• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

Brake Upgrade

  • Thread starter Thread starter 2point3fiend
  • Start date Start date Jan 5, 2006
  • 1
  • 2
Next
1 of 2 Next Last

2point3fiend

New Member
Mar 11, 2003
39
0
0
Tampa, FL
Jan 5, 2006
#1
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #1
I need some help with a brake upgrade I'm wanting to do on my 93 Mustang 5.0L. I've decided to go with the Lincoln Mk 7 73mm front calipers, retaining my stock 4-lug rotors and stock drums in the rear. My question is, if I just want to go to the 73mm calipers, do I need to upgrade my brake booster and master cylinder or just the MC itself or either of those at all? I've been told that the stock brake booster, with the 93 Cobra MC, using the Mk7 calipers will be sufficent. I wanted a few second opinions though. Can anyone help with my problem? I've found lots of options scouring the internet, but no real tested and tried information about how I want to go about my setup idea.
 
B

bcd

New Member
Jun 23, 2005
274
0
0
arab al
Jan 5, 2006
#2
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #2
I dont know but the answer is probably here
http://mjbobbitt.home.comcast.net/mustang/5lug.html
 

90lxcoupe

20+ Year Stangneter
Oct 7, 2003
3,596
350
134
Jan 5, 2006
#3
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #3
i just ordered what i think is the same setup from MM and with myne i ordered the SVO master cylinder, i havent seen anyone chane out the booster itself, and also i was told by MM that its not a good idea to use drums wiht the upgraded master cylinder.
 

tunedin302

I AM the law!!!
Jul 29, 2004
1,251
2
36
Pennsylvania
Jan 5, 2006
#4
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #4
Your stock booster and MC will be fine if going with only the 73mm calipers and keeping the drums. The cobra is a 2 port MC and you currently have a 3 port MC ... no biggie when you go to a rear disc since you can do a conversion or swap in a new 2 port MC. Check out this link for further info and click on "1979-1993 4 - lug"

http://sn95brakes.cjb.net/
 
9

93-331-29psi

Member
Jul 20, 2004
157
0
17
NE North Carolina
Jan 5, 2006
#5
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #5
I am running the 13 inch cobra braks on my 86 and I have no problems at all using the stock master cyl. Since you are staying drum in the rear I'd let it go.
 

srothfuss

Last night I stabbed the same guy 7 times in a row
Oct 17, 2004
1,796
3
0
Woodward Ave.
Jan 5, 2006
#6
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #6
Edit: I was beaten to it

Try just swapping out the calipers and go from there. Are you going to add SS lines also? What about some cermaic pads?
 
9

93-331-29psi

Member
Jul 20, 2004
157
0
17
NE North Carolina
Jan 5, 2006
#7
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #7
srothfuss said:
Edit: I was beaten to it

Try just swapping out the calipers and go from there. Are you going to add SS lines also? What about some cermaic pads?
Click to expand...

Good point, I would invest in the stainless braided brake lines. They will help take and sponge feeling out of the brake pedal feel.
 

2point3fiend

New Member
Mar 11, 2003
39
0
0
Tampa, FL
Jan 5, 2006
#8
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #8
I plan on using the kevlar virtual dustless brakepads. They are green in color, forgot the brand off-hand. Got them from 50resto.com. I plan on buying some Bendix slotted rotors too to go along with it. I do indeed intend on buying the complete stainless steel brakeline kit from somplace. Don't know where exactly to aquire such a thing, any suggestions?
 

srothfuss

Last night I stabbed the same guy 7 times in a row
Oct 17, 2004
1,796
3
0
Woodward Ave.
Jan 5, 2006
#9
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #9
MM, Steeda (?) and I believe 5.0resto sells one of them.

The green pads you got are from HAWK. Good stuff from what I hear.
 

2point3fiend

New Member
Mar 11, 2003
39
0
0
Tampa, FL
Jan 5, 2006
#10
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #10
By the way how much brake fluid is in a 1993 mustang 5.0's system?
 

5.0fox

Member
Feb 10, 2003
410
0
17
buckley/enumclaw wa
Jan 5, 2006
#11
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #11
im interested.... just subscribing
 
8

8950HO

New Member
Mar 31, 2005
658
2
0
Jan 5, 2006
#12
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #12
There is a problem adding 73mm calipers with the stock rear drums.

The problem is the rear wheel cylinders are too small,(3/4" bore),to work properly with the larger 73mm calipers and need to be upgraded to a larger size to maintain proper balance in the system.

1988 T-Birds with 9" drums used a 1" bore wheel cylinder that 3 sources have told me will fit the 9" Mustang drums.This size should roughly maintain the proper balance with the 73mm calipers.

Search on the Corral for a thread called..."actual stopping distance improvement with 73mm calipers".
The tech guy from Maximum Motorsports talks about this rear wheel cylinder issue in there.
It`s a long thread though.
 

2point3fiend

New Member
Mar 11, 2003
39
0
0
Tampa, FL
Jan 5, 2006
#13
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #13
Hey 8950HO, so I can buy a new pair of stock Mustang drums and then I have to buy the 1" T-bird rear wheel cylinder seperately? How difficult is that to add to the rear drum brakes?
 

tunedin302

I AM the law!!!
Jul 29, 2004
1,251
2
36
Pennsylvania
Jan 5, 2006
#14
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #14
2point3fiend said:
By the way how much brake fluid is in a 1993 mustang 5.0's system?
Click to expand...

About (3) bottles.
 

Shakerhood

20+ Year Stangneter
Oct 28, 2004
3,355
207
114
Ohio
Jan 5, 2006
#15
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #15
8950HO said:
There is a problem adding 73mm calipers with the stock rear drums.

The problem is the rear wheel cylinders are too small,(3/4" bore),to work properly with the larger 73mm calipers and need to be upgraded to a larger size to maintain proper balance in the system.

1988 T-Birds with 9" drums used a 1" bore wheel cylinder that 3 sources have told me will fit the 9" Mustang drums.This size should roughly maintain the proper balance with the 73mm calipers.

Search on the Corral for a thread called..."actual stopping distance improvement with 73mm calipers".
The tech guy from Maximum Motorsports talks about this rear wheel cylinder issue in there.
It`s a long thread though.
Click to expand...

I was going to bring this very point up that it is not a brake upgrade, but a brake Downgrade as was in the Tech Article on the Corral!
 
8

8950HO

New Member
Mar 31, 2005
658
2
0
Jan 5, 2006
#16
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #16
Shakerhood said:
I was going to bring this very point up that it is not a brake upgrade, but a brake Downgrade as was in the Tech Article on the Corral!
Click to expand...


Yeah,it gets confusing.The downgrade part is using the stock wheel cylinders with the 73mm calipers.

However nobody has said,and I don`t know how much of an improvement there would be with 73mm calipers + the 1" bore wheel cylinders to correct the imbalance compared to 73mm calipers and stock 3/4" wheel cylinders.

I believe the MM guy said a 5.0L stang they tested with 73mm calipers and the stock drums and 3/4" wheel cylinders took 15ft longer to stop from 60mph,compared to the 60mm calipers.But they didn`t try larger wheel cylinders,so I have no idea how the car would stop had they also done a test with the bigger wheel cylinders..

As it stands nobody really knows how much better, (if any) a 5.0L stang would stop with;
60mm calipers + stock 3/4" wheel cylinders versus 73mm calipers + 1" wheel cylinders.
 

cardudeusa

Founding Member
Oct 22, 2002
1,744
5
48
Home of the Florida Gators!
Jan 5, 2006
#17
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #17
I have a 90 GT and my wife has an 87 GT, and both have the 73MM upgrade. I have no numbers to back it up, but both of them had significant gains in stopping. I used the EBC green pads on my 90 and love them, also reccomend ss lines like mentioned, and the ss caliper sleeves. On my 90 I have the stock M/C and on the 87 I have the 2 port older style. I reccomend the 2 port as the 87 has a better pedal feel. Just my .02.
 

Shakerhood

20+ Year Stangneter
Oct 28, 2004
3,355
207
114
Ohio
Jan 6, 2006
#18
  • Jan 6, 2006
  • #18
cardudeusa said:
I have a 90 GT and my wife has an 87 GT, and both have the 73MM upgrade. I have no numbers to back it up, but both of them had significant gains in stopping. I used the EBC green pads on my 90 and love them, also reccomend ss lines like mentioned, and the ss caliper sleeves. On my 90 I have the stock M/C and on the 87 I have the 2 port older style. I reccomend the 2 port as the 87 has a better pedal feel. Just my .02.
Click to expand...

If I remember reading the Thread correct, the fronts will lock up way early compared to stock and you lose out on any threshold braking thus increasing stopping distance.
 

OL' WHITEY

New Member
Jan 28, 2004
273
0
0
Weddington, NC
Jan 6, 2006
#19
  • Jan 6, 2006
  • #19
srothfuss said:
MM, Steeda (?) and I believe 5.0resto sells one of them.

The green pads you got are from HAWK. Good stuff from what I hear.
Click to expand...

The green pads are made by EBC. They're called EBC Green stuff pads. Hawks are not green, they're black. Both Hawk and EBC are excellent pads. Sorry to nitpick here.

Dave
 

cardudeusa

Founding Member
Oct 22, 2002
1,744
5
48
Home of the Florida Gators!
Jan 6, 2006
#20
  • Jan 6, 2006
  • #20
Shakerhood said:
If I remember reading the Thread correct, the fronts will lock up way early compared to stock and you lose out on any threshold braking thus increasing stopping distance.
Click to expand...

I've never had the fronts lock up, it may be because I have large front tires?
 
  • 1
  • 2
Next
1 of 2 Next Last
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

5
Brakes ATS brembos and drums
  • 5ptslow
  • Nov 16, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
19
Views
483
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Apr 4, 2026
AeroCoupe
Brakes FOX BRAKES ISSUES
  • PonyGTrider
  • Jan 11, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2 3
Replies
53
Views
2K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jan 31, 2026
Mustang5L5
W
New here, 1967 getting an efi 348 stroker.
  • Weeman348
  • Mar 27, 2026
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
Replies
0
Views
122
1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk- Mar 27, 2026
Weeman348
W
8
87 lx 4cyl to v8 project 4 lug disc conversion questions
  • 87lx428
  • Mar 24, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
2
Views
470
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Mar 25, 2026
87lx428
8
Brakes Brake caliper ID help
  • kidott
  • Sep 2, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
1
Views
175
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Sep 2, 2025
AeroCoupe
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?