Granada/Versailles disk brake questions

[65up2d8]

Let me apologize up front for the long post, but I searched the F.A.Q. page and the internet for the questions I am about to pose to no avail (by the way, many of the links on the F.A.Q. page in the talk section are inoperative). I have '78 Granada front disks and '77 Versailles disks on the rear of my '65 coupe, which were a huge improvement over the original 4 wheel drums. However, as should be all too familiar in this hobby, I'd like a little more performance. Therefore, I'd like to pose the following questions:

1. Has anyone tried the 4 wheel PBR caliper upgrade that has been discussed in previous threads? If so, was the increase in braking performance significant, and what did it cost?

2. What size are the Lincoln Versailles rear rotors? My internet research indicates 10.5", but I'd like to verify. (car is 2.5 hours away at the moment so I can't exactly measure).

3. Does anyone offer larger/cross-drilled/slotted upgrade rotors for the Granada front disks or Lincoln Versailles rear disks? Baer offers them for several later models but not for this particular setup. (see http://www.streetortrack.com/baer-brakes.asp if you're interested).

4. Has anyone yet tried the late-model 2003 Cobra front disk brake conversion from Mustang Steve? I think this is probably the way to go on the front, but I'd like to hear a little about results.

5. Given the fact that anywhere from 2/3 to 3/4 of the braking power comes from the front brakes, does anyone see a need to upgrade the Versailles rear disks if I go with the late-model 2003 Cobra front disk brake conversion from Mustang Steve? I'm thinking not, particularly if I could find a rotor and/or caliper upgrade for the Versailles rear as has already been mentioned above, but I would appreciate everyone's thoughts. P.S. I am running a cabin mounted Wilwood adjustable proportioning valve.

6. Finally, as was discussed on a previous thread, I have no emergency brake provision for the Versailles rear. Unfortunately, the previous thread is of no help to me whatsoever at this point because I have no e-brake cables at all, much less the required brackets, etc. All of that was a lost cause at the time of conversion, and I had seen a slick e-brake setup that used a driveshaft mounted rotor and caliper for an e-brake. Has anyone seen or used this setup? If so, what company sells it, and does it work well?

I sincerely appreciate any thoughts or suggestions on these issues.

 

[bnickel]

do a search on ebay for TMD the mustang depot, not the same mustang depot you see in all the mags. they offer a slotted rotor for the granada front brakes and they may have something for the versailles rear but not sure on the rear.

the versailles rear rotors are 11" units, somewhere we have discussed the possibility of using larger rotors by making a spacer that goes in between the stock 2 stock brackets and using longer bolts. i don't know if anyone has tried it yet though.

can't help you much with the other questions but i think lokar has brake cables for the versailles rear.

 

[danny clemens]

I have never driven and old Mustang with rear discs. I have driven newer vehicles with and without the rear discs. I can't tell any difference in any of them as far as braking goes. Unless you are racing or wanting them for looks I would see no real advantage in having them.

Just my opinion. Others might think that they are the best thing since the invention of ice cream.

 

[bnickel]

the rear discs are actually better than drums because they dissipate heat better and therefore don't fade as quickly as drums and they work better in the wet. however, they do have their drawbacks because the parking brake doesn't work as well, especially on 65-68 stangs that have the parking brake handle under the dash. 69 and later mustangs had a foot operated pedal so you can get more leverage when applying the parking brake but even still the discs don't hold quite as well, though i've never had a problem with the parking brake on a rear disc car that used the caliper and rotor as the park brake.

some of the newer rear disc setups and even 73 (i think) and up corvettes use a rear disc for the regular braking and have a smaller drum inside for the parking brake, like the explorer and crown vic setups. this setup is actually the best of both worlds, you can have the better heat dissipation, fade resistance and wet weather capability of disc brakes and the much better parking brake of a drum style setup.

the drawback to the explorer setup is the solid rear rotor instead of a vented rotor, i'm not sure if the crown vic is the same or not.

as far the original question about the versailles rear barkes, since you already have them i wouldn't change them out, they are pretty effective as is. you do need to make sure they are adjusted correctly and keep the caliper slides lubed good and you shouldn't have a problem with them, also make sure to use the parking brake frequently as that is what keeps the calipers in adjustment.

there are major improvements to be had in the front as you probably know already, the slotted rotors are a good upgrade but the granada calipers leave much room for improvement on a modified car, for a stock cruiser they work just fine though. try the PBR caliper conversion and the slotted rotors and use a good semi-met or ceramic pad and you should be good to go.

 

[usedtobe 67p51d]

rear disc are worth the cost,I started the thread about the spacer idea due to the punney size of the vers. disc 10" ! I haven't bought a set of the larger rotors but I have the part #'s I think that the explorer rotors wich is another popular change is fine for the street, I would not use it for a big 350 hp or stronger car on the roadcourses

Drums will stop a car well, as long as it doesn't have to do it more than three times in a row withen a 2 minute time

other factors are tires, weight , gearbox {autos need more brakes}
airflow a lower car holds more heat, a car with steel wheels holds more heat, wheel choice is critical

the vers. disc. are spendy the calipers are HEAVY they double as paperweights!
and the stock hoses are $ more than going braided

the 9" that comes with the vers. is great for a 64-6 stang, it's also fine for 67-70 stangs that need more clearance, my 67 has the vers. rear-end and vintage wheel works torque thrust d's 16x8 with 245-50-16 mich pilot sports and the wheels look like they're tucked in 1/2" to far if I spend more cash on the car I'll add longer studs and toss in some spacers to push the wheels out alittle further not just for looks but to try and get some more rear-end bite

By the way if you look from the front on '67 up cars with the vers. conv. you'll notice that the cars a "bulldog" the front wheels are further out than the fronts!

I've wonder if this is one of the reasons that if you get the car loose that it's damn near imposible to recover Jim Bremner

 

[Loup-garou]

(snip)
5. Given the fact that anywhere from 2/3 to 3/4 of the braking power comes from the front brakes, does anyone see a need to upgrade the Versailles rear disks if I go with the late-model 2003 Cobra front disk brake conversion from Mustang Steve? I'm thinking not, particularly if I could find a rotor and/or caliper upgrade for the Versailles rear as has already been mentioned above, but I would appreciate everyone's thoughts. P.S. I am running a cabin mounted Wilwood adjustable proportioning valve.
(snip)

Have you checked your Versailles axle housing to see if it's the one that can be converted to Explorer calipers? Either Mustang Steve or Ultrastang has the specifications on his webpage - I forget which. That conversion would gain you more modern, highly available parts, lighter weight calipers and a better e-brake system (if your axle housing is correct). If that parts swap works for you, there are drilled rotors for the Explorer rear brakes.