1974 disk brake

i want to know what cars to get 4 wheel disk brakes for a 1974 comet. please e-mail me at bthuer1981@yahoo.com

 

You can also use Cadillac Eldorado rotors and calipers for the rear conversion if you buy brackets (or a complete kit). I have that setup on my '77.

 

Front brakes:
69-73 Mustang/Cougar
68-69 Torino/Montego
74-77 Maverick/Comet
75-81 Granada/Monarch/Versilles

Depending on years of donor/recipient vehicles, you may have to change tie rod ends too.

Rear discs:
92-? Crown Vic
Some late Explorers
Some 90s full size Lincoln/Mercs

These are bolt on for the most part, but some are more bolt on than others.
IIRC the Explorers are closer to 9" rear bearing pattern, while the cars are closer to the 8" bearing ends. Do some measuring though, I might have it backwards!

The Versilles stuff is 9", and I think it requires swapping in the whole rear end.
It would HAVE to...
The problem with those discs is that they are not common enough to get replacement parts for at a sane price, and they are also older technology with heavy cast iron parts. Add ALOT of weight and expense compared to the Exploder/Vic parts.

Dave

 

Just got back from purchasing a complete rear disc set-up for my Fairmont with 9in rear. Have done this same swap on the Maverick and Mustang. There are a few fit problems on the rotor, inside diameter and the axle flange, but nothing a grinder or lathe won't cure. Also the rotor will have to be drilled for Ford bolt pattern or if ordering aftermarket axle's, can get Chevy wheels or Weld dual pattern. We drilled our's and used long studs to boot. No features for EM brake though, but on race cars, none needed. Street cars could adapt some sort of brake, I'm sure. But for the price of all new stuff, they work great. Here are the part #'s and prices in Arkansas at Bumper to Bumper store:

2-Wagner brake Hose F106886----12.50ea

2-Wagner Rotor's===52-102075---18.87ea

1 Wagner Caliper===CA99022-----17.55ea

1 Wagner Caliper===CA99023====17.55ea

1 Set PBF Brake Pads=MD154=====12.97

2 Brake HoseBanjo Bolt=MTM 13940=4.25ea

Will also have to purchase or fabricate 2 caliper brackets to weld on rear end housing. Any circle track dealer has them for 11.00ea. or they also have bolt on and clamp on brackets. A little ingenuity and a couple of evenings work, for less than 150.00, can have good reliable brakes. There may be some minor issue's to address but if you have problems, I can help solve them. May want to look into this for some applications.

 

Nice post, Dave.

The prices surprise me on how low they are.

 

And to think most of the kits are $750 and up, somebodys making a killing...

 

Best I remember, the Mavericks were outfitted with disc brakes starting in '74 (these are the very same disc brake setups that were used on the '74-'80 Granadas/Mercury Monarchs --the '77-'80 Lincoln Versailles also used the same front disc brake setups, but the Versailles spindles have a slightly larger lower balljoint hole on the spindles than the Granadas/Monarchs.

The '81-up Granadas are a completely different vehicle from the '75-80 models, and their brake compontns won't work. --'81-up Granada was based on the Fox body --the same body as the '79-'93 Fox Mustangs.

The Versailles 9-inch disc brake rear end was standard equipment on the '77-'80 Lincoln Versaills, but was also an optional rear end for the '75-'80 Granadas/Monarchs. These rear ends are obsolete as far as Ford is concerned, because Ford no longer supplies replacement parts for them. As a result, replacement parts can be very expensive for them.

Until recent times, I had a '79 Versailles rear end under my '68 Mustang. I replaced it with an '80 model Mercury Monarch drum brake 9-inch small bearing rear end that I converted over to '94-'04 11.65" Cobra rear discs, with some adapter brackets I designed for this conversion;

1. http://www.ultrastang.com/Ultrainfo.asp?Page_ID=18

2. http://www.ultrastang.com/images/2006/sn95bracketkit.jpg

--Steve

www.ultrastang.com