Brakes: 1956 Studebaker President Aftermarket Brake Options

[CSK]

I am looking for an aftermarket brake system for a 1956 President. Power brakes would be nice, however not mandatory. I am open to front and rear drums, front and rear disc, or a combination of front disc and rear drums. Any knowledge you can share is greatly appreciated.

I did find Studebaker Disc Brake Related Items - Stephen Allen's LLC, but I am unsure about the usage of the 1963-83 Avanti parts.

If you have knowledge with or usage of other options in the aftermarket, I would really like to learn of those options.

Thank you,

[Topper2011]

Check out Turner Brakes. I installed his front disc kit and happy with the results.

[CSK]

Topper 2011, Thank you for the info.
Do you have the dual or single bowl master cylinder?
With your front disc, did you add the power booster?
I am guessing this was a 4-wheel drum system originally.

Thank you,

[Topper2011]

I went with a dual master. No booster. Yes, originally an all drum system. I've had 4 drum system before and even with semi metallic brakes, I experienced severe brake fade on the hills around me.

[Dwight FitzSimons]

1) Don't even think of converting to the Studebaker Bendix-Dunlop disc brakes. For one thing they would require addition of a disc-brake-type Hydrovac vacuum booster (used only on disc-brake-equipped 1963-64 Hawks, and rare).
2) Turner Brakes is a very good choice. I added his front discs to my '64 Avanti. The car stops like gang busters now (didn't before). Cost: $700 + shpg, and worth it.
3) Another option is a front disc-brake kit from Hot Rods & Brakes. People on this forum have reported good results with their kit also. Their kit is $100 or so cheaper than Turner's kit.
4) A dual-master-cylinder conversion kit is almost mandatory (for obvious reasons). AFAIK only Jim Turner offers a dual-MC kit.
5) Adding rear discs is more for high-performance Studebakers (Golden Hawks, R2 or R3 Avantis, etc). A President sedan shouldn't need rear discs.
6) I am told that a booster isn't mandatory when adding a front disc brake kit (although I have no personal experience with this.)
--Dwight

[StudeRich]

Welcome to the SDC and to the SDC Forum Steve ! I am hoping you have joined the Club or will, you will be impressed with the Monthly Color Publication "Turning Wheels" !

I will give you the "Other side of the coin" that you may not be aware of.
The '56 President with it's new for '56, 11 inch front 10 inch rear Finned Drums and Wagner "Self Energizing" 4 wheel drum brakes, could out stop ANY Make of New '56 Car pound for pound.

I remember Tom Mc Cahill THE foremost Auto Mag. Test Driver and columnist for I think Motor Trend Mag, doing a '56 Pres. test drive and saying how well it could stop, compared to others in it's class, like Buick, Olds, Desoto and Mercury, it was State of the Art.

So option Two would be to rebuild the system as it was, with all New available Stude. Parts.
Many people buy a Stude. and because it has been neglected for years and does not stop, or stops poorly, they think it needs better or Disc Brakes.
If you are going to do Road Racing or live in a Hilly or very curvy area MAYBE it does, but for normal Street driving and occasional Interstates, when properly maintained it will stop Very well.

Your Car and your type of use and driving, but something to consider from one who has owned around a Hundred Studes. and driving and repairing them for 60 years. Just something to consider, the Cost of neither is cheap in 2025, not a lot of difference.

[Dwight FitzSimons]

Welcome to the SDC and to the SDC Forum Steve ! I am hoping you have joined the Club or will, you will be impressed with the Monthly Color Publication "Turning Wheels" !

I will give you the "Other side of the coin" that you may not be aware of.
The '56 President with it's new for '56, 11 inch front 10 inch rear Finned Drums and Wagner "Self Energizing" 4 wheel drum brakes, could out stop ANY Make of New '56 Car pound for pound.

I remember Tom Mc Cahill THE foremost Auto Mag. Test Driver and columnist for I think Motor Trend Mag, doing a '56 Pres. test drive and saying how well it could stop, compared to others in it's class, like Buick, Olds, Desoto and Mercury, it was State of the Art.

So option Two would be to rebuild the system as it was, with all New available Stude. Parts.
Many people buy a Stude. and because it has been neglected for years and does not stop, or stops poorly, they think it needs better or Disc Brakes.
If you are going to do Road Racing or live in a Hilly or very curvy area MAYBE it does, but for normal Street driving and occasional Interstates, when properly maintained it will stop Very well.

Your Car and your type of use and driving, but something to consider from one who has owned around a Hundred Studes. and driving and repairing them for 60 years. Just something to consider, the Cost of neither is cheap in 2025, not a lot of difference.

1) I would agree with Rich's conclusions, given that the drum brakes are in very good condition, and that you don't have a killer mountain to cross.
2) Didn't Tom McCahill write for Mechanix Illustrated? I consider him to be the best of all time, especially for his similes. "The Avanti corners like a fly rimming a sugar bowl." The only modern equivalent, in terms of writing, is Dave Kinney.

[StudeRich]

You are correct Dwight, I was not sure which it was I read them both.

[StudeRich]

Another Duplicate comment, caused by 1 hr. SYSTEM DELAY AGAIN !

[BRUCESTUDE]

I converted my ‘60 Lark 8 to modern discs up front; no more brake fade and on hard stops I actually had to ease up on the pedal !

[Hallabutt]

Over the years there has been huge amount discussed on this forum. All you need to do is use the search box at the upper right corner of the page.

[Uncle Bacon]

I just finished installing the hotrodsandbrakes.com kit on my 58 Silverhawk. Very happy with the results. I have a video on the installation that you might find useful. The instructions didn't have any pictures and it took some time to wrap my brain around what went where. But they answered all my questions via email quickly and concisely. I would recommend it.

[Dwight FitzSimons]

I would like to have access to your video. I have a HotRods&Brakes kit that I haven't installed yet. --Dwight

[Uncle Bacon]

Dwight, I just updated a couple of things and will have a youtube link for you shortly.

Try this and see how it works. This is my first Youtube public post.

https://youtu.be/H3jZjX9O0fU?si=hXFrtCpPQiAKqyBk