C9 question.....disc brakes on an early 9 inch rear

[Roothawg]

Just thought I would throw this out for giggles.
On the next incarnation of my 36 Ford p/u, I want 4 wheel disc brakes. I am in search of a 57 Ford housing and would like to throw on some aftermarket brackets to accept the discs. I know they aren't cool and trendy but I want to stop this thang if need be.

Who has the best aftermarket setup that looks nice and clean?
Secondly......what aboutthe size of resevoirs on a standard mustang master cylinder? I am planning on power brakes as well.

Thanks in advance.

Root

[choprods]

Hi Root'/I'm NOT C9- but heres what us shadetree guys would do..........
I had a 57 ford wagon rear/Put discs on it this way.....
Bought Speedy Bill's weld on bracket for a 3" housing[18.00]

then bought a new set of parts house rotors [for a '80 LINC- Versailles REAR][rt and left/ARE vented directional][75.00].

THEN a pair of 1980 Malibu FRONT [they're floatig type]calipers/pads[50.00].

I had to do two things to make it all work.

First I had the outerflange[around bolt circle] on axles cut down a few K'Hairs http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif, along with trimming the center part a little that sticks thru centering hole. This allows 57 axle to fit inside versailles rotor hat.


next-I cut a litle more out of the 3" radius cut on his bracket[where it fits to hsg] to allow the caliper and pads to center on the rotor surface.

Welded the brackets to rear end and WHAMMO!I HAD REAL BRAKES...... /for not too much money-http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[19Fordy]

Choprods: I have a 1973 Mustang 9 inch housing- small bearings- with 28 spline axles. Will your set up work on my rear too. thanx. jim http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[tootallrodder]

Be carefull welding on the mustang rear end housing. I had a 69 9" which I was extremely carefull about welding new spring pads on. It warped pretty easily. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[HotRod31]

I put them on small bearing 9 inchers with no problems. Speedway sells 2 diff. brackets 1 for old full size calipers & 1 for the newer metric calipers (which is what I use)Only thing diff. is I use front rotors off '91 Lincoln Town car. They are HATS just like the rear, but they are not directionally vented, & only cost 30 bucks new at the parts house. Also using the metric calipers you must adapt them to standard lines or AN.

Later, Mark

[abe lugo]

There is a guy on ebay that sells brackets for about 80.00 with these bracket you use cadillac calipers and for lincon rotors. your supposed to you the cadillac rotors if you want built in e-brakes.

[choprods]

all good info Roothawg BUT what I used was the stock front brake hose for the '80 malibu so it fits.
also the 57 has a larger diam flange than some newer rear axles so they may fit in the rotors untouched-but the 57 will not.

[46stude]

Here's the best way I have seen to do the rear disc conversion on small bearing Ford 8 & 9 inchers-
http://fordsix.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1285&highlight=

[Flat Ernie]

A couple places sell the discs w/internal drum for parking brake - maybe not for small bearing housing though - check w/Currie. Their prices are high, but don't mean you gotta buy from them.

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[Roothawg]

I was looking at just buying a Currie housing if I can't find a good used 57' 9 inch. Wonder if the bearings are smaller? I know the wagons had heavier bearings.....or at least I think they did. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[C9]

You're asking the wrong guy on this question Mr. Root.
Haven't done a rear disc brake setup, but I've thought about it a bit.

If I was bucks up I'd spring for the complete kit from one of the two street rod brake supply guys (forget which one).
I think they use Caddy or Vette rotors in back and the kit used to run about $500.
A chunk of change, but everything is brand new and ready to go.
Once you price out the components required you may find the kit really isn't that expensive.

However, I like what ChopRods did with the Speedy Bill brackets and would probably go that way.

My big dislike with the rear disc brakes is the E-Brake problems you get into.
Not gonna get into the 9" Lincoln Versaille bit with all the teensy pieces that are most times missing at the junkyards and no longer available.

Nor do I care for the disc that bolts onto the diff's companion flange.
It looks like it would work great for the E-Brake bit, but stacking things with long bolts where copious amounts of torque are going to be applied doesn't appeal to me either.

One thing I can't figure out is why more people don't use the late 80's - early 90's Mustang 8.8" rear end.
It comes with reasonable gear ratios (2.73, 3.08 and others are available), disc brakes and a locking diff.
Not to mention it's about the right width for street rods.
They're plenty strong enough for our light weight cars.
As witnessed by the ten second Mustangs that run them.
Only problem with them I see is the 4-bolt wheel pattern.
That perhaps cured by re-drilling the axle flange for five bolts or cutting down the Ranger 5-bolt axles.
(Not sure if either is possible nor am I aware of a taper on the Ranger axle that would prevent easy narrowing.)

And if you're not particularly interested in disc brakes, the 4 x 4 Ranger comes with this same rear end albeit a touch wider and the gearing (for the 2.9L V6) is 3.74.
Although you're stuck with drum brakes here - which for many of us isn't a bad option and the E-Brake problem is already taken care of.... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Roothawg]

I have thought about the 8.8 but......if I do that I might as well go with the Caddy rear end. I would have to modify either one and they are both ugly. I am just a Ford 9" guy.

As far as kits, you are probably right. The kits don't look all that bad as far as pricing, once you put a pencil to it.
I was just hoping that someone could provide some input on the quality of the kits.

El Polacko may be the guy to ask........he's prolly busy making money tho'. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Flat Ernie]

[ QUOTE ]
One thing I can't figure out is why more people don't use the late 80's - early 90's Mustang 8.8" rear end.Only problem with them I see is the 4-bolt wheel pattern.


[/ QUOTE ]

The '94 & up 8.8 Mustang axles are standard 5x4.5" bolt pattern & the width, I'm pretty sure, is the same.

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