Bolt-on Brake Conversion Kits for 1937-1948 Ford Spindles
All of our Ford brake kits are designed as a direct bolt-on to our reproduction Ford spindles, as well as stock 1937 to 1948 Ford passenger car spindles, and stock 1937 to 1947 Ford 1/2-ton truck spindles. Our brake packages include 11-inch vented steel rotors, semi-metallic pads, premium bearings, hardware, lines and calipers, which will provide everything you need to get the job done. You’ll notice the main differences between each kit is the caliper size and how the caliper bracket mounts to the spindle. Our brake kits are supplied with either a smaller metric-style caliper (2.5-inch piston diameter) or a larger pre-metric caliper (3-inch piston diameter). From there we can look at the caliper bracket and how it mounts to the spindle. The differences between the caliper mount brackets will determine whether the kit works with bolt-on or stock-style steering arms. Speedway also offers alternative options from Wilwood, including their Medium Duty Kit and Heavy Duty Kit, designed to work with both bolt-on and stock-style steering arms.
The metric conversion kit (supplied with Ford and Chevy bolt-patterns) is the preferred option for almost any street rod using a Ford spindle. The metric-style caliper is physically smaller in size which saves weight and adds clearance inside of the wheel. These kits are designed to work with both bolt-on and stock-style steering arms. The metric-style calipers were originally designed to stop a 3,600lb GM passenger car which means the clamping force is more than adequate for any traditional street rod. We recommend this kit for almost any Model T, Model A, fenderless-type rods, and T-buckets.
This kit (supplied with Chevy bolt-pattern only) also works with both bolt-on or stock-style steering arms. However, the downside is that this kit increases the track width 3/4-inch per side, which can cause fitment issues on some vehicles with fenders. It also uses a larger-style caliper which may not fit some wheels, mainly 14-inch or any non-disc brake wheel. With a heavy duty caliper this kit is usually overkill for any traditional street rod. The additional un-sprung weight can cause poor handling performance and road feel on a lightweight street rods. We usually only recommended this kit for heavier cars like late 1940s Fords or 1950s Mercurys.
This conversion kit (supplied with Ford and Chevy bolt-pattern) also uses the larger heavy-duty style caliper. Which means like the kit listed above they will not work on 14-inch or non-disc brake wheels. This kit is designed to work with factory 1937-1948 Ford spindles with cast steering arms only. It cannot be used with bolt-on style steering arms because the caliper bracket mounts to the inboard flange of the spindle (side closest to axle) which is where a bolt-on-style steering arm needs to mount. Like the kit above, this kit is usually only recommended for use on much heavier street rods.
