Some of y'all might recall my earlier missives Re: my having purchased Firm feel's "Carbon-metallic" brake linings---in my case, I was able to buy pre-lined 11x3" RIVITED Bendix "Duo-Servo" brake shoe assemblies ( as I had retro-fitted that brake-system, to my 57 Dodge) You'll have to send them your brake-shoe assemblies, for their sub-contractor to "bond" the linings onto your "Centerplane" brake shoes. Well, this week (after H. got his new coat of paint--a process that began in April [!] )-- I finally was able to have the Firm-Feel's be installed, and have now got a few brake-in miles on him, I can report that they work GREAT---better than the 'regular' linings, which had been 'used'. Those linings have no 'fade', associated with the brake pedal feeling 'soft', during a concerted stop--like the earlier linings, these guys WILL lock up the brakes, but there is good 'feel- modulation', so the lock-up doesn't suddenly occur--I got excellent stopping-ability, using about half-pedal effort, and the brakes do not squeal--something I was a little concerned about--MoPar Action's 12/03 issue ("Product News; page #78", which prompted me to buy those brakes) said that this lining material was :"very drum friendly". So, now, I CAN recommend them, based upon my own driving experience. I would CERTAINLY say that you should consider installing these linings, regardless whether you are contemplating spending a LOT of money on a disc brake conversion, in the future, for your car!! Of course, it's now the height of the summer driving season, so, unless you have 'spare/extra' brake assy's, or have access to wrecking yard pieces, you''ll probably not want to have your ride be 'down' for a couple weeks, --but it's a good winter-project--even tho you NEED the stopping-power: NOW Their phone # is 1-800-347-6426; www.firmfeel.com As a PS; Dave Homstad wrote, recently, to say that JC Whitney(?) sells a 2" tachometer, so that he/you can carve-out the center of the clock 'dummy/block-off' bezel (or, remove the guts from a 'worthless' clock-assy) and install that tach, right into the dash, where the clock would be sited. Wow, if I didn't already have a clock, there, I'd JUMP @ the prospect of putting a real-live TACH , in the middle of the dash!! Neil Vedder |