Toronado.org

Definitely easy enough to swap the Eldo lowers in so I’ll just plan to do that. Appreciate it, Mikel!

Goofy question here for those in the know as I start collecting parts for my front-end rebuild: any thoughts on using drilled/slotted rotors vs. standard one-each smooth ones? Rock Auto has Dynamic Friction drilled and slotted rotors for about $70/each. Seems like a no-brainer to spring a few extra bucks to better help our behemoths stop.

In my experience slotted rotors are noisier and tend to generate more vibrations.

Thanks Mikel - my only experience with them is on the various BMW M cars I’ve owned over the years.

I'm looking to upgrade my front drums to discs, will they fit with the original wheels/rims, or will i need to get another set??

1966 wheels won't work with disc brakes.

I wouldn't consider disc brakes to be an upgrade.

Most people think that discs provide a shorter stopping distance. This is not true. In many cases, disc brakes result in longer stopping distances. Dump trucks, semis, etc. all use drum brakes for this reason.

The only advantage that disc brakes have over drums is that they don't overheat as readily with repeated high speed braking. Unless you plan to race or autocross your Toronado, a disc brake conversion is a waste of time and money in my opinion.

Properly set up and adjusted drums on a '66 Toronado provide all the stopping power you'll need for normal driving.

I agree with what Otto said. Due to all the clatter about how terrible the drums brakes are on our Toronados, I replaced every component of the braking system on my car. I now find that braking is the least of my issues with the car.
Marty, St. Louis, MO

I don't do three panic stops in a row or drive down mountains without engine braking, so brake fade is not a big problem for me.

In my '66 everything was in good order, but the biggest difference I noticed was in threshold braking. It is much easier to accomplish with disk brakes than with drum brakes that self-energize at different rates.

But to each his own.

There are several brake service companies who can rebuild any old car drum brakes to modern standards. The reason old car drums stop our toros like "an old car" is the materials and set up. Modern performance brakes in Semi's are using modern high friction pad composition and turned in equipment to match, exactly the arc of the lathe surfaced drums. This process is not cheap but is way better than just new shoes, which only come in the lowest level of friction material. The drum set up, by the way, has a much greater swept area than the period discs, which is why it was used in the first place. We are upgrading our rear drums this way, but converting to modern front discs to just bring the brakes up to date. The downside is of course wheels to go over the new disc brake setup.