I have the opertunity to buy the front spindle, rotor calipers, & control arms. Are the rotors 11" (same as mustang) or are these the standard 10" ones? I want to upgrade from 10 to 11.
Yep they're 11", the only difference is that they have the ABS exciter ring on the rotor.
If you ever need new rotors make sure you get ones for a Mustang as the bird ones are more expensive due to the exciter ring.
Can I use the mustang strut or must I use the turbo coupe struts? Must I buy any adapters to go between the metal brake line and the brake hose to use these on my 87 cougar? What brake hoses do I use?
Either or, just keep in mind that the thunderbird strut is a PRC unit, so unless it's set on firm before you unplug it and pull it out of the car, it'll be mushy and py.
As far as brake lines and such....I dunno :dunno:
I would think the thunderbird's rubber line would attach to your hardline at the frame.
You will need an adapter for the right side (I think it was the right). You should use T-Bird/Cougar specific struts, as the Mustang one is a bit shorter. Your current struts would require spacers where it bolts to the spindle, as the 11" spindle is a bit narrower. And you'll use the TC brake hose - the hoses attach to the calipers differently with the 11" brakes.
Is the factory master cylinder ok with the bigger brakes or must this be upgraded?
I do not understand why we still have to use the tbird/cougar struts when the 11" spindle is longer than the 10". I was told that I could use either turbo coupe or mustang struts. Those that have already done this know what works and what deosn't.
Fox struts are shorter? that's news to me...
Factory MC should be fine, on my '90 2.3L LX I upgraded to 11" front brakes and never touched the MC.
It all depends on your ride height. SN-95s are a closer match.
I'm at stock ride height. I have stock fox mustang springs whcih actually raise my car about 1" when I put them in about 5 years ago.
I understand about the fox struts being shorter because the fox mustang a arms are shorter also.
Yeah but SN-95 struts have less travel than Fox struts.
I imagine you could well use Mustang struts, but you might lose some suspension travel. I used a set of Monroe T-Bird/Cougar struts with my swap, so I don't have first hand experience with Mustang struts, but I was sure I'd read the Mustang stuff is all shorter (struts, shocks, control arms, axles).
As for the M/C - mine works fine with the stock M/C. Pedal feel didn't change a bit, though travel might have. I didn't notice any difference except the car stops a helluva lot better and with much less fade. There's a long, steep hill I travel regularly with a 50MPH speed limit and a stop sign at the base - with my old 10" brakes it was questionable if the car would even stop at the bottom, and the pedal pulsated like hell (even new rotors started pulsating after a single trip down this hill). The 11" brakes have none of that now.
I will be replacing the M/C very shortly, though, when I install the TC rear. With stock rear drums you will be fine.
The part I posted the pic of, BTW, came from Canadian Tire, so that's a CTC part number.
I noticed last night I have a caliper leaking. I have been wanting to do the 11" brake upgrade but did not have the $500 to rebuild the mustang 11" set up that I already have. Since I found the turbo coupe brake set (came off a wrecked car that only had aprox 20,000mi) for less I believe I can save some money in the process.
Fox Mustang struts interchange with 1987-88 Cougars/T-Birds. Same part numbers when you look them both up. The "sweet spot" between the struts in Fox 'Stangs and our cars are, apparently, so close that the same strut is now issued for either car.
I'm using Y2K Cobra R Bilstein struts on the convertible...no issues whatsoever.
So the Mustang GT and LX5.0 struts are now cross-referenced to '87-'88 TC?
I knew the brakes were the same, except the abs exciter ring. Bearings I assume are the same?
(I used my TC stuff on my white car..swapped it all over)
Shortly i'm going to go thru mine again, replace the older TC stuff with fresh new 5.0 Stang pieces, new rotors, brakes, bearings and pads.
Rebuilt Mustang calipers will work too?
I've always thought, or else assumed that to use Mustang V8 struts one had to use C/C plates as well...or were they just optional?
Bearings are the same. Calipers too. C/C Plates aren't needed. Just need a two-piece (short) strut mount. I prefer C/C Plates. Never heard of Fox Stang and Fox Bird/Cat Struts being the same. Not so sure about that. Especially since SN-95 guys use Fox Struts on their lowered Ponies.
This is the way I see it.
Longest - Fox Thundercat
Medium - SN-95 Stang
Shortest - Fox Stang
You must also take into account how far up the thick portion of the strut shaft goes. This is where the strut mount rests and determines how much of the upper shaft passes through. This could vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. But whatever.... I'm just rambling.
I spent a whole Sunday morning cross-referencing struts...
http://www.NAPAonline.com
1988 Mustang 4-cyl
Monroe Sensatrac - 71828
NAPA Response - RR201828
1988 Thunderbird V6
Monroe Sensatrac - 71828
NAPA Response - RR201828
1986 Thunderbird V6
Monroe Sensatrac - 71716
NAPA Response - RR201716
Similar results from AutoZone and Advance Auto. Interestingly, the SN95 strut p/n's didn't cross reference with the 1983-86 Cougar/T-Bird. It seemed to be "unique". I would dare say they've got the longest struts of any Fox-based car.
Why you naughty, naughty boy. I like it when you talk dirty. Don't stop. :tg:
I knew someone was going to say something like that. lol. I tried rewording it, but my Thesaurus checked out for the evening.
Sorry to hijack, but I'm still trying determine if I have TC or Mustang brakes for my car without making the effort to go out and look at the back of the rotor for an exciter ring. Do both the Mustang and the TC have the bolt-thru style attachment of the brake hose on the caliper? That's what these brakes seem to have.
Yes, they both have the banjo style caliper lines. Why do you need to know if they came from a TC or a Mustang?
I've been running Tokico SN95 struts but you're right in that many companies do not differentiate between small length changes anymore. I'd venture to say the reasons are more economical than anything. Everything I've ever read said that the Turbocoupe needed the longer SN95 strut at stock height and that Fox Mustang struts were too short and would reach full extension and possibly cause damage. Plus it bolts right onto the TC spindle with no spacers. It works good for me so I dunno, ride is excellent and they have great control as well.
And when I change to 96-up spindles they'll still bolt right up.
Hah, I guess I don't need to know that now since the two are virtually the same. Was wondering which car I'd need to buy parts for.
Wow, thats almost sig worthy:evilgrin:
I have done the turbo coupe front disc upgrade today. I still need to bleed the brakes which will get done tomorrow. Would have been done tonight but it started raining and got dark before I had the second side to the point where I could bleed the brakes. I worked until everything was closed up.
I re-used my current struts but want to replace the strut mounts with a set that the bushings can be replaced.
Actually I need this on the drivers side.
NAPA p/n. 7818
I owe some of this getting done to my wife who had helped me get the control arms and springs back in place. She did not wine about getting dirty / greasy at all.
I had taken the exciter rings off the back of the rotors and the mounts for the abs sensor off the spindles. I just pried the exciter rings off even to get them off. I don't have abs so I could not see why I should keep these parts on.
I took the car for a quick spin after replacing the water pump which I saw was leaking after starting this swap. I didn't push the brake issue yet. Everything seems to be working as it should.
Thanks for everyone's help in letting me know what was needed.