Packard Forum Index » Modification Discussion

I am a firm believer that certain modifications if done right for safety are acceptable. Living here in a very hilly area where we see long grades of 12% or more, and with the stop lights not timed for us older car drivers, and the way people drive here in general, I am considering converting our 645 to disk brake. I had a very close call in my Mustang last night and I have excellent brakes and tires. Had I been in the 29, I doubt this would even be being written. We are never going to show the Duchess at Pebble Beach anyway and the old girl is a driver but with five to seven people in a car that weighs just under five thousand pounds empty trying to stop on an 80 year old braking system is asking an awful lot of the old girl.

I would like to hear ideas from you all. Also if someone has a spare spindle for a 6th series they don't need that I can use for mock up, well that would be groovy.

Thanks in advance.

Hi Paul,

I agree that disc brakes are a much better option when it comes to stopping a car, but I wonder if you have looked at improving the drum system on the '29 instead, as I think it could well be a cheaper option. With hydraulics being used in the '35 120s, there might be an easier conversion to better drum brakes that would work almost as well as discs but cost less and be more in keeping with the car...?