OK, I have a 1969 Mach 1 with the factory single piston brake calipers. I want to do a brake upgrade, but all I can find is kits that cost $1000+ to upgrade to huge rotors that are drilled and slotted for a car that originally had drum brakes in front. I don't want to do anything that fancy or expensive. What I'd like to do is put on a set of 4 piston calipers, with stock or slightly larger rotors. I want 4 piston calipers (like I had on my '67 fastback) mainly for the looks, and the rotor really doesn't matter that much to me. I'm not looking to be able to stop on a dime, I just want the front brakes to look nice. Are there brackets out there I can buy to make other calipers bolt up to my stock brake rotors? If so where do I find them? Thanks in advance for the help!!!
Options for brake upgrade
- Thread starter nick6704
- Start date
nick6704 said:
No offense here. I really like the 4 piston K/H brakes. I've got them on my 67 and they work great. That being said.... are you out of your mind ? Suspension and brakes are the most important part of your car. Who cares what anything looks on your car. As long as it is SAFE and works reliably it can be ugly as hell. Don't change your brakes because you don't like the way the calipers look.
If you want to do something to make them look better, paint them so they aren't all rusted looking. I zinc coated mine black and they look 5x better then my friends who has the same exact setup.
I'm not looking for something that looks good and doesn't work, believe me, I know the importance of brakes and suspension. I just like the way 4 caliper brakes look so out of curiousity I'm asking if there's a way I can put them on my car without spending insane amounts of money on some kit. I just mean I don't want a set of track only front brakes. For instance, if someone knows how to transplant a set of later model calipers on my car on a budget that would be great.
here is an article on how to install late model PBR 2 piston calipers on granada spindles. the granada spindles are basically the same design as the stock 69 disc brake spindles except that the the lower mounting bolt is slightly bigger (IIRC)
edit: link would be nice, huh?
http://www.woodyg.com/fairlane/finfo/discs66.html
edit: link would be nice, huh?
http://www.woodyg.com/fairlane/finfo/discs66.html
LMan
Founding Member
While that option is a good one (which I have on my 67), the PBRs are still 2-piston sliding calipers, not 4-piston fixed caliper (like the K-Hs).
I really don't see the utility in spending $$$ to replace a functioning single-piston setup like you have now (which is entirely adequate for street use..I don't know where the 'single-piston calipers are death waiting to happen' rumors got started) for a 4-piston fixed caliper setup strictly for 'looks'.
You'd have to bend over on the ground to see the difference anyway. Color me puzzled.
But to each his own.
I really don't see the utility in spending $$$ to replace a functioning single-piston setup like you have now (which is entirely adequate for street use..I don't know where the 'single-piston calipers are death waiting to happen' rumors got started) for a 4-piston fixed caliper setup strictly for 'looks'.
You'd have to bend over on the ground to see the difference anyway. Color me puzzled.
But to each his own.
i've got single piston brakes on my mustang and have no intentions of changing them and retain the stock 11" rotor. i would like to the big ford 12" rotor and HUGE k/h 4 piston lincoln/t-bird caliper at some point but that will probably happen after i sell the mustang and get the 69 cougar i've been looking at. the cougar has 4 wheel manual drums so s brake upgrade is definitely in order for that car.
