disc brake upgrade on 65 fastback

SSBC is $800, Baer $650, Wilwood, $547, Rod & Custom Motorsports RC132 kit $350. I'm going with the RC132, it even includes stainless lines.
HTH
--Kyle

65fb302v8 said:

well, im finally to the point that im startin to look for the disc brake upgrade kit. i need any recommendations on what i should get. ive heard that stainless steel brakes have the best bang for your buck, and i kno brembo and baer are out there, im not gunna b able to spen that money. ssbc is pushin my budget, so is there anything else out there for comparison a little cheaper?? also to let you kno im am goin to b running a one inch drop up front and what ever disc set up i get it will b power. all advice appreciated.
thanks

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Here you go! http://www.historicmustang.com/tech.html

Click until you get to the "Front End First and Foremost" section!

Also, do the search thing here at StangNet.

HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com

My RC132 kit was delivered yesterday for my '66, it's quality, all Earl's Stainless hoses, and Earl's fittings, keep your drum spindles,as long as it's a v8, you can't beat the price for what is supplied, now I just have to decide on a master cyl.

I just finished the R&C install and I would recommend staying away from it. They shipped a wrong part and their installation documentation is terrible.

avsfan42 said:

I just finished the R&C install and I would recommend staying away from it. They shipped a wrong part and their installation documentation is terrible.

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Did they make good on their screwup and do it fast? People (and businesses) make mistakes, it's all in how they're handled, IMHO. How/why was the documentation bad? This is the setup I've got in mind to buy soon, so I'm very interested. Personally, I can forgive crappy directions, especailly if their tech line is as good as it's supposed to be. I don't see anything yet that would drive me away from buying it, so I'm curious.
Thanks,
Kyle

I bought the SSBC kit with the single master cylinder to keep an original look. The quality of their parts appear (can't drive the car yet) to be outstanding, and the install was simple. Everything installed flawlessly with the exception of the dust caps, believe it or not. It turns out they sent me the wrong caps, but promptly sent the the correct ones. The only modification I made to the kit was paint the shields that install behind the rotors and add stainless lines. There are pics on my cardomain site if you want to see the kit installed.

5.0ina66 said:

Did they make good on their screwup and do it fast? People (and businesses) make mistakes, it's all in how they're handled, IMHO. How/why was the documentation bad? This is the setup I've got in mind to buy soon, so I'm very interested. Personally, I can forgive crappy directions, especailly if their tech line is as good as it's supposed to be. I don't see anything yet that would drive me away from buying it, so I'm curious.
Thanks,
Kyle

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Kyle,
The RC132 is the correct kit for your car, From the directions I recieved with my kit,it tell's you the races that come installed in the rotor's are not correct for the factory spindle ,it tell's you to knock them out ,and use the ones supplied with the bearing's in the kit, other than that it seem's pretty cut and dry..
avsfan42 ,
Did they send you the wrong kit?

Here is my list of problems with the R&C kit.

1. Sent me the wrong connector for the brake pedal to the power booster. The one they sent was from the wrong year and it was too short, which meant there was not enough travel and thus not enough pressure. They did fix this when I called them, but it did cost me weekend of work.
2. I talked to them before I bought the kit and they were very helpful which is probably why I bought their kit. They told me that the installation instructions were very detailed and included diagrams and pictures, but the documentation they sent me had only one diagram and only seven steps. They did have two pamphlets about bleeding the brakes, but not on the install of their hardware. I have heard that the instructions from SSBC are very detailed and includ pictures of each step and this is what I was expecting. If you have done this a few times then you might be able to do install the kit without good instructions but I have only done a few brake jobs in my life but never anything this major and I would have liked better instructions.
3. I asked them beforehand if their kit would work with my 14" wheels since I did not want to buy 15" wheels and tires at the same time I was buying a brake kit and hear the complaining from my wife. They said their kit would work with 14" wheels, but I had to use spacers for my tires to clear. Not a big deal, but when I called them they said that this had never happened before and I can not imagine that I am the first one with this problem. Also, I could not find spacers anywhere in town and I had to order them for JC Whitney.
4. When I turned the steering wheel all the way my brake pedal went to the floor, but I had full pressure when going straight and the pressure returned when I came back straight after turning. I called them about this and was thinking it was something with the lines and they said they had never heard of this happening and told me that I just should not turn my wheel so far (not excatly the best advice.) The problem turned out to be the original wheel stops hit the connection between the brake line and wheel cylinder and caused the nut to turn slightly and drop pressure while the wheel was turned all the way. The fix was to remove the stops. This was not a big deal, but had they put this in their instructions then it would have saved me a ton of time. I can't imagine that I am the first Mustang owner with this problem.

I just had several little things that caused my install to take several weekends and I think it would have only taken one weekend with SSBC. The guys do answer the phone and are supportive and do not know whether other companies would be as available and helpful as they are. This and the fact that they were $250 less than SSBC was the reason I chose them, but I wish I had spent the extra $250 and just bought the SSBC kit. I hope this helps. Whichever kit you chose, I can tell you that you will be so much happier and safer with disc brakes over drum brakes. It is so nice to be able to hit my brakes and stop my Mustang in a short distance without ending up in another lane.

I understand your frustration, but I think some of those problems may not have been R&Cs fault.

I've seen #1 as a common problem in dual MC/front disc swaps, and it usually takes a different length MC pushrod than comes with the replacement MC (either the stock one for the car or an adjustable one)

#2 Been There Done That...it does indeed suck.

#3 The stock 14" Mustang wheels are drum-only, and will not clear the calipers. 14" steel wheels from a newer Ford are made to clear the caliper and are a direct replacement.

#4 Now THAT is really something there. Sounds like a bit of a halfass solution to me, but I've heard of it being done a good bit, (and it's not like R&Cs "solution" wasn't worse!) so I can see it being safe/acceptable, as long as there are new stops put in. Personally, I'd rather the hose problem be fixed and not have to do that though.

I dunno....maybe you just got a bad apple....I haven't heard anything but good about this kit so far.
--Kyle
PS: What year is your car & spindles? That could explain some of the issues.

5.0ina66 said:

#3 The stock 14" Mustang wheels are drum-only, and will not clear the calipers. 14" steel wheels from a newer Ford are made to clear the caliper and are a direct replacement.

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Sorry but there are no 14" Mustang wheels that are drum only!

Erwin, The Netherlands

where did you find the rod and custom kit? ive looked online but cant seem to find their website

super_dave said:

where did you find the rod and custom kit? ive looked online but cant seem to find their website

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http://www.rcmotorsports.net

I bought the SSBC front disc conversion kit and I loved how easy it was to install. Included all of the right parts and the directions were awesome. Check the "Lyla" link in my sig. for pictures. Here is a thread I made while installing them. http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=573982

Here's another endorsement for the SSBC kit. Instructions were good, and tech support was responsive and helpful. Minor beef (nuts and bolts) about the quality of hardware they include with the kit, but it's pretty minor. Overall a well-executed kit.

Note the SSBC kit comes with a new master cylinder and proportioning valve, where these are separate items with Wilwood. Once the additional parts are added ($100 - $150) the price is comparable to Baer or SSBC. Concerning quality, I would go with Wilwood.

No, the price isn't compareable to Baer or SSBC! I don't know why people keep saying this. An adjustable Wilwood prop valve is $40 and a new MC is $25....how does that add up to $150? I don't get it.
--Kyle

5.0ina66 said:

No, the price isn't compareable to Baer or SSBC! I don't know why people keep saying this. An adjustable Wilwood prop valve is $40 and a new MC is $25....how does that add up to $150? I don't get it.
--Kyle

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Kyle, go get 'em....................................!

HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com

1-800-345-4545

Wilwood Master Cylinder: $99.99
Wilwood Proportioning Valve: $75.99

Total: $175.98

Not including tax or shipping and handling

1-800-345-4545

Wilwood Master Cylinder: $99.99
Wilwood Proportioning Valve: $75.99

Total: $175.98

Not including tax or shipping and handling

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Somebody is getting the shaft with those prices! A GVM 4xdisc MC is $35 from Advance and a Wilwood prop valve is $40 from Summit. I believe you found yourself a nice big ripoff joint there.
--Kyle
EDIT: Crap, I was thinking 4 wheel discs....a Maverick MC is $22.50 at Advance