I know there has been multiple threads started to discuss the 9" Lincoln Versailles rear end/disc brake swap. I have already read through the various posts and install guides. I am gearing up to start the tear down and rebuild of a Versailles 9" for installation this winter. I would really like to get in contact with anyone that has completed this swap to find out exactly what rear disk combination they went with and what parts were involved. If you have first hand experience with this swap, and don't mind me picking your brain, please PM or email me. Thanks in advance for your help
I am a little confused by your post ... you currently have a Versaille rear axle? It should have disc brakes on it already ... you are looking to change them to some other disc brake setup? A Versailles axle will bolt in to your Mav, as is, spring pads are in the right spots, but likely will have a gear that is to low numerically ... mid Twos .... you will probably want a better gear unless you want to do land speed racing. The Versailles rear will be about 1.5 inches wider, which is a good thing ... it centers the wheel in the tub better. From what I understand, little brake hardware from a V rear is hard to come by. If it is not complete, walk away from it.
i have a versailles rear on my car. the emergency brake was messed up - finding all the right parts was hard work and pretty expensive. i stayed with the 2.75 ratio, but went with a detroit true trac locker.
I bought my Versailles rear intact as far as the parts that needed to be there to call it complete. The emergency brake calipers were rusted and frozen solid so I tossed them years ago. The rotors were also just below the thickness that a machine shop would cut them. They are built as lefts and rights due to the cooling fin directions and were impossible to get years ago. What I did was I bought a set of flame cut plates, from Ebay, that weld to my 3 inch Versailes axle tubes that carry single piston calipers from the front of an 85 Chevy C-20 truck. I no longer have an e-brake system though but I do recall seeing the ones that go on the yoke of a 9 inch rear that are used on street rods. I believe my slip over the studs type rotors came from the front of a Jeep Cherokee but I would have to double check what year they are from. I'm right at the point of getting my rear ready to put in my car so I will be test fitting this stuff and can give you more information on it if you are interested.
Yes, I already have a completely intact Versailles rear end. I want to ditch the factory disk brake setup due to the weight of the factory setup and the non-existence of replacement parts. It's been discussed on past threads how impossible it is to locate parts for the factory setup. I assumed there would be a few members that have installed the Versailles 9" with an aftermarket brake setup. I believe there is some combination of Explorer parts that will fit, but that's where I need some clarification.
You could probably sell your versaillies rear end complete, and buy a lighter, and just as strong 8.8.
there are lots of aftermarket disk brake kits for that rear end. any small bearing ford 9" disk brake kit will work. it all depends on what you want for the performance, look, and cost.
ah ok. its been a long time sense ive worked on a versailles. still just as many if not more options for disk brakes for that housing.
I've installed a bracket set from Currie Enterprises on my Versailles. It will permit me to run 1994-2004 Mustang Cobra calipers. http://www.currieenterprises.com/cestore/productsRE.aspx?id=3599 I'm using a Lokar universal parking brake kit with this setup. http://www.currieenterprises.com/cestore/productsRE.aspx?id=1541 |also went with a 3.25 gear set with a rebuilt Traction-Lok setup. This differential is installed in the car, but I haven't bought and insatlled the rotors and calipers yet. Hope this is of some use to you. John B
