Let's talk disc brakes...

[castrol69coupe]

I am in the process of doing my disc brake conversion on my 69 Mustang
Coupe. I have the spindles reassembled with new rotors, new calipers,
and new, braided brake lines. I am installing a new, disc brake master
cylinder, but something is throwing me off.

I have the proportioning block that came with the spindles and used disc
brake set up. It is quite a bit different from the drum brake setup currently
in the car. There are two inlets on top, that come from the master cylinder,
then there are two that come out of the bottom, one that goes toward
the rear of the car, and one that goes to the passenger side wheel. There
is another one that comes out of the END of the block, and it goes to the
drivers side wheel.

On the disc brake block, there are only 4 holes... 2 inlets, and two outlets.

What am I missing here? I'll take some photos if necessary.

~castrol

 

[Ronstang]

Do not use the proportioning valve from some other car unless it is the same tyoe of car as yours. Get a Summit aftermarket adjustable proportioning valve for about $30 and save yourself a lot of trouble. Then all you need is a brake line T-block like used on a trailer for splitting the line that comes from the master cylinder and goes to the front brake. You can get one of these for $3 at Trailer Wheel and Frame on I-45....about 30 minutes from your house. Then the Summit valve goes in the line that goes to the rearend.

 

[chepsk8]

What is the donor car? Yes, the drum & disc prop valves are totally different. there is a single in & out for the rear brakes, and dual outs for the front brakes. Prop valves from many similar sized Fords will work. I used an aftermarket one from Masterpower brakes in my disc conversion, and it worked like a charm! Only issues were different fitting threads than on a Ford unit, and the different safety switch (GM style).

 

[streetgrande69]

castrol69coupe,
we need more info, what type of car did the brakes/valve come from? if its a granada valve, then use it!

please post some pics.

the configuration is, front has 3 outlets(one in-2 out), rear has 2(1 in-1 out).
i don't agree with ronstang on this one. i don't like the adjustables. i yhink they are cheap. a proportioning valve for a front disc, rear drum car is easy to come by. get it from a granada, or any mid sized front disc, rear drum car.

does it look like this? this is a typical ford unit used for nearly 15 years or more by ford.

 

[castrol69coupe]

castrol69coupe,
we need more info, what type of car did the brakes/valve come from? if its a granada valve, then use it!

please post some pics.

the configuration is, front has 3 outlets(one in-2 out), rear has 2(1 in-1 out).
i don't agree with ronstang on this one. i don't like the adjustables. i yhink they are cheap. a proportioning valve for a front disc, rear drum car is easy to come by. get it from a granada, or any mid sized front disc, rear drum car.

does it look like this? this is a typical ford unit used for nearly 15 years or more by ford.

Yeah, that is pretty much it. I'll snap some shots when I get back to the
house. From memory, that looks like it. Only problem... there is only 4 holes
in it. Not sure about the donor car. I bought the parts from a guy here on
this board, just can't remember who...(its been a while) There is a power
brake 67 here in my work parking lot. Been sitting here for over 2 years.
Front disc, rear drums...

~castrol

 

[castrol69coupe]

Pictures added.

On one end, there is a screw, on the other end there is a large bolt.
I added some pictures in the previous post as well. Let me know if
it is better that I host them instead of attaching...

~castrol

 

[Hack]

Pictures added.

On one end, there is a screw, on the other end there is a large bolt.
I added some pictures in the previous post as well. Let me know if
it is better that I host them instead of attaching...

~castrol

Looking at that last picture, it looks just like the one I have in my '70 vert. Mine came from a '77 Monarch. It works beautifully! I had my first "panic" stop in rush hour traffic today, no problems at all. The old drums used to always scare the crap outta me.

Anyway, in your picture, on the left are the three spots for the front brakes. One in, two out. Doesn't matter which. On the right is the single in, single out.

http://www.mustangsteve.com/granadadiscs.html

There's a picture on this web site with each fitting labeled. I hope that helps.

 

[castrol69coupe]

Looking at that last picture, it looks just like the one I have in my '70 vert. Mine came from a '77 Monarch. It works beautifully! I had my first "panic" stop in rush hour traffic today, no problems at all. The old drums used to always scare the crap outta me.

Anyway, in your picture, on the left are the three spots for the front brakes. One in, two out. Doesn't matter which. On the right is the single in, single out.

http://www.mustangsteve.com/granadadiscs.html

There's a picture on this web site with each fitting labeled. I hope that helps.

Actually, BIG help. But, I think I found where the confusion is coming in...

Check these pictures out... look in the end of where the rear of the master
cylinder is supposed to be attached. Is this normal? I have yet to see the
end of one of these in a photograph.

~castrol

 

[Hack]

Actually, BIG help. But, I think I found where the confusion is coming in...

Check these pictures out... look in the end of where the rear of the master
cylinder is supposed to be attached. Is this normal? I have yet to see the
end of one of these in a photograph.

~castrol

umm, I'm stumped. It looks like there's a little screw in there. I looked through the pictures a few times and it seems to me that there's a fitting missing. But I also don't know what's up with the screw. I hope someone else here can help.

sorry.

 

[streetgrande69]

i have home-work to do, child developement, but after i'll take a pic, i know whats wrong there.

 

[castrol69coupe]

Sweet. I'll stay up then.

~castrol

 

[streetgrande69]

Here are the 2 pics, 1 of the fitting installed, other of the valve aif it were completely taken apart. This one is from a 76 Granada, basically same through the 80's. You can grab any valve off any mid sized car in the junk yard. or just go down there and start dissecting them to learn. You could swipe that fitting and walk out. or you should run down to pick a part and get one you know will work.

The only difference between them is spring tension, and I don't know what the different rates are, but the way you can tell the difference is by the spring color. The Granada has a little red on the spring.

the screw, i couldn't get out, its behind the fitting in this pic.........

 

[streetgrande69]

''There is a power
Brake 67 here in my work parking lot. "

This valve will be different. It will be 2 parts, 67, 68, and 69 will be 2 part valves( i believe), totally different then what you have there.

This is the unit that should be on you car(if you had factory discs), the actual proportioning is happening in the stand alone cylinder separate from the block. The block in this set-up server no purpose other then sending fluid in different directions.

View attachment 524453

 

[castrol69coupe]

Here are the 2 pics, 1 of the fitting installed, other of the valve aif it were completely taken apart. This one is from a 76 Granada, basically same through the 80's. You can grab any valve off any mid sized car in the junk yard. or just go down there and start dissecting them to learn. You could swipe that fitting and walk out. or you should run down to pick a part and get one you know will work.

The only difference between them is spring tension, and I don't know what the different rates are, but the way you can tell the difference is by the spring color. The Granada has a little red on the spring.

the screw, i couldn't get out, its behind the fitting in this pic.........

So I am sipmly missing a fitting that goes where the screw is... gotcha.

I will have to see if I can find one now. Thanks!!

~castrol

 

[cardude]

Do not use the proportioning valve from some other car unless it is the same tyoe of car as yours. Get a Summit aftermarket adjustable proportioning valve for about $30 and save yourself a lot of trouble. Then all you need is a brake line T-block like used on a trailer for splitting the line that comes from the master cylinder and goes to the front brake. You can get one of these for $3 at Trailer Wheel and Frame on I-45....about 30 minutes from your house. Then the Summit valve goes in the line that goes to the rearend.

I totally agree. I had the similar problem with that same valve and I could not get the front brakes to grab hard enough. I stopped messing with it and did the after market prop valve with a simple hose bender and new end fitting / flair kit, my job looks clean and is very easy to reach.

 

[Hack]

I totally agree. I had the similar problem with that same valve and I could not get the front brakes to grab hard enough. I stopped messing with it and did the after market prop valve with a simple hose bender and new end fitting / flair kit, my job looks clean and is very easy to reach.

I agree that the proportioning valve should come from a midsize car with front discs and rear drums, if that's what you have in your Mustang.

What that means is that there are quite a few options to choose from without going to aftermarket parts. Monarch, Granada, Maverick, Versailles.. all came with disc/drums so the proportioning valve from any will work.

By all means go new if you have the extra money and that's what you want. But there's a cheaper way..

 

[bnickel]

Monarch, Granada, Maverick, Versailles.. all came with disc/drums so the proportioning valve from any will work.

actually the versailles only had rear discs, so the combo valve is different, all the others would be correct.

about what eric was saying about the different color springs, they are color coded somehow to the weight/bias of the vehicle, not sure exactly how, but that's what the color codes mean. for instance you could have two granadas with 2 diff color coded springs, the reason is that there may have been different brake and other options between the 2 cars, like heavy duty brakes, ac, ps, etc. ultimately if you can find one that is optioned similar to your car the bias is likely to be closer, but this is not absolutely necessary, generally any of the midsize cars will work well. sorry if i confused you at all.