86 GT Brake Upgrade (What E-brake cables?)

Redfire 05

New Member
Apr 6, 2005
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Lubbock, TX
So I'm finally upgrading the brakes on my 86' GT. Compared to my 05 GT the braking is scary bad. Here is what I've purchased:
Front
13" Rotors, Spindles, Lines, Dual Piston Calipers, Backing Plates all from a 97 Cobra

Rear
11.65" Rotors, Lines, Caliper Brakets, backing plates, single piston calipers from a 00' Cobra and SN95 Axles.

What do I need to do about the emergncy brake lines. Will the stock lines work or do I need to do something else? Furthermore, I know I'll probably need adapters for the 86' to SN95 brake lines, but what else will I need. In particular what problems should I look out for when doing the conversion? I know the track width is a little wider with the modular spindles (8mm) and the SN95 axles are wider (.75"), but I'm planning on running 17x8 wheels in the front and rear so that should be okay I think. Anyone with experince doing this swap?
 
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I did the same conversion on my 86 Gt a couple mos ago..You will need the sn95/Cobra rear caliper to housing lines ( NAPA part #'s 38072 and 38071, about 15 bucks each), and you will need to cut and flare the existing hard lines and install the new fitting...or you could buy an adaptor to adapt the existing line to the sn95 line, but you will need to figure out how to bend the line to take up the excess length. I would reccomend installing the SN95 booster and master cyl. as well... I tried to get by with the SVO master cyl and stock 86 booster....but it will not give you the kind of performance the brakes are capable of. You WILL need to "massage" the strut tower a bit to get the huge SN booster in, but its not that bad....and well worth it IMO. If you decide to install the SN master cyl you will have to either find adaptors or cut and flare the prop valve to m.c. lines as I did....the SN m.c. has metric fittings while the stock 86/linclon/SVO unit has sae threads... I do have the NAPA part #'s of the proper fittings if you decide to go this route ( PM me if you need this info). You will also need an adaptor to fit the SN front brake line to the chassis hard line on the drivers side ( I have that part # as well if you need it) . I did take some pics of the install as well so if you get stuck or have any questions....let me know!:nice:
 
RBRANDX said:
I did the same conversion on my 86 Gt a couple mos ago..You will need the sn95/Cobra rear caliper to housing lines ( NAPA part #'s 38072 and 38071, about 15 bucks each), and you will need to cut and flare the existing hard lines and install the new fitting...or you could buy an adaptor to adapt the existing line to the sn95 line, but you will need to figure out how to bend the line to take up the excess length. I would reccomend installing the SN95 booster and master cyl. as well... I tried to get by with the SVO master cyl and stock 86 booster....but it will not give you the kind of performance the brakes are capable of. You WILL need to "massage" the strut tower a bit to get the huge SN booster in, but its not that bad....and well worth it IMO. If you decide to install the SN master cyl you will have to either find adaptors or cut and flare the prop valve to m.c. lines as I did....the SN m.c. has metric fittings while the stock 86/linclon/SVO unit has sae threads... I do have the NAPA part #'s of the proper fittings if you decide to go this route ( PM me if you need this info). You will also need an adaptor to fit the SN front brake line to the chassis hard line on the drivers side ( I have that part # as well if you need it) . I did take some pics of the install as well so if you get stuck or have any questions....let me know!:nice:

That sounds great. As soon as the parts all come in I'll take a look at things and decide if I want to use adapters or not, but I'll probably PM you at some point in the next few weeks.

I read some of the other posts about using the SN95 brake booster, some work and some don't. Since I'm on a budget here (and it's a second car) I'll try it with the Lincoln MC and stock BB at first, but if it doesn't work out I'll upgrade to the SN95 BB when money is availible.
 
Redfire 05 said:
That sounds great. As soon as the parts all come in I'll take a look at things and decide if I want to use adapters or not, but I'll probably PM you at some point in the next few weeks.

I read some of the other posts about using the SN95 brake booster, some work and some don't. Since I'm on a budget here (and it's a second car) I'll try it with the Lincoln MC and stock BB at first, but if it doesn't work out I'll upgrade to the SN95 BB when money is availible.

For the very minimal cost, I would purchase the BB now and install it as it will be easier to do while you have everything apart, rather than trying to fit it in there after the fact! Its always easier to do it right the first time!!!
 
I agree, I have had my car apart 3 times to complete the end result I have now...I got my SN booster from NAPA ( 94 up mustang gt/v6) for around $75. I did take some pics of the install that you may find helpfull, let me know if you want to take a look...Basically what you have to do is elongate the stock mounting holes on the firewall and "move" the strut tower in about a quarter inch. Abd yes, on our cars (1986) you WILL have to modify the strut tower...it was the 89 and later foxes that had the strut tower redesign..