MustangWorks.com - The Ford Mustang Power Source!

Go Back   MustangWorks.com : Ford Forums > Mustang & Ford Tech > Classic Mustangs
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Mark Forums Read

Notices


Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 07-10-2002, 08:09 PM   #1
Budiak
Registered Member
 
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 47
Default Rotors?

So I've noticed that my stang has 4lug wheels, and every other one I have EVER SEEN is five lugs. is this because I have a straight six?

Anyways, how would I go about swapping it out for a five-lug setup? I dont really need disc brakes yet, so should I just go to a wrecking yard and grab the drums, rear rotors, and spindles?
Budiak is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2002, 11:29 AM   #2
Clark Rodgers
Registered Member
 
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Rowlett,Texas
Posts: 306
Default

Regretfully this is not easily fixed and yes it is because you have a six cylinder. The front not be that bad if you are just wanting to swap in spindles, hubs and drums. But the rear is a bigger issue, the only way to do this is change the axles. I would really consider the disc conversion up front to save you money doing this twice but if you can find some good used parts or even a good donor car, go for it.
__________________
69 393W Sportsroof deluxe
Clark Rodgers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2002, 12:39 PM   #3
fordkid68
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: fremont
Posts: 306
Default

Budiak- I have A strait six ith 4lug wheels also. it's cuz of the 7.5 rear end. for some reason tey decided to put 4lig wheels on there.(don't ask why)


Clark Rodgers is right you have to swap rear end in order to get A 5 lug wheels.

sorry I couldn't give you any new info.


ford kid
fordkid68 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2002, 03:47 PM   #4
Budiak
Registered Member
 
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 47
Default

I've never found disc brakes that offer four lugs. I dont have a problem with four lug rotors, but nobody offers anything for them!


Fordkid, did you stick with the drum brakes? I havent found any discs available ANYWHERE with four lug rotors.
Budiak is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-12-2002, 08:56 PM   #5
Rev
Registered Member
 
Rev's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 1998
Location: Houston, Tx.
Posts: 3,887
Default 4 lugs?

Actually, I think Stainless Steel Brake Corporation does make 4 lug disk conversions. I wouldn't recommend it though as it is an off beat conversion.

The smartest thing is to do a more "main stream" conversion using more reasonably priced parts. I would look for Granada/Monarch parts to get a front disk (5 lug) front end and a 9" posi (5 lug) drum brake rear. You probably will have to buy some new replacement parts to make all of this work. Guessing $1000-1500 for all of it. Expect more to get a posi center section in the desired ratio ($2000-2500 total).

Rev
__________________
'66 Coupe, 306, 350-375 HP, C-4, 13.07 e.t., 104.8 mph, 1/4 mi.

O.B.C. #2


'66 coupe
Rev is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-13-2002, 05:33 AM   #6
Budiak
Registered Member
 
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 47
Default

Do I really need a posi? I dont mind grabbing a 9" rear, but is posi really necessary if I'm just making a driver?

Besides, are the drum brakes really that shitty? I found out that the wheels I have are pretty clean looking stainless steel wheels, not the hubcap kind, they look pretty sharp if a little dirty, I'd like discs but if it just means I'm going to have to spend 2500 bucks to change out everything, is it even worth it for the stopping power?
Budiak is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-13-2002, 06:56 AM   #7
werked 66
Registered Member
 
werked 66's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Brooklyn , New York
Posts: 45
Default

the best thing i have ever done is drop out the stock rear end with drum brake and put in a currie 9" took 10 minutes to put in {took longer to paint it} got the disc brake setup didnt have to do a thing except put it in
werked 66 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-14-2002, 12:51 AM   #8
fordkid68
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: fremont
Posts: 306
Default

Budiak yea I still have drum brakes on my stang. unless you are going to be putting more power under the hood the drum brakes will work fine. you said that you were building A driver so it doesn't sound like you are going to be racing it. so I think drum brakes will be fine. they have worked for me so far with out A problem. even when I have to stop in A hury they never fail me.


ford kid
fordkid68 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-14-2002, 12:59 AM   #9
Budiak
Registered Member
 
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 47
Default

Hey, awesome. I dont plan on racing it at all, too dangerous, and I dont want to spend that much money because well, I dont have any.

As for the drum brakes, if I do keep them until I plan on someday putting something bigger in there, is there some sort of drum brake rebuilt kit that I should get and use on them? I dont know if they've ever been rebuilt, etc.
Budiak is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2002, 02:52 PM   #10
John Z
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Feb 1999
Posts: 102
Default

Not really a kit for rebuilding drum brakes. The brakes consist of a drum, that you take to the machine shop to see if it needs to be turned to have a smooth surface, springs, shoes and cylinders. These are all available from most auto parts stores. You can get cylinder rebuild kits, but I always just use new cylinders. It is not usually necessary to replace all the springs, just good practice. You should get a repair manual to guide you through the process. HTH
__________________
68 coupe, 302 w/ Edelbrock performance parts, T5, 3.55 rear, needs paint!
John Z is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2002, 03:33 PM   #11
Jeff65
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Oklahoma City
Posts: 208
Default

Quote:
Originally posted by Budiak
Do I really need a posi? I dont mind grabbing a 9" rear, but is posi really necessary if I'm just making a driver?

Besides, are the drum brakes really that shitty? I found out that the wheels I have are pretty clean looking stainless steel wheels, not the hubcap kind, they look pretty sharp if a little dirty, I'd like discs but if it just means I'm going to have to spend 2500 bucks to change out everything, is it even worth it for the stopping power?
Do I really need a posi? No, in fact a posi is not all that good to have on the street for normal driving. Here's why...posi (limited slip) and locking rear ends increase tire wear and can act poorly under certain conditions. Examples of conditions are rounding a curve in wet weather. If you acclerate out of a corner in bad weather, the limited slip can reduce your control of the car by locking up and subsequently breaking traction. To avoid this situation on rainy days you have to be more careful entering curves at lower speeds to avoid your natural reaction to press on the accelerator while coming out of the curve.

Are drum brakes shitty? No, they've been in use for years longer than disc brakes. In fact, drum brakes have more surface area and stop your car with lower effort than disc brakes. Were it not for power brake boosters, most folks would opt for drum brakes. Drum brakes have two annoying properties that disc brakes do not have. Drum brakes heat up faster and consequently the shoes and drum distort. This leads to uneven stopping power. Thus, if you do three successive high speed quick stops, drum brakes will inevitably fade and lose some braking effectiveness. On well designed drum brakes it will take several quick stops before this becomes noticible. Drum brakes perform poorly when wet. This is true, you have to be careful to keep your drum brakes dry else it can feel like you have none. The reason this happens is because drum brakes have a large surface area and use lower hydraulic pressure than disc brakes. Disc brake design provides a lot more pressure (psi) on the rotor than drum brakes do. This provides disc brake stopping power when wet. The bottom line here is drum brakes will work fine for you as long as you understand they have characteristics unlike disc brakes. In normal driving they stop your car just as well as disc brakes do.
Jeff65 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2002, 05:42 PM   #12
Rev
Registered Member
 
Rev's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 1998
Location: Houston, Tx.
Posts: 3,887
Default

I drove my car for years with 4 wheel drum brakes. The problem arises when everyone else can stop quicker than you can. I encountered this problem several times on the the freeways of Houston when cars ahead wold stop quickly for one reason or the other. I never actually rear ended anyone, but it was clear that they had more stopping power than I did. Those experiences made me do a Granada front disk conversion.

Rev
__________________
'66 Coupe, 306, 350-375 HP, C-4, 13.07 e.t., 104.8 mph, 1/4 mi.

O.B.C. #2


'66 coupe
Rev is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2002, 08:40 PM   #13
Budiak
Registered Member
 
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 47
Default

I think I'll rebuild my drums, have them turned, etc.
Budiak is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2002, 08:45 PM   #14
Rev
Registered Member
 
Rev's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 1998
Location: Houston, Tx.
Posts: 3,887
Default I did that.

I did that and they're gonna suck. Oh, well.

Rev
__________________
'66 Coupe, 306, 350-375 HP, C-4, 13.07 e.t., 104.8 mph, 1/4 mi.

O.B.C. #2


'66 coupe
Rev is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-20-2002, 03:29 AM   #15
Budiak
Registered Member
 
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 47
Default

Wait, arent you the one that said that you had 4 wheel drums and they were fine?
Budiak is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-20-2002, 10:24 PM   #16
Rev
Registered Member
 
Rev's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 1998
Location: Houston, Tx.
Posts: 3,887
Default

I said that I drove it for some years with drums (5 lug) but that I almost rear ended cars on the freeway when they stopped quickly. That made me do the disk conversion.

Don't mean to sound like a know-it-all here. I'm just trying to keep you from wasting a bunch of money like I did.

Rev
__________________
'66 Coupe, 306, 350-375 HP, C-4, 13.07 e.t., 104.8 mph, 1/4 mi.

O.B.C. #2


'66 coupe

Last edited by Rev; 07-21-2002 at 03:22 PM..
Rev is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2002, 08:40 AM   #17
Jeff65
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Oklahoma City
Posts: 208
Default

I agree if you drive your car daily in traffic the disc conversion is quite worth the money spent. OTOH, if you drive your car once in awhile, to/from shows, the drums will be fine; just stop following so close like you do in your other driver!
Jeff65 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
95GT Front Rotors pepprdog Stang Stories 0 01-15-2002 11:58 AM
Cross Drilled Rotors - Who uses them? 2FastLX Windsor Power 6 09-29-2001 12:05 AM
Brake Rotors 93GTDIN Windsor Power 6 09-06-2001 08:55 AM
Update on my scraping rotors RMARIANI Windsor Power 0 09-05-2001 09:28 AM
Drilled front rotors Danielz9 Corner Carvers Delight 3 06-14-2000 01:00 AM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:57 AM.


SEARCH