Opinions on Brakes

Dan P.

Founding Member

Apr 26, 2002

483

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27

N.C.

Mar 31, 2005

#1

• Mar 31, 2005

• #1

Well I think that its time to start looking for possible brake upgrades for my 92. I have a set of spindles, rotors, and calipers from a 93 5.0, but I was thinking about 5 lug and something bigger. Would you guys say to go with a stock “upgrade” like a 99+ stock setup, similar to what Brian did with his 92, or maybe something aftermarket. I am looking for good stopping power and something that will hold up after a few passes down the 1/4 mile and possibly a little Auto Xing.

Thanks,
Dan

 

Asha'man

Founding Member

Feb 5, 2002

1,909

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0

Denver

Apr 1, 2005

#2

• Apr 1, 2005

• #2

Stock Ford stuff is gonna be the cheapest. Baer, SSBC, Wilwood and others have aftermarket systems, but they all seem to run well into the hundreds or thousands of dollars. I'd go with stock parts if I were you.

Brian

 

mr_woodster

Active Member

Jul 28, 2003

1,314

0

36

Riverside, CA

Apr 1, 2005

#3

• Apr 1, 2005

• #3

ash, you need to change your avitar...those are pony's in that picture

 

Dr_EluSivE

Founding Member

Apr 24, 2002

2,155

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56

Central Illinois

Apr 1, 2005

#4

• Apr 1, 2005

• #4

If money was available i would do a 5 lug brake swap, and a rear end swap from a newer mustang. Of course that means you need to invest in new wheels as well, but as we have seen, 5 lugs wheels look sharp on fox bodys.

Dr.

 

F

flyin 5.8

New Member

Feb 27, 2004

15

0

0

Apr 1, 2005

#5

• Apr 1, 2005

• #5

From what you have now I'd say go to SVO/Lincoln/Police vehicle calipers (steel piston) & upgrade the rear to T-Bird Turbo Coupe disks. With what you have now you should be able to do this for about $500. IMHO the only reason to go 5 lug is for a larger selection of rims.

 

Dan P.

Founding Member

Apr 26, 2002

483

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27

N.C.

Apr 2, 2005

#6

• Apr 2, 2005

• #6

Dr_EluSivE said:

If money was available i would do a 5 lug brake swap, and a rear end swap from a newer mustang. Of course that means you need to invest in new wheels as well, but as we have seen, 5 lugs wheels look sharp on fox bodys.

Dr.

Click to expand...

Well I think that is a good idea too, because my wheels now are crap. I have two bent rims and I really like the look of the Bullitt rims on a Fox. So rims are in my future, but what year should I get the brakes from? A 99+ Gt or maybe a mixture of newer Gt and aftermarket.

 

Asha'man

Founding Member

Feb 5, 2002

1,909

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0

Denver

Apr 2, 2005

#7

• Apr 2, 2005

• #7

Dammit, I already changed my avatar....must've got lost in the board crash.

Stand by....

Brian

 

Asha'man

Founding Member

Feb 5, 2002

1,909

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Denver

Apr 2, 2005

#8

• Apr 2, 2005

• #8

There we go.

Brian

 

Red_LX

I’m not much help unless you’re looking for ****!

Founding Member

Nov 29, 1999

5,896

73

129

Morgantown, WV...where couches meet their doom

Apr 2, 2005

#9

• Apr 2, 2005

• #9

flyin 5.8 said:

From what you have now I'd say go to SVO/Lincoln/Police vehicle calipers (steel piston) & upgrade the rear to T-Bird Turbo Coupe disks. With what you have now you should be able to do this for about $500. IMHO the only reason to go 5 lug is for a larger selection of rims.

Click to expand...

If you're referring to the 73mm front calipers, I wasn't aware that any of those ever came with a steel piston from the factory. If they did I don't think there would be a kit out that lets you replace the phenolic piston with a steel one.

Also, the 2.3L's stock master cylinder isn't enough to push 73mm calipers, I know this from experience.

 

Asha'man

Founding Member

Feb 5, 2002

1,909

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0

Denver

Apr 2, 2005

#10

• Apr 2, 2005

• #10

Cop cars and some Lincolns had steel pistons.

Brian

 

F

flyin 5.8

New Member

Feb 27, 2004

15

0

0

Apr 2, 2005

#11

• Apr 2, 2005

• #11

Red_LX said:

If you're referring to the 73mm front calipers, I wasn't aware that any of those ever came with a steel piston from the factory. If they did I don't think there would be a kit out that lets you replace the phenolic piston with a steel one.

Also, the 2.3L's stock master cylinder isn't enough to push 73mm calipers, I know this from experience.

Click to expand...

Bought the calipers at NAPA, mid 80's Lincoln MkVII I think. Had to tell them I wanted steel pistons.

I still have the 2.3 MC in mine could be upgraded but still stops better than the 4cyl rotors/calipers. I'll be swaping it for a 94-98 V6/GT unit when I do the Turbo Coupe rear disk swap.

 

Red_LX

I’m not much help unless you’re looking for ****!

Founding Member

Nov 29, 1999

5,896

73

129

Morgantown, WV...where couches meet their doom

Apr 2, 2005

#12

• Apr 2, 2005

• #12

Huh, I didn't know that.

Well, anyway, whenever I put the 73mm calipers on my LX, I bled the brakes 3 times and the pedal still went clear to the floor. I figured the master cylinder just couldn't move enough fluid for those calipers.

 

F

flyin 5.8

New Member

Feb 27, 2004

15

0

0

Apr 3, 2005

#13

• Apr 3, 2005

• #13

Lots of info on brake swaps here:

http://mjbobbitt.home.comcast.net/index.html

73mm front, TC & Caddy rears, FOX budget 5 lug swaps, SN95->FOX 5 lug swaps/upgrades, MC swaps...