How bad are stock brakes??

[BLUEMERC]

Since I have never driven a mid eighties Fox except my wifes, I don't know what is acceptable. They kinda remind me of my first 65GTO and it's 9" drum brakes. They where OK unless you opened the 4bbl on the 389 and then needed to stop quickly. You might do it but you just weren't sure it would. :roll: I am keeping the 4lugs so is there any mastercylinder mod or something else(cheap/simple) that would give me more confidence in them? When I got the car I just replaced the pads & shoes with no more than a quick rough-up of the rotors/drums with some sandpaper and a very thorough bleeding. Maybe just a REAL brake job would make them feel better. :?: What do you guys that don't have excessive power feel about the adequacy(is that a word?) of the stock brakes for normal street fun?

BLUEMERC :D

[Lizardking]

In my 30 years of driving Im guessing Ive logged over 500,000 miles.

I dont drive my cars on the track.

Ive never had an issue with oem brakes.

I just make sure they are in good repair and operating properly.

In my opinion, unless you are racing, the money is spent better on other mods.

Im sure there are those who will disagree.

[Mustang Marty]

Upgrade the front brakes to the 87-93 Mustang's 11" brakes and use the Lincoln 73MM caliper. This will make a major improvement over stock while maintaining your 4lugs. You will need the spindles, rotors, and calipers. This should make a big difference. I have this on my 85 McLaren, along with the SVO rear disks, and the car braking was greatly improved.


The Fox Brake Bible...

http://www.svo73mm.cjb.net./

[BLUEMERC]

Would replacing the master cylinder with the bigger bore version help even without putting bigger rotors/calipers on ?

BLUEMERC

[Chuck W]

Not really, it will just screw up your pedal modulation....

The stock Fox brakes really suck, every one I have at least gets the SN-95 11" stuff (99+).

If you really want to stay with the stock stuff, good pads and perhaps upgrading to braided stainless brake lines will help with feel. The stock rubber stuff will expand, esp as it gets older, under pressure. Even if it's just the two front lines it will make a difference. I say this because you can probably find kits for 79-86 Mustangs and the fronts will fit, but the rear center line may not (not certain).

[FoxChassis]

FYI: Front SN95 ('94+) brakes measure 11" for the base (V6) and GT models and 13" for the Cobra. Rear measures 10" for base/GT and 11.65" for Cobra. Rear base/GT is solid and Cobra is vented.

[Chuck W]

FYI: Front SN95 ('94+) brakes measure 11" for the base (V6) and GT models and 13" for the Cobra. Rear measures 10" for base/GT and 11.65" for Cobra. Rear base/GT is solid and Cobra is vented.

Right, I say the 99+ 11" at least as they use the better AL PBR 2-piston calipers.

[twister]

FYI: Front SN95 ('94+) brakes measure 11" for the base (V6) and GT models and 13" for the Cobra. Rear measures 10" for base/GT and 11.65" for Cobra. Rear base/GT is solid and Cobra is vented.

Right, I say the 99+ 11" at least as they use the better AL PBR 2-piston calipers.PBR calipers are great, the larger Cobra/Mach/Vette ones are 8 pounds loaded, lighter than the stock tiny ones!

[BLUEMERC]

I adjusted the rear drums and that helped quite a bit. Probably hadn't played with them for a couple of years, my bad! I guess I should go over them carefully and just make sure everything is OK and maybe they will be adequate.

BLUEMERC

[LTDScott]

I adjusted the rear drums and that helped quite a bit. Probably hadn't played with them for a couple of years, my bad! I guess I should go over them carefully and just make sure everything is OK and maybe they will be adequate.

BLUEMERC

What are these "drums" you speak of?

:twisted:

[FoxChassis]

FYI: Front SN95 ('94+) brakes measure 11" for the base (V6) and GT models and 13" for the Cobra. Rear measures 10" for base/GT and 11.65" for Cobra. Rear base/GT is solid and Cobra is vented.

Right, I say the 99+ 11" at least as they use the better AL PBR 2-piston calipers.

So '93 Cobra R and '94-'98 Cobra/R dual-piston PBR calipers are cast iron?

[twister]

FYI: Front SN95 ('94+) brakes measure 11" for the base (V6) and GT models and 13" for the Cobra. Rear measures 10" for base/GT and 11.65" for Cobra. Rear base/GT is solid and Cobra is vented.

Right, I say the 99+ 11" at least as they use the better AL PBR 2-piston calipers.

So '93 Cobra R and '94-'98 Cobra/R dual-piston PBR calipers are cast iron?I think that he is talking only about non Cobra's....99+, all have PBR's

[FoxChassis]

Ok then do a hybrid combination of '94/'95 spindles, 11" rotors, and '99 V6/GT calipers. If you're going throguht the trouble of converting, might as well do 13" Cobra brakes though. Although wheel diameter dictates max. rotor diameter.

I specifically say '94/'95 spindles because '96+ pushes the wheels out almost another 1/3" (8mm). That's gonna pose a fender clearance problem when you also are putting on wider wheels and tires. I for one am not thrilled with having to roll fenders just to gain clearance.

[Chuck W]

Yes, that's why I said '99+ 11" ;)

Even with the similar sized rotor as the early stuff, the 11" PBR stuff is a much nicer brake set-up than the earlier stuff.

Yes, I prefer the 13" Cobra stuff, but on a daily driver, or one you don't plan on running 17" wheels on, the 99+ V6/GT stuff is a good upgrade. That's what I'm running on the front of the Z-7. The Tbird has the Cobra stuff ;)

The 94-95 spindles also have the outer tie rod attachement on the "proper" location as well. It was lowered 1" in '96.

[r93lightning]

Stops the Fairmont after 1/4 mile pass of 9.62 141 mph without going off end of track.actually has stopped it when it ran 9.20 in 1/4

[BLUEMERC]

Stops the Fairmont after 1/4 mile pass of 9.62 141 mph without going off end of track.actually has stopped it when it ran 9.20 in 1/4

Yeah, my 494cidGTO stops in the quarter with 9" front and 11" DRUM BRAKES too. Don't we get another 1/4 to 1/2 mile to stop??!! :lol: :roll:

Usually don't get that much on the highway!! ;)

Took off the overload shocks in back that came with the car and replaced them with some Sensa-Tracs. WOW, what a difference! The overloads combined with my springs ended up with probably two inches MAX extension left so on panic braking the rear would lock up and just skid. Now the car rides smoother, corners much better and stops better! :D
I am liking this car ALOT!! I hope I can get this thing to get 20plus mpg so I can drive it for work and let my wife drive my 99Ranger.

BLUEMERC

[Dean_T]

Street wise, my '78 Friggin' Futura used to stop okay with the crappy stock brakes. I guess since the 302 was only rated a whopping California emissions 134HP, it didn't need better brakes!

Dean T