Disc Brake Kits...

[68rustang]

I am looking for input on what disc brake kits you guys have used (manufacturer and kit name/number please), what you though of them, and what you would do differently if you had to do it again?

I am leaning towards Wilwood #140-4304B I understand it moves the wheels out about 1/2" per side. Has this caused problems for anybody?

Who has used Baer? Which kit did you purchase? Thoughts?

Who has used SSBC? Which kit did you purchase? Thoughts?

I do not want an "OEM" type system, I am looking for something to match the updated feel of the whole car. Are there any I have missed and should consider?

I have a tax return burning a hole in my pocket.

**EDIT**

I have a set of Granada spindles but don't feel like using them.

 

[yeloxr7]

My front disk brake kit came from a Granada.....

 

[chepsk8]

Chepsk8 had the Granada brakes, and I used the Masterpower M/C & booster kit. Stopped on a dime & gave change!

BAER has a kit for the older ponies, though I'm not sure on the spindles needed. Also check Stainless Steel Brakes.

 

[68rustang]

BAER has a kit for the older ponies, though I'm not sure on the spindles needed. Also check Stainless Steel Brakes.

The Granada spindles I have are scored pretty bad. Somebody on here or www.mustangsteve.com sold them to me and claimed they were in "excellent" condition, well they weren't. They also weigh almost twice as much as the factory spindle sans brakes. Something like 11lbs vs 21lbs, I can't remember exactly, so there is a bunch of unsprung weight there. Also by the time I gather alle the PBR calipers and other stuff to do the Granada swap the way I would like I would have more money in it than most of the kits I have mentioned.

I have looked at Baer's website but it sucks, no real info. I think they can use either a drum or disc spindle, same as wilwood. I have emailed them and have yet to receive a response.

SSBC seams pretty expensive for what you are getting. Also not sure which kit would be best for my application.

Again I am just looking for info from those of you that have used different kits. You guys that would buy brand X over brand y, why?

Anybody that has used Wilwood? Did the 1/2" per side cause any problems?

 

[vobraman]

brakes

I did the SS Kit and got it thru Summit for the best price plus no shipping. The kit made all the difference in the world. No problems at all. I looked at the others and for what I wanted it was perfect.
good luck

 

[TT670]

Im using willwoods, but Im using late model wheels and want the added track width. Go to www.hotrodheaven.com and check out the brakes, you'll find the 65-73 mustang brakes listed under the subtopic "Other Brakes".They have wilwood kits for mustangs that DONT move the wheels out 1/2" and their prices are very good.

 

[68rustang]

I did the SS Kit and got it thru Summit for the best price plus no shipping. The kit made all the difference in the world. No problems at all. I looked at the others and for what I wanted it was perfect.
good luck

Which kit did you use?

Im using willwoods, but Im using late model wheels and want the added track width. Go to www.hotrodheaven.com and check out the brakes, you'll find the 65-73 mustang brakes listed under the subtopic "Other Brakes".They have wilwood kits for mustangs that DONT move the wheels out 1/2" and their prices are very good.

I am also using late model wheels. I have looked at www.hotrodheaven.com and if I go Wilwood will probably order from them. I have read the whole site and saw the special kits that DO NOT move the wheels out. I, Like you, could use the extra track width and don't see the justification for an extra $300.00.

 

[washMO66]

I did the SS Kit and got it thru Summit for the best price plus no shipping. The kit made all the difference in the world. No problems at all. I looked at the others and for what I wanted it was perfect.
good luck

How difficult was the install? It's advertised as 100% bolt on.

TB

 

[BobV]

I have the 4304 Wilwood kit. It does move everything out 3/8" - 1/2'"per side, and caused some wheel/tire headaches with the old 16x8 4.5" BS rims. If you purchase rims with additional backspace, it's NO problem, but that usually put you into custom backspace territory. My 17x8's are 5-1/8" BS.

My set has been on for about 6 years / 30k miles now (yeah, I was a "pioneer"), with no problems. I've got the Versailles disc rear, and the car stops pretty well for a 40+ year old car.

 

[68rustang]

Thank you BobV, that is the kind of feedback/response I am looking for. Wilwood, Baer, SSBC, let me hear what you guys think.

 

[streetgrande69]

Not real sure how you got a weight difference between Granada and stock spindles but I have both and with the caliber brackets off, both are real close. Maybe I just misread??
If you had a set of Granada's or '70-'73 Stang, I’d use them for the base of a kit, they are meatier and larger bearing contact area. But like you said, yours are already bad.

This is my set-up
Front
Baer “Track” with optional drilled/slotted/zinc wash
Rear
Baer “Touring” (I think is now called Track also) with the same options
Bought direct from Baer, wait was in my opinion excessive, around 3 months from first order to my door.

My old stock set-up.....

Brackets installed and hub in-place......

Size difference.....

Before with wheels....

After with wheels.........

The master cylinder that comes with the kit......mid 90's 5.0 mustang w/4x discs

Now for my critique....these actually are awesome brakes, stop well (when dry) and look good. The fronts are the pbr calibers from a late 90's cobra, bullet, or mach1. The rears calipers are from a mid 90's f-body. I got everything needed to install the system including braided hoses and parking brake cables.

Pros

Size=way better braking
Installation was no problem, direct bolt on.
Looks
​

Cons

Size, requires a 17" wheel
Poor and loud (in my opinion) wet performance
Rears require alot of brake lube on the pads to stop squeeking
All metric fasteners (not a real bigie)
Price

​

 

[avsfan42]

I too am looking for a disc brake conversion kit. I am trying to decide between SSBC and rod and custom motorsports. I have read many good things about the SSBC, but there are no posts about the rod and custom motorsports kit. Their kit is $250 cheaper than SSBC and they said it bolts on just as easy. I posted a thread yesterday about this but no one has replied. Both kits will work with 14" wheels which is important to me because I don't want to pay for new wheels and tires right now.

http://www.rcmotorsports.net/page11.html

 

[Pbum5]

I believe the R&C kit uses GM calipers.

 

[68rustang]

Not real sure how you got a weight difference between Granada and stock spindles but I have both and with the caliber brackets off, both are real close.

Thank you for the input on the Baer stuff. I weighed the Granada spindle with the caliper bracket because if I was using the spindle I would probably be using the bracket. Unless I did the late model Cobra caliper thing using a granada spindle but the spindles are smoked.

 

[68rustang]

I went to Super Summit 13 at Summit Racing today. It is always a pretty good show. I have never seen so many 67-68 mustangs, mostly fastbacks, at a non-ford only show. I will try and post a few picks later today. But anyway everything was 10% off in the retail store so I picked up a set of 4 KYB gas-a-just shocks and the Wilwood kit 140-4304B. I will be installing it in the next few days and will let you guys know what I think.

 

[1fstpony]

Brakes

I feel the best brake set-up out there for the money is the Baer Track system because you can get 13" slotted cross-drilled rotors (need 17" wheel) and everything else you need for only $995 from Classic Tube and they look the best also.The only bad part is that they are about 7 weeks behind.

 

[skywalker]

Having a wilwood front disk brake kit I can say, there was no track change (measured) and honestly, the kit and associated costs was no much greater than get a granada kit - after you account for spindles and the fact that you're likely to need to get alot of new parts with it.

 

[zm830101]

i installed the ssbc kit that mustangs plus sells with the pbr calipers in front and svo calipers in the rear. i got the slotted rotors with the kit. for the price i felt that i could have done much better in retrospect but i was only seventeen when i bought it. at the time all i cared about was having 4 wheel discs. as a comparison, my daily driver is a svt contour with a custom wilwood billet super lite 6 piston caliper in front clamping a 13x 1.10 inch 2 peice rotor. the rear are 11.75x .81 inch 2 peice rotors with stock calipers. even though the 'tour is heavier and i spent about 1/3 less on the brake system i am way more satisfied than with the ssbc kit. the wilwood parts are top notch and i am currently investigating a similar set up for the stang. if i had known then what i know now, i wouldn't have wasted my money on the ssbc kit. although it is a very complete kit, it is lacking in performance for the price you pay.

 

[Hack]

Having a wilwood front disk brake kit I can say, there was no track change (measured) and honestly, the kit and associated costs was no much greater than get a granada kit - after you account for spindles and the fact that you're likely to need to get alot of new parts with it.

spindles and cores $115 (junkyard)
Master cylinder $19
calipers with pads $80
rotors $100
hoses $10
lines $30

I spent about $350 for a Granada set up.

Edit: why can't I keep my big mouth shut? Sorry, this isn't a kit. I spent more time than I would have buying a kit.

 

[TT670]

Ive been down the granada path, my car was a freakin death trap with the different geometery that everyone seems to say is the same, or not different enought to make it noticeable. My experiences mirror BobV's granada experince to a tee. If you havent read his write up you should.