I am considering upgrading the stock brakes on my 66 coupe [ 200 cid ]. I know many of you have done this in one manner or another and I would like your opinions as to how much improvenent you got and whether it was worth the expense/trouble. The options I am considering are [1] adding a booster to my stock drums [2] doing the typical Granada disc swap with or without power [3] one of the front disc conversion kits on the market [4] doing a very thorough overhaul of the present stock system. I would appreciate your opinion of your results before I lay down my cash.
opinions on brake upgrade
- Thread starter Russ
- Start date
Howdy Russ:
At the very least, you should consider upgrading to a dual bowl reservior master cylinder, from '68 and later Mustangs. If you stay stock, you will do well, safety wise, to at least start with new wheel cylinders and flex hoses.
About the only undisputable advantage of discs over drums is the fade factor. Discs do not suffer from fade as badly as drums. Drums can be drilled to improve on the fade problem.
The heart ache with discs is that stock type wheel will likely not fit.
If you have to replace too many drums, you might take another look at the disc option as new drums are pricey. "What's in your wallet?"
Hope that helps.
Adios, David
At the very least, you should consider upgrading to a dual bowl reservior master cylinder, from '68 and later Mustangs. If you stay stock, you will do well, safety wise, to at least start with new wheel cylinders and flex hoses.
About the only undisputable advantage of discs over drums is the fade factor. Discs do not suffer from fade as badly as drums. Drums can be drilled to improve on the fade problem.
The heart ache with discs is that stock type wheel will likely not fit.
If you have to replace too many drums, you might take another look at the disc option as new drums are pricey. "What's in your wallet?"
Hope that helps.
Adios, David
Russ,
Definitely a good idea to upgrade to dual resevoir. I'll be doing that this winter sometime.
Opinions on options:
Option 1: Need a brake booster? Answer this, can you make the brakes lock up if you hit the brakes? If you can, you don't need the booster. Booster can make them more sensitive.
Option 2:Granada is a good idea, or finding a donor 66 disc brake mustang set up is even better. Swap out the entire front end of the V-8 mustang to your mustang. Better all around then the granada, but granada is good. Problem with granada swap now, is they are getting hard to come by and prices are starting to go up.
Option 3: Don't waste your money on a disc brake conversion set up for a 6 cylinder 4 lug front end. They mostly go for $1200. For $700, you can get a good wilwood 5 lug disc brake conversion kit. If you shop around, you can find V-8 front ends for fairly cheap. I located a 65 front end for $100, drums, spindles, idler arm, pitman arm, and drag link. so, for $400 less then the typical 6 cylinder set up, I can now have a V-8 front end and disc brakes.
Option 4: If you are having problems with your brakes, consider a brake inspection. Like David said, a routine brake job at a brake shop can easily run $500-600 for drums set ups, depending on condition. At that point, it's almost cheaper to go with Option 3. After I bought my 65, I took it to a shop for a "free" inspection of my brakes so they could see how bad they were. They ended up being okay, so I waited to save for my disc brake upgrade.
Good luck.
Slade
Definitely a good idea to upgrade to dual resevoir. I'll be doing that this winter sometime.
Opinions on options:
Option 1: Need a brake booster? Answer this, can you make the brakes lock up if you hit the brakes? If you can, you don't need the booster. Booster can make them more sensitive.
Option 2:Granada is a good idea, or finding a donor 66 disc brake mustang set up is even better. Swap out the entire front end of the V-8 mustang to your mustang. Better all around then the granada, but granada is good. Problem with granada swap now, is they are getting hard to come by and prices are starting to go up.
Option 3: Don't waste your money on a disc brake conversion set up for a 6 cylinder 4 lug front end. They mostly go for $1200. For $700, you can get a good wilwood 5 lug disc brake conversion kit. If you shop around, you can find V-8 front ends for fairly cheap. I located a 65 front end for $100, drums, spindles, idler arm, pitman arm, and drag link. so, for $400 less then the typical 6 cylinder set up, I can now have a V-8 front end and disc brakes.
Option 4: If you are having problems with your brakes, consider a brake inspection. Like David said, a routine brake job at a brake shop can easily run $500-600 for drums set ups, depending on condition. At that point, it's almost cheaper to go with Option 3. After I bought my 65, I took it to a shop for a "free" inspection of my brakes so they could see how bad they were. They ended up being okay, so I waited to save for my disc brake upgrade.
Good luck.
Slade
simon
Famous Member
had some weird bendix hydrovac aftermarket booster on my T5... absolutely terrible. tap the brakes lightly and you virtually need a new set of front teeth... wouldn´t recommend one of those.
Don´t have any experience with the original style brake boosters, though.
Heard that there could be some problems with stickshift trannies, as the clutch mechanism takes up some space for the booster. Word on the street is that even Ford had to use some altered brackets on the optional booster to clear the mechanism.
beefed-up 9"-drum brakes should be sufficient IMO... drilled drums, a set of quality brake pads, and clean and tight brake lines/dual reservoir with fresh brake fluid (silicone brake fluid?) should do OK.
Don´t have any experience with the original style brake boosters, though.
Heard that there could be some problems with stickshift trannies, as the clutch mechanism takes up some space for the booster. Word on the street is that even Ford had to use some altered brackets on the optional booster to clear the mechanism.
beefed-up 9"-drum brakes should be sufficient IMO... drilled drums, a set of quality brake pads, and clean and tight brake lines/dual reservoir with fresh brake fluid (silicone brake fluid?) should do OK.
A
Anonymous
Guest
A disc brake kit is already available from Stainless Steel Brake Corp. There four lug, and come with a power brake option, slotted rotors, etc.. They work great. I have them on my six. I did an install with Mustang and Fords (June 2001 issue) and it was an easy upgrade. You should look into it instead of hitting the junk yards.
David 8)
David 8)
A
Anonymous
Guest
David, I see that they have a front 4-lug kit for 6-cylinder Mustangs, but not one for the rear. Did you do the rears too, or did I miss something? Thanks!
David,
The only thing I don't like about the SSBC kit is the price. Why is it so much more expensive then the 5 lug? Most 4 lug kits I've found are around $1200. You can get a wilwood kit for $700 for 5 lugs. If you swap to 5-lug front and rear end (which most people do eventually anyways), the SSBC kit for the 4 lug is just throwing money away. I think that swapping to a 65-66 mustang V-8 front end (or similiar year for your car) and then upgrading to a V-8 kit, you still save about $400, plus now you have 5lug spindles, and a V-8 front and rear end in case you ever want to go a a bent 8, along with better rear end options. I paid $100 for an entire V-8 front end minus the pitman arm, and also got a 5 lug 3.00:1 rear end in that same deal. Now slap on the wilwood kit, I've only spent about $8-900 and I have a V-8 rear now as well.
That's why I don't like the 4-lug kit option.
Slade
The only thing I don't like about the SSBC kit is the price. Why is it so much more expensive then the 5 lug? Most 4 lug kits I've found are around $1200. You can get a wilwood kit for $700 for 5 lugs. If you swap to 5-lug front and rear end (which most people do eventually anyways), the SSBC kit for the 4 lug is just throwing money away. I think that swapping to a 65-66 mustang V-8 front end (or similiar year for your car) and then upgrading to a V-8 kit, you still save about $400, plus now you have 5lug spindles, and a V-8 front and rear end in case you ever want to go a a bent 8, along with better rear end options. I paid $100 for an entire V-8 front end minus the pitman arm, and also got a 5 lug 3.00:1 rear end in that same deal. Now slap on the wilwood kit, I've only spent about $8-900 and I have a V-8 rear now as well.
That's why I don't like the 4-lug kit option.
Slade
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