Wider rear brakes????

In need of a major brake job in the rear of my 65' V8. I currently have 1 3/4" wide, 10" brakes. I see that some cars used a 2" wide shoe instead.

Has anyone converted to 2" wide brakes from the smaller ones? What is involved? Is it a simple brake shoe/brake drum change or will it require a change of backing plates too????

I know that the Shelby 2 1/2"conversion needs different backing plates.
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I put 2 1/2" rear drums on my 66 coupe a few years ago. You'll need different backing plates. I used a set from a 66 Fairlane wagon with an 8" rear (my 69 Falcon wagon has the same setup BTW) and a brand new set of Aerostar drums and related brake hardware & parts. I did use a new set of Fairlane wheel cylinders though.

Most rear brakes on fords will swap with very little in the way of preparation or changes...maybe tweaking the hardlines for placement.

As mention above, take the whole setup from backing plates out. You will have to remove the rear axels, on both the donor car-to get them off and the swap car-to reinstall.

Since the majority of your braking is done by the front brakes: changing the rear brakes will usually require a new combination valve or incorporating a proportioning valve, to get the correct brakeing bias with the new bigger rear brakes. (B.T.D.T) If you don't, the rear brakes will lock up before the front brakes, which makes for weird handleing under brakeing and makes funny noises and leaves black marks on the pavement at anything close to full braking. Two. as I mentioned earlier, since most of your brakeing in done through the front brakes, you would really notice the difference much more, by upgrading the front brakes, rather than the rears.

You really need to depend on your brakes being working correctly all the time, just upgrading the rears and not addressing the things I have just mentioned is guaranteed to increase the frequency of your landry schedule.

I understand how to install 2 1/2" brakes. That was not the question. [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_frown.gif[/img]

My original question was concerning updating from 1 3/4" shoes/drums to 2" shoes/drums which was also available on regular production mustangs (perhaps convertibles?)

I already have new GT disks on the front with the related proportioning valve.

_________________
Dennis

65' Stang--393 stroker, Toploader 4 spd, 9" 3:50 rear.

Victor Jr. knockoff heads, 282S cam, Stealth intake, Bigs Stage 5 750DP, Accufab headers, Scattershield, Caltracs.



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: dennis111 on 6/17/05 1:20am ]</font>

O.Kay,

Glad we got that cleared up. Good luck with that.

Look for a later model Granada or Monarch in a boneyard('75-'80) they almost always have the 2" brakes, but an even better swap is to get the backing plates and drums off a later model Ford like a Crown Vic with an 8.8, they have 2 1/2" brakes ,and they bolt on to the small bearing 8" and 9" rear ends, though your '65 8" may have a different bolt pattern.
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I wouldn't waste my time for a 1/4" swept difference. I have
a '68 where I swapped stock 66 GT front disc onto the front
and 2 1/2" drums onto the rear. See this link-
http://www.mustangsandmore.com/ubb/R...mGriffith.html

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On 2005-06-17 14:06, 66GT289 wrote:
I wouldn't waste my time for a 1/4" swept difference.
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After doing a little more research I found out for sure that the backing plates would need changed too.

Rather than going through all the hassle for the 1/4" difference, I just went with new stock drums and shoes for now.

Later I might consider 4 wheel disks once I can free up more funds.

Thanks All.
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