SN95 brake conversion question

[SmockDoiley]

I'm kinda doing everything at once here so bare with me. The question here is about the brakes. I have an 85 GT which currently sports 87+ up brakes and spindles. I just purchased the SN95 spindles and Im also installing a tubular K-member and 95+ lower control arms. I'm assuming the 95+ control arms have the required lower ball joints needed to join the new spindles to the lower control arm. It was my understanding that the ball joints are different.
I was planning on running those 13 cobra brakes, yadda yadda, with S.S. brake hoses. Question, will this setup bolt right up to the existing brake lines or do I need to change anything? Also, are the tie rods the same or do I need to change those? Lastly, is there any difference in the struts or can I keep those the same. They are the 87 up sensatracs. Thanks, Scot Rod

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

The 95 arms will have the correct ball joint, no washers needed
The tie rod ends are the same and will go right in. Some go to the 94+ tie rod ends because they have more threads.
The drivers side line will bolt right up.
The passenger side line threads did not bolt up. I bought a reducer union at Advanced Auto Parts for $1.37 with tax. That worked just fine.
You will need an alignment obviously, but you can get it close by measuring. I had to turn my tie rod ends out 17 times on each side. Then I fined tuned it by measuring the front tire tread to front tire tread and repeated this on the rear tread of the front tire. I got it very close. I used the 99+ PRB dual pistion calipers and the stock 11" brakes. I used the stock 91 V-8 Booster and master and the car stops GREAT!! The Cobra 13" brakes may require to use a newer booster and master, so you get enough vacuum. I wouldn't worry about this yet. I would put the car together and see where you are at and go from there with the stopping power. If there is a problem, it will still stop, just not as good.

 

[trbkrb]

Two things. You know the SN95 control arms are longer than the Fox ones, so that will push your wheels out a bit further and you might run out of threads on the tie rods, or get very close. The SN95 tie rods have a different thread than the Fox cars, so you would have to swap out both the inner and outer tie rods to use the longer SN95 ones, or find some longer Ford outer tie rods that fit the inners. I recall someone found some on here.

Also, the SS lines, depending on which you buy, may have the correct ends on them. I know Maximum Motorsports sells the Fox with SN95 caliper lines that do not require the adapter fitting. Those are the ones I have.

Oh, and your last question. The struts will fit just fine.

 

[SmockDoiley]

I have the 96 spindles which I guess are different than the 95s and I'm wondering if the combination of that and the 95 control arms is going to make the track too wide for my current rack and pinion from flaming rivers.

 

[trbkrb]

You might just want to check with flaming river on their racks. They have a different part # for 94-04 cars with the 5.0 engines. Maybe they just have longer outer tie rods on them but are the same racks otherwise. I do see that they have the longer outer tie rod ends available for their standard FR1503 racks separately:

http://www.flamingriver.com/index.c...ategory_id=68/home_id=63/mode=prod/prd235.htm

 

[tunedin302]

I have the 96 spindles which I guess are different than the 95s and I'm wondering if the combination of that and the 95 control arms is going to make the track too wide for my current rack and pinion from flaming rivers.

the 96+ spindles will increase your track width about 8mm on each side. Now, that combined with the SN95 control arms and I am willing to bet your tires willl be way outside the fenders ... unless you are running Bullitts.

If you're only concern is w/ the use of a spacer, you can also just get the Steeda X2 balljoints and press them into your fox arms thereby negating the need for a spacer. As for the advice about concerning boosters and MC, I would definately do the swap and not rely on your stock items to produce enough pressure to stop those brakes. A great setup would be the 93 cobra booster and MC but the booster is hard to come by sometimes. You willl aslo need to gut your stock PV and add an adjustable PV for the rears. Good luck.

 

[SmockDoiley]

It already has 4 wheel discs and I already gutted the PV and have an adjustable unit for the rears. I'm currently running an upgraded M/C with the stock booster.