Question on brake calipers.

[82boy]

Hi Guys I just got a set of spindles to change out on my 82gt to the bigger 11" brakes.(Thanks to silverfive0 Ray you are the man) i need to get new calipers. what is the best way to go?

i have heard about the 87-88 mark vII calipers. i called the parts store and they have a steel piston caliper and the other caliper both are i belive he said 73cc pistons what ever they are they are the same excpt for the pistons. the steel piston ones are a bit more money.

i have also heard about the 82-82 continental calipers but never check on them.

last off i have also heard of a crown vic caliper with a police option. not sure on what years my guess would be late 80's.

i have a manual brake set up and want to get whats best. will thier be an issue with going with the biger calipers and fluid capisity on my master cylinder? i value everyones opion you guys have healped me out alot. please let me know i would like to do this swap quick

also to add I have a ranger manual master cyl. and am concerend about fluid capisity of the larger pistons callipers also added pedal effort. please let me know for my car with the 82 brakes and the manual brakes already had a lot of pedal effort. again thanks

[lx460]

If you are worried about added pedal effort listen well:

DO NOT SWITCH TO MANUAL BRAKES!

They are horrible and you will hate your car.

If you are cost conscious and want to upgrade your brakes just go with the 87-93 V8 setup. I assume you already have new or resurfaced rotors?If you don't you'll need to get them and the corresponding wheel bearings and seal from a 87-93.You'll also need to get or fabricate some spacers for you struts. Big washers will work fine. The early spindles are wider than the new ones where the struts attach (why???)so you'll have to compensate. The master cylinder/booster you have, as long as it is in good condition, should work fine.

You didn't say but do you have the stock 87-93 calipers and hoses too? If not you'll need a new set of soft lines too, as the one on your car will not work with the new calipers.

You will notice difference between the 79-86 and the 87-93 setup. The difference between the 60mm calipers and the 73mm calipers is negligible. Unless doing measured , controlled braking tests, I don't think you would be able to tell the difference.

If you still want to convert to the 73mm caliper setup check this out:
http://www.foureyedpride.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=8974&highlight=

[QTRMILE]

If you are worried about added pedal effort listen well:

DO NOT SWITCH TO MANUAL BRAKES!



lol, that's no kidding. Although I only brake at the end of the track, so I really don't care about that. If you want an idea, unplug your booster vacuum line (be sure to plug the line) and see how you like them. They won't be quite that bad, but it gives you and idea.

FWIW, I run Autozone sourced 73mm Lincoln calipers. I slow my POS down from 124 mph well before the first return road turn off. With the old stock 10" brakes and doing 117 I barely got it stopped before the beanfield at the end of the track at Cordova...

[mikejb]

http://www.corral.net/tech/handling/tech_brakes.html

[qtrracer]

http://svo73mm.cjb.net/