Wheels-Tires Need Some Help - Brakes Upgrade/Wheel fitment

jaygee15 · Dec 18, 2025

Ordered everything to replace the mc ,bb, manual proportioning valve etc.

Any advice/tricks/hangups etc when doing this job on a fox body? I've only done a full brake system on my 64 impala before.

AeroCoupe · Dec 18, 2025

With the motor in the car I believe it is hit and miss on having to massage the back side of the driver strut tower to get the brake booster to go in. I think if you just take your time with it you should be fine. My Coupe went in but the T-Bird took some work.

You also need to set the booster rod depth. Lots of resources on this but this will give you the idea. I ordered and used this tool.

View: https://youtu.be/vrO7ZZB4dUE?si=ztpUi1KkwLCiLfWa

Cannot stress proper bench bleeding of the master cylinder enough.

Once everything is installed and leak checked bed the brakes properly.

https://www.centricparts.com/media/wysiwyg/technical-bulletins/StopTechs_Recommended_Procedure_for_Bedding-in_Stock-Sized_Brake_Systems.pdf

jaygee15 · Jan 22, 2026

AeroCoupe said:
With the motor in the car I believe it is hit and miss on having to massage the back side of the driver strut tower to get the brake booster to go in. I think if you just take your time with it you should be fine. My Coupe went in but the T-Bird took some work.

You also need to set the booster rod depth. Lots of resources on this but this will give you the idea. I ordered and used this tool.

View: https://youtu.be/vrO7ZZB4dUE?si=ztpUi1KkwLCiLfWa

Cannot stress proper bench bleeding of the master cylinder enough.

Once everything is installed and leak checked bed the brakes properly.

https://www.centricparts.com/media/wysiwyg/technical-bulletins/StopTechs_Recommended_Procedure_for_Bedding-in_Stock-Sized_Brake_Systems.pdf

Do the PBR calipers matter if they 2 piston. I have these for sale near me .

AeroCoupe · Jan 22, 2026

So the 99-04 GT/V6 front calipers are all PBR’s and twin piston. This is what you want as the clamping force is a little greater but more evenly spread across the pad vs the single piston 94-98 GT/V6 front calipers.

jaygee15 · Jan 22, 2026

AeroCoupe said:
So the 99-04 GT/V6 front calipers are all PBR’s and twin piston. This is what you want as the clamping force is a little greater but more evenly spread across the pad vs the single piston 94-98 GT/V6 front calipers.

Does this look like a good deal? He said they are the smaller 10.75" rotors, and both the rotors and pads are detroit axle brand, then the calipers are PBR

AeroCoupe · Jan 22, 2026

Not sure. I just run OEM rotors and pads. I pulled a set of calipers from a pick a part for something like $20 (was a long time ago) and used them as cores for refurbished ones from a parts store.

jaygee15 · Feb 4, 2026

Which of these do I need, or can I use either? I have PBR twin piston sn95 calipers. And would this be all I need to go from 86 brake hardline to the sn95 caliper?

86HO5.0 · Feb 4, 2026

Looks like you could use either. Those hoses look like they eliminate the need for an adapter on the pass side front which is nice.

AeroCoupe · Feb 4, 2026

I used the same braided lines from the twin piston 99-04 GT calipers when I moved to the Cobra brakes so either will work. Top ones are Maximum Motorsports and the same price so I would just order directly from MM.

MM Stainless Brake Hose Kit, 1979-93 Mustang with SN95 (94-04) calipers, front

jaygee15 · Feb 4, 2026

So I have the 94/95 spindles, sn95 GT/v6 rotors, PBR sn95 gt/v6 dual piston calipers. I'm ordering the sn95 wheel hubs, dust shield, spindle nuts, ball joint spacer, and these brake caliper hoses.

Is all I need else to complete the front swap the caliper brackets? Will these caliper brake hoses fit directly to 86 mustang hardlines? Trying to make sure I got everything.

AeroCoupe · Feb 4, 2026

Calipers will bolt directly to the spindle. You may need to grind the spindles in two spots to get the calipers to fit but its nothing major. See this post:

Post in thread '95 GT - Upgrading to 99+ PBR Brakes'

Feb 14, 2019

You don't need to grind much off. What you are doing is clearancing the area around the bolt pass thru to clear the larger pistons on the 2 piston Caliper. On the 96-04 spindles this is already done. The 94-95 spindle just need a tiny bit take off.

As for the master cylinder, the stock MC is a 1 1/16" bore MC. Ford switched to a 1.003" master cylinder in 1999 when they went to the dual piston PBR. The v6 used vacuum booster same as the 94-95.

The 99-04 calipers piston surface area for both fronts is 9% less than the 94-98 Caliper. So without a MC swap...

jaygee15 · Feb 23, 2026

Brake booster, master cylinder, spindle swap, caliper and rotor, 5 lug swap complete for front. thank you guys for the help.

86HO5.0 · Feb 23, 2026

Did you order CC plates?

jaygee15 · Feb 23, 2026

I did not

86HO5.0 · Feb 23, 2026

You'll need em'. I highly recommend MM plates.

nickyb · Feb 23, 2026

Nice job,those wheels look great on a white car.
When I did mine I bought the team z cc plates but drove without them for like two years without issues..

jaygee15 · Feb 23, 2026

I' m going to wait until i do motor swap and suspension. I hardly drive this car at all so it wont be a big deal.

limp · Feb 24, 2026

AeroCoupe said:
Calipers will bolt directly to the spindle. You may need to grind the spindles in two spots to get the calipers to fit but its nothing major. See this post:

Post in thread '95 GT - Upgrading to 99+ PBR Brakes'

Feb 14, 2019

You don't need to grind much off. What you are doing is clearancing the area around the bolt pass thru to clear the larger pistons on the 2 piston Caliper. On the 96-04 spindles this is already done. The 94-95 spindle just need a tiny bit take off.

As for the master cylinder, the stock MC is a 1 1/16" bore MC. Ford switched to a 1.003" master cylinder in 1999 when they went to the dual piston PBR. The v6 used vacuum booster same as the 94-95.

The 99-04 calipers piston surface area for both fronts is 9% less than the 94-98 Caliper. So without a MC swap...

Mustang5L5

Yes, just a light zing zing with the grinder.... 5L5 suggested this when I did my sn95 upgrade and its easy to miss.. If your aware of it and your looking for it its easy to spot...

jaygee15 · Mar 21, 2026

I picked up a 94-98 8.8 rear end, tag decoded says it has a 3.08 limited slip gear ratio. From my understanding these have 28 spline axles.

I am planning on about 500hp from a 351w swap, possibly more power way down the road if I end up putting turbo/boost on it.

Besides swapping to fox length axles, what else do I need to do to install this in my 86?
Should I swap to 31 spline axles, if so what is the most budget friendly options to do so?
Is the 3.08 gear ratio fine, fine for now, or should I also swap that to 3.73 or something?

AeroCoupe · Mar 22, 2026

Why do you want to swap to Fox length axles? The rear end as is will bolt up under the car and it has disk brakes. Now if you do not want the five lug I get that but if you are going to five lug then just get 94-98 length axles.

As far as 28 spline vs 31 spline axles go are you planning on running slicks? If not then just rebuild the traclok and put good (Moser or Strange or the like) axles in it and move on. I am running Moser 28 spline axles in both my cars but I do not run slicks.

I’m not saying it’s not a good idea but money could be used else where if you are on a budget.

Wheels-Tires Need Some Help - Brakes Upgrade/Wheel fitment

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lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

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lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

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lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

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lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

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lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

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Active Member

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I gotta say i never painted my nuts, Never Ever

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wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

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lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

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