Disc Brake Help
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Disc Brake Help
I'm wanting to put disc brakes on front and back, I already have the 73-79 setup for the front ready. My question is.. what is the best way to go about getting disc for the rear? I have seen cheap 9inch conversion kits for the 5X4-1/2.. is there any way to convert the front too 5x4-1/2 with the 73-79 setup so that i can use that bolt pattern and have more of a selection of rims?
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Throw a 03-present crown vic suspension under it for the front?? Actually you can have the front hubs redrilled to the 5X4.5 pattern. The rotors will have to be drilled too, and every time you have to replace them.
Or you can go with adapters that bolt to the 5X5, and have the 5X4.5 pattern.
For the rear, you want to get an explorer 8.8 rear discs.
eBay Motors: FORD 9" Rear Disc Brake Kit ( Explorer Brakes) FREE S/H (item 150329425691 end time Mar-09-09 03:00:12 PDT)
Something like that.
Or you can go with adapters that bolt to the 5X5, and have the 5X4.5 pattern.
For the rear, you want to get an explorer 8.8 rear discs.
eBay Motors: FORD 9" Rear Disc Brake Kit ( Explorer Brakes) FREE S/H (item 150329425691 end time Mar-09-09 03:00:12 PDT)
Something like that.
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I would love to put the crown vic on it but that takes some welding skills that i have not acquired lol. But where would i buy the adapter for the front setup? I only have the spindles for the front right now so are there 4-1/2 hubs and rotors that you can buy to put on the spindles? And for the rear that will bolt right in to my 9 inch? I'm new to all this conversion stuff so any help is appreciated.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2005
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there are hub adapters, i think jegs carries them. i wanna say they are $150 each.
as for the rear. there are kits out there but im not sure if there are any bolt on kits. I know cars like the lincoln mark V came with disc brake 9" rear. Companies like blue torch fab make disc brake(weld on) plates.
is there a certain reason you want disc rear?
as for the rear. there are kits out there but im not sure if there are any bolt on kits. I know cars like the lincoln mark V came with disc brake 9" rear. Companies like blue torch fab make disc brake(weld on) plates.
is there a certain reason you want disc rear?
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They look better with rims, and it gives me more options with the 4-1/2 bolt pattern because of the mustangs. Other than that i guess not really.. just figured i would do it now while i have it down too the frame.
Elder User
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well i know one issue that usually comes up with rear disc conversions is the lack of a parking brake. A lot of vehicles run a small drum inside the hub for the Ebrake. Ive heard Escalade calipers have an integrated Ebrake. I know one of my cars has rear calipers that have a "screw" piston for the Ebrake.
For some reason the blue torch fab site is down but i know their stuff is weld on.
a quick google search came up with this, bolt on
9" Ford Rear Disc Brakes
BUT, that still leaves you with 5x5.5.
For some reason the blue torch fab site is down but i know their stuff is weld on.
a quick google search came up with this, bolt on
9" Ford Rear Disc Brakes
BUT, that still leaves you with 5x5.5.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Some 1980/83 F100's came with 4.50" bolt pattern 15" wheels.
Regardless of the wheels, all have the 9" rear end.
Regardless of the wheels, all have the 9" rear end.
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Elder User
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numberdummy, did those 9" rears have the 31 spline axles? or did the 5x4.5 axles have 28spline?
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Elder User
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you can get many different sized rotors. the difference is in the bolt pattern only(unless someone says there is a spline count difference). 5x4.5 is 5 lug on a 4.5" circle. 5x5.5 is 5lug on a 5.5" circle. If you end up with some sort of weld on bracket you need to be sure what size rotors/caliper its made for.
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: hillsboro
I'm wanting to put disc brakes on front and back, I already have the 73-79 setup for the front ready. My question is.. what is the best way to go about getting disc for the rear? I have seen cheap 9inch conversion kits for the 5X4-1/2.. is there any way to convert the front too 5x4-1/2 with the 73-79 setup so that i can use that bolt pattern and have more of a selection of rims?
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For the front you will have to have your rotors redrilled by a machine shop ,cost me $80 or so a pair when we have them done, the above mentioned late model explorer parts will bolt on if your backing plate/mounting flange is 3.5x2,then you can then have the axles redrilled also,or you need 2 driver's side axles from a 1977-79 T-bird, 73-79 Cougar or Montego, 72-79 Torino, Ranchero, or LTD II. I will go back through my notes from previous builds but It seems like these cars had the right length,and 28 spline, and the early 80's F100/ 4.5" bolt pattern trucks had 28 spline 9" rears(too wide for earlier trucks),and the front rotors use the same bearings/seals as the earlier F150 but unfortunatly will not mate up to the 73=79 spindle,bearing placement is differsnt and will not allow the 4.5 bolt pattern rotor to go fully onto the spindle.
Thanks for everyone's help on this issue, i recently purchased the kit from TSM for the rear brake kit that came with 5.5 rotors but i could get those redrilled and use the axles from the years/cars you mentioned.. I wonder which would be cheaper to do in the long run. I know i can find 5X4.5 rims cheaper but after having the rotors redrilled and getting new axles i might be better off just sticking with the 5x5.5? Anyone have thoughts on this? Also is there a reason for them having 5x5.5 rather than 5X4.5.. is 5.5 stronger and used for trucks or is it just something they decided too change over the years? Thanks again everyone.
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From: Simi Valley, CA
For the front you will have to have your rotors redrilled by a machine shop ,cost me $80 or so a pair when we have them done, the above mentioned late model explorer parts will bolt on if your backing plate/mounting flange is 3.5x2,then you can then have the axles redrilled also,
or you need 2 driver's side axles from a 1977-79 T-bird, 73-79 Cougar or Montego, 72-79 Torino, Ranchero, or LTD II. I will go back through my notes from previous builds but It seems like these cars had the right length,and 28 spline This is correct, but not all these left axles are the same.
and the early 80's F100/ 4.5" bolt pattern trucks had 28 spline 9" rears(too wide for earlier trucks),and the front rotors use the same bearings/seals as the earlier F150 but unfortunatly will not mate up to the 73=79 spindle,bearing placement is differsnt and will not allow the 4.5 bolt pattern rotor to go fully onto the spindle.
or you need 2 driver's side axles from a 1977-79 T-bird, 73-79 Cougar or Montego, 72-79 Torino, Ranchero, or LTD II. I will go back through my notes from previous builds but It seems like these cars had the right length,and 28 spline This is correct, but not all these left axles are the same.
and the early 80's F100/ 4.5" bolt pattern trucks had 28 spline 9" rears(too wide for earlier trucks),and the front rotors use the same bearings/seals as the earlier F150 but unfortunatly will not mate up to the 73=79 spindle,bearing placement is differsnt and will not allow the 4.5 bolt pattern rotor to go fully onto the spindle.
These passenger car left axleshafts are not all the same length.
And...
Some of these passenger cars used both 8" and 9" rear ends.
Some of these 9" axle shafts have a 5.00" bolt pattern, some have a 4.50" bolt pattern.
1972/75 Torino/Montego/Ranchero 9" axleshafts are not the same length as 1975/76 Torino, or 1977/79 LTD II/Ranchero etc.
A 1971/73 Cougar is a 1971/73 Mustang under the skin, so uses the same axles as a 1971/73 Mustang.
1974 and later: The Cougar is a Torino/Thunderbird/LTD II/Mark 1V, Mark V under the skin.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1980/83 F100's with or without the 4.50" bolt circle, have 31 spline axle shafts.
There is no parts catalog listing after 1979 for F100's with 28 splined axleshafts.
Only 1975/86 E100/150's used 28 splined axleshafts.
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