Brake convertion 4 to 5 lug

Topic: Brake convertion 4 to 5 lug (Read 3246 times) previous topic - next topic

Brake convertion 4 to 5 lug

Reply #15 – February 02, 2009, 03:39:26 PM

Like I said...he's going to pay on one end or the other....

Brake convertion 4 to 5 lug

Reply #16 – February 03, 2009, 09:22:00 AM

yea, brakes are NOT some were to skimp on the money....
Cheap, and brakes should not go together.

Brake convertion 4 to 5 lug

Reply #17 – February 04, 2009, 11:21:07 AM

Thanks for the reponse gentlemen! But now I have more questions :D

So, My 85 TurboCoupe has 10" front disc brakes (and 10" rear drums)?
The Mk7 has 11" in the front but I can't convert to them unless I change the front spindles and the master cylinder (or do I need to change the master cylinder anyway because of the rear disc)?
Do I have to install an ABS system to use the Mk7 master cylinder?
I can't cheaply move to the 10" drums in the rear with the 8.8 because I have ABS axles or because it's a disc brake axle housing?

Isn't the 87-88 T-C or XR7 still 4-lug?
Is the LSC brakes different than the Mk7's? Because my 8.8 did actually come from an LSC.

I don't really want to use different sized brakes but I'd like to do this as inexpensively as possible. Please remember my main goal is to use the bigger 5 lug 8.8 axle.

daboss351, I'm going to try to PM you, but I'm still new to where everythings at on this forum........

Brake convertion 4 to 5 lug

Reply #18 – February 04, 2009, 12:13:10 PM

We go over this time and time again....

You must have the 11" spindles to use the 11" caliper/rotors from the Lincoln.

You can't cheaply do a 5 lug/drum on the Mk 7 rear because there is no easy 5-lug drum option with the proper track width for these cars and the Mk7 axles are longer than what is used on the Tbirds(not the housing, the axles).
THUS your options for 5-lug rear drums for the 8.8 housing you have are as I mentioned before.

You will most likely need to swap the master cylinder, but we can't tell you what one until you tell us what brakes are going on the car. There will be 3 options.

The large rear discs with the tiny front discs is just not a good idea...period, so don't consider it.

Also going to rear discs you will need a disc brake proportioning block or an aftermarket adjustable one.

Brake convertion 4 to 5 lug

Reply #19 – February 06, 2009, 12:22:35 PM

Quote from: Chuck W;255214

We go over this time and time again....

I apologize for my lack of knowledge in this particular area and will refrane from further attempting to gain clarification in this matter. I have reveiwed previous posts in this forum and that of your own and continue to have a few questions with the five lug 8.8 disc brake axle to a drum brake conversion.
For the record, I am not totally ignorant, I would never use the large disc brakes on the rear axle with the original TC 10" discs on the front spindels. I was simply looking to this forum for information to make the parts I have work together correctly without wasting unnessesary time and money on pieces that will end up in the junk.
If I fail to secure the parts I need or I don't secure the Mk7 parts I'll need (which I feel may be to much extra weight for my application), I'll purchase a Mustang five lug axle conversion.

I do apperciate the information I've gained on year and model axle/housing length. Thankyou

Brake convertion 4 to 5 lug

Reply #20 – February 06, 2009, 12:27:26 PM

the LSC brakes isnt gonna be much more weight over newer tc brakes...
Im running drilled rotors on my DD LSC

Brake convertion 4 to 5 lug

Reply #21 – February 06, 2009, 12:33:29 PM

You caught me on a bad day, but still this sort of thing has been overed over and over on this forum.

The speadsheet in this post will show you the measurements of the various rear axle assemblies.
http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showpost.php?p=138359&postcount=12

On more option if you are planning on fat tires out back (and the properly backspaced wheels) you can use the short 79-93 Mustang 5-lug drum swap on that 8.8 (after you verify the width of the housing you have matches the chart). The issue with that swap is that it pulls the wheels in 3/4" per side over the stock Tbird width (1-1/4" per side vs the Mk 7 stuff), and there really isn't a need to do that as there is quite a bit of room in the rear wells on these things. You'd probably need to snag the drum backing plates from a Fox Mustang.

Telling folks what your overall plan is might help too other than you just want to to it "cheap".

Brake convertion 4 to 5 lug

Reply #22 – February 07, 2009, 08:13:08 AM

"Bad Day" acknowledged and accepted.

unfortunetly I do not have excel on my home pc, could this axle chart be (or is it) posted somewhere?

Yes I hope to have "fat tires" out back (I hope they wrinkle when I launch!) and skinnies up front. I'll pick up (or maybe already have?) the right offset wheels for as much tire as I can get inside the rear fenders after I get the 8.8 in the bird.

My 85 is an engine-less coupe I picked up for a few hundred. I'm a long time Ford owner with a garage full of accumulated parts. I have wanted a fox chassis performance car (Street/Strip) since a 78 Fairmont was built.
I had an 88/5spd TC DD years ago and currently have a stock 86/auto TC. I drive a 00-V6/5spd Mustang (w/several mod.s) 30+ miles to work everyday (yes even in this Michigan weather!).
I am a 95% Ford freak (I have a 74 Dodge Rallye Challenger and a old Dokata for JY runs) and my blood is "FORD blue" (with just a touch of Dodge blue mixed)!
In my spare time I want to make this Bird FLY! [COLOR="Blue"](stupid fast would be just about right!) [/COLOR]But must do this with mostly recylced parts to keep the cost down as much as possible. Yes, JY and swapmeets are my biggest supply places. But I will buy new what I can't find.

That, is my "overall plan"! Hope this helps in clarifying my direction.:D

Brake convertion 4 to 5 lug

Reply #23 – February 07, 2009, 08:35:35 AM

Converted to PDF for you:

Brake convertion 4 to 5 lug

Reply #24 – February 08, 2009, 01:49:29 PM

Thanks,for the Pdf conversion!

Brake convertion 4 to 5 lug

Reply #25 – March 08, 2009, 01:08:30 AM

To answer your questions...if you have not already found a source is:

The 10" rear drums for the -bird Cougar will bolt directly onto the 8.8 housing with a stock width TC or Mustang rearend. Just whack the mounting points off of the TC rear for the calipers. Now since you wanted to convert to 5 lug (hopefully this is due to you having axles already cause you can run in the 10's without needing to swap)...just redrill the T-Bird or Cougar 10" drums in your garage and use the 5 lug swap replacement axle. A Few Ford Aerostars/Rangers/ Broncos came with the large 10" brake setup but they are few and far between. Keep your eyes peeled cause they need the 4.0 with a towing package and 5 speed (cause the A4LD would puke). Now I have not seen it but there may be a few Explorers out there with the correct diameter drum and 5 lugs. I myself just took the cheap way and left it 4 lug. That was cause I had everything for the 4 lug, wheels may be the only thing hard to find....but if you are using welds who cares leave the 4.

Brake convertion 4 to 5 lug

Reply #26 – March 11, 2009, 11:04:54 AM

Thanks, I may (for now) end up using the axles and 10" brakes from the 7.5 TC housing (I can use the 7.5 axles in the 8.8, right?), The 5lug axles I have are from the LSC, not the Mustang 5 lug.
I have a pair of aluminum 4 lug narrow wheels to use for the front (I was told were TC spare wheels, I don't know?) I could use these for front wheels? Would they take it? I don't currently have any wide 4 lug rear wheels. I'll need to figure out which way would be more cost effective. 5 lug conversion or new/used 4 lugs wheels for the rear axle.
Almost time to go bargin hunting! A lot of outdoor swap meets should be coming up soon!