Has anyone used this kit before to convert their front drum brakes to disc? http://www.discbrakeswap.com/html/body_catalog.html The one listed for $545. I'm also interested in that this will serve another purpose...converting from 4-lug to 5-lug. It looks like a well put together kit with everything included. Any opinions good or bad?
That is crazy high priced. It is just a repop Granada spindle. You can get them much, MUCH, cheaper at a junkyard. Even off eBay, you will come in a little cheaper. Good luck Dave
My question about the granada/maverick stuff is, who makes bolt on upgrades? Specifically larger diameter rotors. The price they are asking is real high considering you could probably buy a whole granada for less. Now if it was for upgraded stuff the price would be pretty good.
Anyone on the board that has installed Granada/Monarch/Maverick discs has installed that kit. It is a direct repop of the stock parts. Dave
I believe that, but when there are no donor cars to be found it makes it difficult to find such deals. I like the fact that all the parts are new or rebuilt at least. Even if I found a donor car, I myself would probably replace many of the parts with new or rebuilt ones just to feel safer, driving the price upwards probably close the the internet price anyway. That's just me. I'm sure others may feel differently.
I believe the guy that's producing these Granada spindle setups is named Dennis (could be wrong), but I know that he lives in Texas and goes by the name "Degins". He posts fairly often at www.stangnet.com. Wrecking yard donors are fairly cheap because they are used 31 year old parts now. The stuff Degins is making is all brand new cast steel stuff. I know he spent several thousands just on the tooling to be able to produce these components, not including what the raw materials or anything else factored in costs him to produce these parts. Wrecking yards are rampantly crushing perfectly good disc brake setups like these every day. If you can't find a good used set, these completely brand new ones from CSRP are an alternative. www.ultrastang.com
Steve, I do live in Texas, in Austin. I find the other posts about the kit being overpriced amusing. If the price is so high, i suggest that they try to compete in the marketplace. I buy parts by the hundred or more to keep cost low. Add up the retail cost of slotted rotors , loaded calipers, caliper and spindle hardware, bearings and seals, hoses, master cylinder, proportioning valve, not to mention unnobtainable new shields, spindles and brackets. Then add credit card processing fees. I price the kit at essentially wholesale to the end user. I sold 15 kits to a Mustang parts and service dealer in California last week. Upon receiving the parts he wrote me and said: Dennis, the brakes showed, very impressive, I'll be purchasing more in the next month or so. Dennis, I'm a business man for 16 years here, how do you make money on those kits? I'll rely on his opinion. Dennis
Glad to hear your business is gaining momentum. People just don't realize how much time and money goes into the development of a component. The two G2C brackets I had machined cost me nearly $480 to make. Best I can figure (at this point) to the end user, the brackets would cost the consumer ~$295 a set. Hopefully, I'll be sending you some business in the near future once the G2C brackets are released to adapt Cobra 13" rotors & calipers to the Granada spindles. http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/693/g2cbracket003xa8.jpg www.ultrastang.com
Most of the people on here, I've noticed like to go the cheaper route. Something about bills and such. Don't get me wrong, New stuff is REAL nice. And new costs new prices. I don't see how a profit can be made at $545. But I imagine to stay competitive with the used granada stuff that kinda warrants the price. Now on my car I either build my own stuff or buy used when I can just to save some dough. But, if a customer comes in my shop looking for a disc conversion, I'm gonna tell them something like $800 for the kit and shipping and give Degins a call. (will that fit a 71 Torino??)
