Vintage Thunderbird Club International

All the Disc brake conversion kits I've found seem to use 15" wheels. I'd like to preserve my original 14" wheels and spinner hubcaps. Has anyone installed front disc brakes on a bullet bird and retained 14" wheels? Thanks in advance!

Try https://www.abspowerbrake.com/index.html. They advertise working on 14” wheels. I used these, but on 15” wheels. There may be something special about the original 14” wheels that makes them incompatible. Maybe someone else will comment on this who used 14” wheels. Good luck.

Bill

Thanks for the lead! I didn't see where they advertised kits using a 14" wheel, so I sent them a note to confirm before ordering. But their conversion kit and power booster/master cylinder for a disc/drum setup is exactly what I'm looking for.

I purchased my 62 with disk brakes and stock 14” wire wheels. I was told it was a ABS kit. I also installed 2 ABS sets in my 1962 Cadillac and my son 1961 Cadillac. Dave

Thanks. I heard back from ABS and they said their kit ONLY works with 14" factory wire wheels, not with factory steel wheels (although I'm unclear why). They added that it will also clear factory steel wheels from a late 60's Mustang, but I have no idea whether those would fit a Thunderbird. Why would you build a kit only for wire wheels? Surely there are more cars with steel than wire.

I don’t have a steel wheel or I would put it on my car to see if it fits or not. I agree with your thought. Dave

If I remember correctly you have to use Granada wheels . Granadas had disc brakes. Kind of like trying to put a 64 wheel on a 65 or 66.
Cliff