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Caliper and 14" Rim Clearance?

  • Thread starter Thread starter GNGREN
  • Start date Start date Jun 16, 2008
G

GNGREN

Member
May 5, 2005
144
3
19
Carroll Valley, PA
Jun 16, 2008
#1
  • Jun 16, 2008
  • #1
Caliper and 14" Rim Clearance, And alignment specs.?

Ok so I finally got around to working on my front brake disc swap. I went with the Granada swap from Discbrakeswap. I put it all together this past Saturday afternoon and will hopefully have time to stick it on the car this coming weekend. My problem is with the wheels (14") and caliper clearance, I went ahead and ground the top nubs off of the caliper as when I test fit my current wheels it was rubbing the rim. I now have about 1/16th of an inch or so between the rim surface and top of the Caliper. I really don't want to spend money on new wheels as I like the look of the ones I have. What would be the minimum safe recommended clearance? I was planning on trying to sell the original 5-lug stuff, spindles & hubs along with new drums, studs, wheel cylinders, master cylinder, brake hardware, shoes, front rubber lines, and tie rod ends to help recoup a bit of money I wasted on parts before I went with the swap kit. But it will no way put a surface scratch in new wheel and tire costs.

So does anybody have any idea on what a safe clearance would be?

Also I am not doing any kind of control arm drop so would I still use the updated radial alignment specs of:
Caster: +1.5° to +2.5°
Camber: 0 to -.5°
Toe: 1/8" in total
 

Fast63

New Member
Sep 20, 2007
717
0
0
Jun 16, 2008
#2
  • Jun 16, 2008
  • #2
I imagine that your 1/16 of an inch will be enough clearance. There isn't a lot of flex there. I don't think it would hurt anything to just try it out either, if it does happen to rub on a hard turn or something, it's probably not a big deal.
 

Rusty67

20+ Year Stangneter
Dec 3, 2002
3,749
37
109
LA, CA
Jun 17, 2008
#3
  • Jun 17, 2008
  • #3
On a fixed caliper any clearance is as good as a mile. Thats a floating caliper that you are using, I'm not sure which way it moves when it floats to take up the excess space created by the thinning pad. As long as ot compensates inward instead of out you should be fine.
 
G

GNGREN

Member
May 5, 2005
144
3
19
Carroll Valley, PA
Jun 17, 2008
#4
  • Jun 17, 2008
  • #4
As long as ot compensates inward instead of out you should be fine.
Click to expand...

The take up on the caliper is towards the inner fender. So I guess I should be good.?.?.?.?.?

Anybody got info on the alignment specs?
 

dcstang67

Member
May 26, 2008
127
1
19
Jun 17, 2008
#5
  • Jun 17, 2008
  • #5
If you went with the stock 4 piston setup from a 65,66, and 67 mustangs or cougar all you would need is calipers, around $250 for the pair at Autozone for new with no core, around $70 for dust shields, $40 for the hoses, and the Kelsey Hayes brackets from ebay (they usually go for around $90 when you can find them, Dont forget rotors and pads. The good thing about this is that everything bolts onto your stock 5 lug spindles from 65-67. 68 spindles are different.
 
G

GNGREN

Member
May 5, 2005
144
3
19
Carroll Valley, PA
Jun 17, 2008
#6
  • Jun 17, 2008
  • #6
dcstang67 said:
If you went with the stock 4 piston setup from a 65,66, and 67 mustangs or cougar all you would need is calipers, around $250 for the pair at Autozone for new with no core, around $70 for dust shields, $40 for the hoses, and the Kelsey Hayes brackets from ebay (they usually go for around $90 when you can find them, Dont forget rotors and pads. The good thing about this is that everything bolts onto your stock 5 lug spindles from 65-67. 68 spindles are different.
Click to expand...

For what all of that costs and what time it would take to find/put it all together I have less in what I bought. Plus I don't know if it would fit in the rims I have at this point. I guess I will try and see what happens, if I need to get rims it can just let her sit this year too. I only put 30 miles on it in the last year and a half. I guess I could try and sell the 14's and pick up a set of 15's but I just like the look of the rims I have even though they need repainted from 17 or so years of sitting.
 

dcstang67

Member
May 26, 2008
127
1
19
Jun 17, 2008
#7
  • Jun 17, 2008
  • #7
I forgot to mention that any 14" rim will fit with the stock 4 piston caliper.
 

Rusty67

20+ Year Stangneter
Dec 3, 2002
3,749
37
109
LA, CA
Jun 18, 2008
#8
  • Jun 18, 2008
  • #8
The 67 setup will fit a 68+ using drum spindles or 65-67 spindles. I have a particular affection for fixed calipers.

I am not as tired as I was when I posted before and I'm thinking about it. You should be totally fine if the caliper clears the rim with new pads and rotors. Since the calipers cheat in towards the center for the car they would away from the rim creating more clearance. If everything clears when its all new then you should be golden.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong here.
 
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