Disc Brake Kits

What's Included in a Drum to Disc Brake Conversion Kit

A drum to disc brake conversion kit bundles every part you need to replace a drum setup with modern discs at one or both axles.

Most complete kits in our disc and drum brake kits lineup include the core components below, though exact contents vary by brand and application:

• Vented, drilled-and-slotted, or geo-carbon brake rotors
• Calipers with the piston count and finish your build calls for
• Ceramic or performance disc brake pads
• Caliper mounting brackets sized for your spindle or axle
• Wheel bearings and seals where the kit changes your hub setup
• Mounting hardware, brake lines, and fittings

Many kits also add a disc-compatible master cylinder and a proportioning valve to handle the hydraulic upgrade, so check whether yours includes them or if you'll add those parts separately. Matching the right components up front saves you a second parts order once the axle is apart, and it keeps your rotor, pad, and caliper choices working together.

Front vs. Rear Disc Brake Conversion Kits

Front kits deliver the biggest braking gain, while rear kits and four-wheel kits fine-tune balance and total capacity.

A front disc brake conversion kit is the common first upgrade, since the front axle handles most of your stopping force. It bolts modern calipers and rotors to your spindles and pairs well with new brake calipers sized for your wheel diameter. That single change sharpens pedal response and cuts fade on a mostly stock car.

A rear drum to disc brake conversion kit updates the rear axle for steadier pedal feel and easier parking-brake integration. If you want the strongest, most consistent setup, a four-wheel conversion updates both axles at once so the whole car stops evenly. Not sure where to start on the back? Our guide on how to convert rear drum brakes to disc brakes walks through the rear-axle steps.

Choosing a Kit for Your Chevy, Ford, or Mopar

Pick a kit built for your exact make, model, and axle, because brackets, rotor sizing, and bolt patterns are application-specific.

For classic GM builds like the Chevy A-body, F-body, and X-body, look for kits matched to your spindle and rear-axle type. Ford and Mustang builders should confirm spindle style and wheel clearance, since early and late spindles differ. Mopar owners need to match the kit to their specific front suspension and rear-axle setup.

Trucks that tow or haul benefit from larger rotors and heavier-duty pads that resist heat on long grades, while race cars often run lightweight rotors and aggressive pad compounds. If you're staging the upgrade one axle at a time, you can still source replacement drum brake parts to keep the other axle safe and serviceable in the meantime.

Do You Need a New Master Cylinder or Proportioning Valve?

Yes, most drum to disc conversions need a disc-compatible master cylinder and a proportioning valve to run safely.

Drum and disc brakes need different fluid volume and pressure, so a master cylinder set up for four drums often can't supply a disc system correctly. Swapping to a master cylinder matched to your new discs restores proper pedal travel and clamping force, and a disc/disc unit differs from the disc/drum unit some kits call for. Bench-bleeding the new cylinder before you install it helps you get a firm pedal faster. You'll find compatible units among our brake master cylinders and boosters.

A proportioning valve balances front-to-rear bias so the front discs don't lock before the rears engage, which matters most on rear and four-wheel conversions. An adjustable valve lets you dial in bias for your vehicle's weight and how you drive it. Browse matching proportioning valves to complete the hydraulic side of the job.

Disc Brake Conversion Benefits

Disc brakes stop harder, shed heat faster, and resist fade far better than the drums they replace.

Because rotors sit out in the airflow, they cool quickly and hold consistent stopping power through repeated hard stops, towing, and long downhill grades where drums tend to fade. Drilled-and-slotted rotors add cooling and help clear gas and dust, while ceramic pads run clean and quiet for street driving. High-performance disc brake kits step up to larger rotors and multi-piston calipers for track and heavy-duty use.

You can match rotor and pad choices to how you drive, from mild street setups to aggressive brake upgrade kits. Fresh disc brake pads let you tune bite and noise, and our tech article on the difference between drum and disc brakes explains the tradeoffs. Ready to build your setup? Shop the conversion kits above to get rolling.