Are disc brakes really that much heavier than drums?

I got my CPP brake kit via 'UPS Guy Claus' yesterday and was surprised to see that the kit weighed a whopping 64 lbs!

I could be remembering incorrectly, but the drum parts (drums, wheel hubs, bearings, backing plates, wheel cylinders, and springs, etc) don't strike me as weighing 32lbs per wheel.

Are disc brakes really that much heavier than drums??

I would think so......BUt I dont know for sure.

Yes, discs are heavier than drums. Im not sure by how much, but Ill try to find out.

On the Nova Resource page it has power disc brakes as adding 20-30 pounds on 3rd gen novas. Just power brakes add 10 pounds.

My Aerospace discs were 30 lbs. lighter than my stock drums, and that is with the stock type heavy rotors, but aluminum calipers and brackets. The iron stuff is a lot heavier.

Thanks for the confirmation guys. I guess my converter and cam swap just got bumped up a bit higher on the to-do list. Gotta offset that extra weight somehow. :D

I have a complete drum assy with spindles, steering arms, etc, and a complete disc assembly with spindles, steering arms etc sitting beside my car at home right now ('65 - disc swap in process). If I remember, I will try and get out there with a scale and weigh 'em!

SEND 'EM BACK!!!!

Buy a set of aerospace,strange,wilwood ect!!!!!!

SEND 'EM BACK!!!!

Buy a set of aerospace,strange,wilwood ect!!!!!!

Not gonna happen. The fact that the CPP kit doesn't push the wheels outward far outweighs the fact that the brakes weigh more.

It'll be cheaper for me to make more power than to replace tires & wheels that would be required if I switched to a kit with the fatal "wheels outward bound" flaw. :rolleyes: ;)

Not gonna happen. The fact that the CPP kit doesn't push the wheels outward far outweighs the fact that the brakes weigh more.

It'll be cheaper for me to make more power than to replace tires & wheels that would be required if I switched to a kit with the fatal "wheels outward bound" flaw. :rolleyes: ;)

1/8Th of an inch matters that much to you????

I forgot that these cars hook so well that you can afford to have all of the weight you want up front....:rolleyes:

You better plan on another 40-50 HOOKABLE hp to ofset those lame working brakes!!

Just my .02!!!!:D

The fact that the CPP kit doesn't push the wheels outward far outweighs the fact that the brakes weigh more.

I hear people talk about how discs push the wheels out further, but I've never seen any difference on the ones I've done.
On the Chevelle we did for TV, the "mechanic" kept going on about did I get the right offset on the wheels...The wheels aren't going to fit......waaah! The wheels fit just fine. The brakes had no effect on the fit.

1/8Th of an inch matters that much to you????

I forgot that these cars hook so well that you can afford to have all of the weight you want up front....:rolleyes:

You better plan on another 40-50 HOOKABLE hp to ofset those lame working brakes!!

Just my .02!!!!:D

Do I really want to spend an additional $500+ on different, unknown variable, brake setup to save a few pounds? I estimate my HP/weight ratio now is 11:1. To make up for the new brakes, I'd need to generate about another 30-40 HP I think. Horsepower is relatively easy, chassis setup & parts are much more difficult.

Life is easier with your 3rd gen, with its large open wheel wells, when it comes to components being available. The same can't be said for us early guys.

Do I really want to spend an additional $500+ on different, unknown variable, brake setup to save a few pounds? I estimate my HP/weight ratio now is 11:1. To make up for the new brakes, I'd need to generate about another 30-40 HP I think. Horsepower is relatively easy, chassis setup & parts are much more difficult.

Life is easier with your 3rd gen, with its large open wheel wells, when it comes to components being available. The same can't be said for us early guys.

I was wondering if this was a Nova thing or just a 1st/2nd gen thing. And also, don't you mean your ratio is 1:11? Or do you make over 2000 hp? :eek: ;)

Matt

Do I really want to spend an additional $500+ on different, unknown variable, brake setup to save a few pounds? I estimate my HP/weight ratio now is 11:1. To make up for the new brakes, I'd need to generate about another 30-40 HP I think. Horsepower is relatively easy, chassis setup & parts are much more difficult.

Life is easier with your 3rd gen, with its large open wheel wells, when it comes to components being available. The same can't be said for us early guys.


If you recall I sold my 70 and am building a 67. That is why I went with a strange kit as they need all of the help they can get to hook!!

Horsepower is easy.... when you run in the 12-13 sec. range.:p

Start running into the 10's and quicker then you will find otherwise!!!!

I am going to have a hard time finding traction on 275's as I look for that 7.99 et in the 1320!!!!!!!!:eek:

Oh yeah I forgot to add that it will be on leaf springs and with a SBC!!!!!

I was wondering if this was a Nova thing or just a 1st/2nd gen thing. And also, don't you mean your ratio is 1:11? Or do you make over 2000 hp? :eek: ;)

Matt

I can hope to make 2000hp, but given my goals to retain the stock chassis setup, that won't happen. :) I guess I meant 1:11 given the way I ordered the numbers. :o

If you recall I sold my 70 and am building a 67. That is why I went with a strange kit as they need all of the help they can get to hook!!

Horsepower is easy.... when you run in the 12-13 sec. range.:p

Start running into the 10's and quicker then you will find otherwise!!!!

I am going to have a hard time finding traction on 275's as I look for that 7.99 et in the 1320!!!!!!!!:eek:

Oh yeah I forgot to add that it will be on leaf springs and with a SBC!!!!!

I don't plan on making on this thing any faster than 11.49, the point at which I can't run any faster without a cage and better suspension. No cage or any drastic modifications from stock chassis for this kid's car.

I have a plan for the car's setup and I'm sticking to it. 10's might be a glimmer in someone else's eye for my car. ;) I'll settle for 12.xxx's in the car, but eventually 11.xxx's on a "stock-type" chassis setup would be better. :D

Most of the disc brake kits I've seen and/or heard about either retain the stock track or push the tire out 7/16" - 3/4" out when retaining the stock spindles. If I felt like scrapping the stock subframe setup, then that'd be a completely different story and it won't be done on THIS car. :shh:

Interesting points you're bringing up.