upgrading brakes

[crazypete]

I just got back from NH, completing the parts to the old FMS rear disc brake kit m-2300-c. It's bascially the same as the 87-88 turbocoupe rear brakes. 10 inch rotors. Lemme tell ya.......

I took 1 look at the pads on the rear brakes and it was _APPARENT_ to me that even the ford engineers knew that the rear brakes do practically nothing at all. The pads are TINY, maybe 1/3 of the stock fronts (ok, maybe 40% of the size). There were 2 enthusaists present and when I asked them if that rear brake swap is gonna help me they said it was mostly an aestetic change for the stuff I was holding.. I dont know, maybe its different for some 11.5 inch rear disc setup with huge pads and calipers. If you're gonna do a rear swap, get a kit with monster rear equiptment cause this factory stuff just doesnt look the part at all.

so if a budget is any concern, I recommend.......

Concentrating on the fronts. They do 70% of the braking anyway. You can get the 2 73mm svo/lincoln calipers from carparts.com for $50 and hawk pads for another $50. You'll be so happy you did it. I just tossed mine in all willy nilly and what a difference! I could barely stop before on my lightened mustang and now I get nosedive! Word! Cost me 110 bucks plus shipping.

Have fun!