Loup-garou
Founding Member
upgrade granada calipers?
- Thread starter allcarfan
- Start date
I'll take some photos later. The easiest thing I've found was to use a piece of 1/2" thick 2"x2" angle iron to make the brackets. That eliminates the welding of the two pieces. The threaded tube is used to hold the bracket bolt that sucures it on the Granada spindle. The same thing can be done with a welded nut with the correct thread instead. It's really not that difficult. One thing with the angle iron, you'll need to grind the inner radius square otherwise the nut never trully fits.
Hack
15 Year Member
Good tip, thanks.tweet66 said:
Can you help with a measurement of the PBR/Granada combo? My current wheels have a 13" ID approximately. Looking at the pictures of the assembly, I believe everything will fit, but I'd prefer to know before I special order some.
I'm not ready to buy wheels and tires on top of calipers, rear discs and a master cylinder. 
By the way I meant 1/4" angle iron , 1/2" would be overkill. I'll have to pull awhell for those measurements. I can tell you I'm rumming Ansem magesium 5 spoke 14" wheels (look like Torque Thrusts) and it clears. That was a major concern of mine as well. The PBR style caliper is actually smaller, diameter wise, then the Granada's. I do plan on going to larger rims in the future so I'll gain more clearance. I know each wheel manufacturer designs and build their wheels differently, so some similar sized rims may clear while others won't.
I'm sure you could. I've already been thinking along those lines using a late 90's Grand Marquis rotor (12.4" dia.) and adapting the PBR caliper, mount, and rotor. My biggest concern is that Granada rotors are a one piece unit with no hub, so I'd have to find a working hub to use. The other option is to see if the rotors will fit the original drum hub (which is removable abiet a pain in the arse to do) and adapting the larger rotor and PBR caliper to it. I have too many ideas and not enough time and money to try them 
you should be able to use a 70-73 drum brake hub with the granada spindle and if you have a pre-70 stang drum brake assembly you could use the existing hub.do you happen to know the width of the grand marquis rotor? someone posted the specs for the pbr calipes awhile back and i think the mustang pbr will accept up to a 1.10" or 1.12" wide rotor and the vette caliper will accept up to a 1.25" wide rotor. i have been thinking about using a 3/4-1 ton gm truck pbr caliper with a 12x1.25 rotor from a 68 ltd, ala the brake mod from the boss 302 chassis manual except with a pbr caliper instead of the 4 piston kelsey hayes caliper from a 65-66 t-bird or 68-69 lincoln continental, but i have easy access to both of the k-h calipers as well, so it is kind of a tough choice for me at this point.
What diameter rotor is on a 99 and up Mustang? I would like to use the rotor diameter the PBR caliper/pads were designed for. I have several sets of 65/66 front drum hubs laying around that have already had the drums removed and I was thinking about using these hubs and the early spindles and making my own brackets similar to the early Kelsey Hayes units that were on these cars originally.
bnickel, does that mean I can use the drum hubs in my 69 Falcon wagon as well? If so I'll go that route instead of the Granada swap I planned. I'm not sure about the wagon's base platform, it looks like a 66-67 Fairlane more than the Falcon sedans of its time.
Do you have the Boss 302 chassis manual? I'd like to find out more info on what componets(sp?) were used on that brake setup.
I tried to post a pic of the wagon but my attachments aren't working
Do you have the Boss 302 chassis manual? I'd like to find out more info on what componets(sp?) were used on that brake setup.
I tried to post a pic of the wagon but my attachments aren't working
yes i have the manual, but i don't have a scanner though or i would scan the page. it doesn't really tell you how to do it it just lists the kit you need and the components i think i found on the web somewhere. it uses a special bracket that only one place i have reproduces and they want like 300 bucks for the pair. really all the kit consists of is 65-66 t-bird or 68-69 continental 4 piston k-h calipers and 68 galaxie/ltd 12" rotors and the special caliper bracket. nothing really exotic, but for the price of the caliper brackets (300) and the price of new rotors (70 bucks each) and rebuilt calipers (100 each) it isn't really feasible to me so that's why i was thinking of using the gm truck pbr's with the galaxie rotors or something else that might work in place of them and build my own caliper bracket. i could do the same with k-h calipers but i think i might get more benefit from the pbr's especially in the weight department
I'm working on three more sets with a few refinements. I've been trying to get into my friends machine shop to use the more accurate equipment he owns, but scheduling around his free time is a b#@*h. I didn't forget about you. By the way I did end up buying that Falcon the other night. That makes it 2 Stangs, 4 Falcons, and one p.o.s Bronco II. Anybody want a 62 Falcon van cheap.
Hack, I measured the calipers and bracket assembly. You need new wheels
They measure out at a little over 6.625" from the spindle center to the outermost rib on the calipers. Like I said before my 14" rims JUST clear 
Hack, I measured the calipers and bracket assembly. You need new wheels
tweet, i don't have any pics of the brackets, sorry. i can't even remember the name of the company that produces them, although now that i think about it cobra automotive may make them as well. i was just going to "wing it" so to speak after i get the pieces that i was looking for but even the standard 11" rotors with pbr's would be better than the single pistons i have now. the car is still in the body shop so it will be a while before i get to do any of the chassis and brake stuff anyway.
Hack
15 Year Member
Thanks for the info. I suspected it would be close. That helps me to plan.tweet66 said:Hack, I measured the calipers and bracket assembly. You need new wheels
Hack, no problem, made me want to repolish my rims though....project #2,503,459...... 
bnickel, its a major difference over the single piston, convidence ispiring in fact. I was having problem with my Granada setup intially. I had the Granada power booster adapted to the car and if I used the brakes I'd kiss the windshield without trying. they were just too sensitive. Went to manual m.c. and no booster and it felt like the car wouldn't stop. No nose dive or weight transfer at all. Feels good now.
If I don't get interupted, I'll work on the brackets on the weekend. I have to pick up a 5.0L for the Bronco II, and the 65 Falcon I just bought, so I'll pencil you in for Saturday between 3:00 and 3:15
My friend's too busy to get me in there any time soon so I have to do them at home again.
bnickel, its a major difference over the single piston, convidence ispiring in fact. I was having problem with my Granada setup intially. I had the Granada power booster adapted to the car and if I used the brakes I'd kiss the windshield without trying. they were just too sensitive. Went to manual m.c. and no booster and it felt like the car wouldn't stop. No nose dive or weight transfer at all. Feels good now.
If I don't get interupted, I'll work on the brackets on the weekend. I have to pick up a 5.0L for the Bronco II, and the 65 Falcon I just bought, so I'll pencil you in for Saturday between 3:00 and 3:15
My friend's too busy to get me in there any time soon so I have to do them at home again.
So 99+ rotors fit too? Geez, I just bought slotted granada rotors, guess those puppies will be for sale
the galaxie rotor should work on any mustang, cougar, etc. drum brake hub, they recommend the 70 spindle and hub because of the larger spindle fom 70 and up, but other than the bearing sixe there is no difference between the 67-70 drum brake spindle and hub. you can the manual from any of the mustang parts suppliers and i see them on ebay all the time as well. they usually run about 10 bucks or so