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Topic: Goodbye rear drums and tiny front brakes..... (Read 2820 times) previous topic - next topic

Goodbye rear drums and tiny front brakes.....

I finally got the brakes on and the rear in. 3.73 rear, drums to discs, TC front brakes, Fox Stang booster, SN-95 master cylinder, and TC proportioning valve.













New tires next. I have had mine for three years, and they are about done. The fronts were getting rounded on the outer edges due to bad ball joints and bad struts. I installed new struts and ball joints, new tie rod ends as well. The rack is still fine, and not very old.

Now, I want a new set of Thunderbird air shocks, then I'm pulling the Chuck W shock mounts and going back to stock. I want the longer shocks.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Goodbye rear drums and tiny front brakes.....

Reply #1 –
Looks great. Did you use a disc brake rear or convert yours?

Goodbye rear drums and tiny front brakes.....

Reply #2 –
Nice work, have you driven it yet?  Wondering how it feels.

I have the same setup but still using the stock booster and MC, I may need to change,..... based on your feedback.
Mike

Goodbye rear drums and tiny front brakes.....

Reply #3 –
I am driving it every day. It's my daily. The brakes feel great, more responsive, and not as y as the stock brakes. I was also using the 30 year old booster, so, .......

As far as the rear, I started with a disc rear, replaced pretty much everything.....bearings, seals, rotors, calipers, caliper brackets, backing plates, all fasteners, brake lines and so on. Brackets with slider pins are cheap brand new, I recommend buying them as over the years, those sliders just don't slide like they should. I shopped around a LOT for cheap deals, I got both rear calipers as reman units, one was $14, and the other was $17.

The car brakes better, and looks better, looks aren't everything, function first, but if you can get both, even better.

I painted the calipers red. I was going to go with gray, but with the green car, I thought red was the better choice. New tires next week. I also have to install the speedo gear in the T-5 tomorrow. It'll take longer to raise the car than to actually swap the gear. LOL.

I really like the SN-95 master cylinder along with the smaller Fox Stang booster. I went with that booster so I can eventually install a firewall adjuster for my clutch cable when I do the next clutch swap (I have a new cable for that moment). I used the Maximum Motorsport "2 to 3" brake line adapter kit to mate the new master cylinder to the proportioning valve. I have heard a Cobra MC is very good as well. I went SN-95 for the MC due to the cost being much less, and it does work well.

I am saving funds for a BBK long tube header H-Pipe right now. I traded a set of stupidly nice headlights for a brand new set of BBK long tubes. One step at a time.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Goodbye rear drums and tiny front brakes.....

Reply #4 –
Nice job Vman, certainly looks great.

When I did my 5 lug swap, the braking ability was less than what it was with the TC/ 11" stuff. Then again, I did have some expensive pads with the 11" setup......just used cheapo stuff with the 5 lug.

When I did the Mustang though, I had a set of hawk pads. Definitely whoas her down with them. So...good pads are a must ;)
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

Goodbye rear drums and tiny front brakes.....

Reply #5 –
I'll be upgrading pads later. I was reading about Hawk pads and think that is the direction I'd like to go. I sold some parts, and ordered a set of Nitto NT555 G2 tires. SO, I have no car funds at the moment. I also traded a mint set of headlights for a brand new set of BBK long tube headers. Gotta get an H-Pipe now. Gonna have to relieve myself of more parts soon.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Goodbye rear drums and tiny front brakes.....

Reply #6 –
Looks great! I bet it's much better in traffic.

I took the easy way out on mine and found an 88 XR7 drum brake 8.8. Eventually I'll have to swap to 11" front brakes. Should work fine for my needs.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

Goodbye rear drums and tiny front brakes.....

Reply #7 –
I took 8 months to gather parts. The car is doing a lot better now. I'm still going to re-bleed the brakes. I am also swapping a brake line. The line from the MC to the PV was spliced from two lines. While working well, just not "right". I grabbed an SN -95 line Saturday, and will swap it when time allows, soon.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Goodbye rear drums and tiny front brakes.....

Reply #8 –
Looks great, Vin.
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo - '85 Marquis LTS - '86 LTD Wagon

Goodbye rear drums and tiny front brakes.....

Reply #9 –
"like button".....
-'87 turbo coupe with only 740 ORIGINAL miles.... :dunce:
-'86 turbo coupe, 5sp. Cali Car.......:cool:

Goodbye rear drums and tiny front brakes.....

Reply #10 –
Thanks a lot. The only thing I thing I'm going to change is the passenger brake cable position. On the TC, it has a crossmember that the cable uses. On my car, with my exhaust, I plan on fabricating a new one that clears my exhaust. For now, that brake line is above the exhaust and under the drive shaft. No issues, but I don't want it that way. Hopefully tomorrow I can get my tires installed.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Goodbye rear drums and tiny front brakes.....

Reply #11 –
Real nice looking car. Like the stance with the R rims.
1987 Turbo Coupe, 306, Trick Flow Track Heat heads, Comp Cam, Trick Flow Pistons, Eagle Rods, Center Force clutch, T-5, 8.8 w/373 gears, and a bunch more

Goodbye rear drums and tiny front brakes.....

Reply #12 –
Quote from: vinnietbird;461858
Thanks a lot. The only thing I thing I'm going to change is the passenger brake cable position. On the TC, it has a crossmember that the cable uses. On my car, with my exhaust, I plan on fabricating a new one that clears my exhaust. For now, that brake line is above the exhaust and under the drive shaft. No issues, but I don't want it that way. Hopefully tomorrow I can get my tires installed.

Can you upload a pic of your parking brake cable once you get it sorted out. I'm going to be facing the same issues shortly.

Ed
1986 Thunderbird Elan 5.0 EFI AOD, 3.73:1 SN95 rear, 17" Mustang Bullitts w/Firestone WO Indy 500's. Future plan: 349 stroker, C9 block, forged dish pistons, Scat 9000 crank, 4340 I beam rods, ARP head/main studs, ported explorer intake, 1.72 CC RR, Vortech V2 supercharger, Mr. Freeze Meth Inj, intercooler, TFS 190 11R CNC heads (66CC), BBK shorties with 2.5" duals, 4R70W Transmission, Taurus fan.
 

Goodbye rear drums and tiny front brakes.....

Reply #13 –
Tommym, thanks a lot. Deep and deeper wheels. I like them. Just had the new Nittos mounted yesterday.

I'll grab a couple of pics of the cables this weekend and post them. As stated, I had to run my passenger side cable between the exhaust and driveshaft. I'll fab a crossmember, then change it. Pics of that when it happens. As it is, it's working fine.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..