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Topic: 87 tbird to Sn95 front brake hose issue (Read 2598 times) previous topic - next topic

87 tbird to Sn95 front brake hose issue

Ran into another problem not mentioned in the forums, the brake line to front caliper brake hose maximum motorsports 87 5.0 to sn95 does not fit the factory fitting on the chassis of the t-bird, it needs a larger fitting, any ideas what size fitting fits the mm brake hose conversion for the front brake lines?

Re: 87 tbird to Sn95 front brake hose issue

Reply #1 –
Also hoses are too short

Re: 87 tbird to Sn95 front brake hose issue

Reply #2 –
Just fyi for anybody who does this, i noticed fox body mustang front brake hose brackets are mounted behind the strut and the hose is mounted and goes towards the back.  I modified the original bracket and relocated it to behind the strut.  I fabricated a piece of brake line and got a union to connect to the original brake line to the extension.  Then for the thread in the brake hose, i bought a 3/8-24 female to 7/16-24 male inverted flare adaptor.  Good to go

Re: 87 tbird to Sn95 front brake hose issue

Reply #3 –
So the 1/4" female tube to 3/16" male tube "inverted flare" adapter fitting can be had from a variety of sources and I am 99% sure these are the manufacturers and their part numbers:

Weatherhead - P/N 7828
Brass-Tite - P/N 43303
Dorman - P/N 327828

If you just buy Maximum Motorsports SS braided SN95 to Fox front brake lines then they do not need the adapters.

Now with all of that said here is what I have found.  The 79-86 Mustangs do not need this adapter as both sides are the same where as the 87-93 Mustangs need it on the passenger side as that fitting got changed.  I did not need the fitting on my 83 Bird and used Russell lines.  I would have needed it on my 93 Coupe but I chose to use MM's lines so I did not need it.  Moral of the story is figure out what your hard line fittings are on the car and plan it out.

83 351W TKO'd T-Bird on the bottle


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp

Re: 87 tbird to Sn95 front brake hose issue

Reply #4 –
I had to use the weatherhead fitting on my '88 Sport when I did the SN95 conversion, AND my '87 Stang LX SN95 swap.

On the Stang, I also went with the '99-04 calipers and matching hoses, still had to use the adapter fitting, though.
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

Re: 87 tbird to Sn95 front brake hose issue

Reply #5 –
My guess is that the 83-85/86 cars are all the same size fitting on each side where the 86/87-88 cars are similar to the 87-93 Fox Mustangs.  I know there are some differences in the later and early 86 cars but not sure about the brake fittings.

83 351W TKO'd T-Bird on the bottle


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp

Re: 87 tbird to Sn95 front brake hose issue

Reply #6 –
All 1982-93 Mustangs have the same sized nut on the end of both front brake lines. All 1994-2004 Mustangs have different sized nuts on each side.

The several data points I have for Fox Thunderbirds is that both nuts are the same size as each other on both sides of the car. For a Thunderbird installing SN95 calipers, you will need to use the MMBK15F front hose kit. This will not need any adapters. 

Re: 87 tbird to Sn95 front brake hose issue

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Jack Hidley – on
All 1982-93 Mustangs have the same sized nut on the end of both front brake lines. All 1994-2004 Mustangs have different sized nuts on each side.

The several data points I have for Fox Thunderbirds is that both nuts are the same size as each other on both sides of the car. For a Thunderbird installing SN95 calipers, you will need to use the MMBK15F front hose kit. This will not need any adapters. 


Just for the sake of information, the 87-88 Turbo Coupe uses two different sized fittings like the 94-04 Mustangs.
It's Gumby's fault.

Re: 87 tbird to Sn95 front brake hose issue

Reply #8 –
Do you happen to know which side has the larger nut?

Re: 87 tbird to Sn95 front brake hose issue

Reply #9 –
Off of the top of my head, I can't remember with certainty.

However, I converted my TC to 5-lug using 94-95 SN95 spindles and used 99-04 PBR calipers. I initially ordered 94-95 brake hoses for all four corners. They worked in the rear with very little effort. Up front, they mounted to the hard lines on the chassis but were wrong for the calipers. I got the proper 99-04 hoses and they worked like factory, other than not fitting in the body mounted bracket. I still haven't gotten around to ordering the little brackets.

So basically, whatever side had the larger size on the Mustang is the same as on the 87-88 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe.
It's Gumby's fault.
 

Re: 87 tbird to Sn95 front brake hose issue

Reply #10 –
Left side has the larger nut (7/16").