never go to the efort to convert to disk unless parts for drum brakes became so expensive or obsolete that i was forced to a conversion.

If we consider only Packard (56's at least) then this drum vs disk is much like 6v vs 12v arguments. Just a lot of urban legend blown out of proprtion and confusing ford or Chevy standard models with top of the line Buicks, Cads and Packards.