I tried searching with no luck. I am new to Mavericks and just got mine running after sitting for 18 years. It needs brakes and I was going to just order everything and go through them. I would like to have everything g on hand before I tear into them since I have limited garage availability. I didn’t realize there were so many size options. Is there a way to figure out what size brakes I should have without pulling the wheels and measuring the drums? My car is a stock 302 with a C4. I am assuming they are 10” front and rear but not sure what width. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks! Are both the front and rear the same 1-3/4” width? I am considering a front disk swap but the car is in very good shape with on 72k original miles on it so for now I am intending to keep it as stock as possible.
Brakes are the same size front & rear. There is no logical reason for keeping it "stock". Better brakes would help to ensure that the car stays in good shape...
... what is you mechanical skill level on a 1-10? front drum brakes can be scary to drive if not adjusted correctly.
i have a fair amount of experience with drum brakes so not concerned with getting them adjusted. I figure I’ll get the drums working properly and then decide if I want to move to discs in the future or if the drums are good enough.
I see your dilemma wanting to keep the car as original as possible. Understand the guys do have valid points about doing the brake conversion. More power needs better braking and with the 302, you could use it a bit more than us 6 banger guys. The technology in '72 hadn't gone to disc being a better choice from the factory quite yet. Conventional wisdom has changed quite a bit.
I'd be wise to pull a drum and measure... Ford Master Parts says 2½" front, 1¾" rear. Assumin' std wheel, remove dust cap, nut & bearing. Wheel & drum pulls off as assembly, that's how the state inspectors did it.
I have never had an issue with drum brakes up front and I raced my car for a couple years, yes disc brakes would be a better idea but if drum brakes are adjusted good they will do the job
Many other people (including me) have had problems with drum brakes up front. They are just flat-out inferior. My suggestion to upgrade is only because the car needs new brakes anyway, and now is the time for an upgrade IF possible. Finding spindles for the factory setup is the hard part. After-market systems are available but really depend on your budget. There's a reason disc brakes became standard on Mavericks in 1976, and it's not because the drums "worked just fine"...
These days probably biggest downfall of drum brakes is shoes do not match drum. Common to find only center three/four inches of shoe contacting drum.
The 2-1/2” option up front was what made me question what size they are. All pull a wheel and measure before I order. I appreciate the disc brake discussion and depending on how I end up driving this car I might go that direction in the future but haven’t researched the available parts/kits enough to make that commitment yet.
I believe the front drums do have a wider braking surface than the rear. It's been so long since I've had drum brakes up front (30 years), I had forgotten. I know the rears are 10"x1-3/4" for the 5-lug Mavericks. RockAuto lists only one size for the '72 Maverick in 10-inch diameter, so that "should" be correct...
"sitting for 18 years." being your location (Wa)... check all brake lines. replace master cylinder wheel cylinders
The '66/'67 Mustang & Fairlane disc brake setup will bolt to drum spindle. Kits are readily available, use '74 Maverick manual disc MC.
