Will I have a problem using calipers from a '76 that originally had power discs with my manual drum master cylinder? Also, I will be doing a mild front end rebuild while I'm at it. Mainly I need to replace my tie rods and the trailing arm. Who makes the best parts/where do I buy them? Is this something I will be able to do over a weekend? My front end is getting worse and worse. I gotta do something about it, and I gotta do it very soon. I can barely drive the car above 50 now because something isn't right in the front end since I hit that pot hole and it seems to be getting worse. But I'm also between a rock and a hard spot because I depend on this car to get me and 3 of my friends to school every morning... This is frustrating. My goal is to try and pull this off over the 3 day labor day weekend, if I can keep the front end in one piece until then. 2 more weeks...
If you have all the parts ready to go you can do it in 3 days ... no problem. But ... if you run into a snag or need a part it is not likely the auto parts store is gonna have it in stock .... For a disc brake swap I would get new tie-rod ends, brakes hoses, rotors, calipers, bearings, seals & pads. Not sure if the M/C is different or not ... I'll be doing a swap on my 74 as well pretty soon but I haven't verified that yet. You will also need longer than stock brake hoses or a brake line extension to work with factory brakes hoses. If you attach stock hoses to your manual brakes lines they will not have enough slack in them to reach the calipers. The lines on the disc brake cars are further up the frame.
Dan, if your planning on doing it before me, let me know. I would like to tag along and lend a hand to see what all is involved, if you don't mind.
jamie, you can go to advance auto parts.com and they have everything you need. most of it on the shelf, if they have to order it, it's usually next day. i just ordered all the front end stuff for my 73 and they only had to order 2 things,new lower control arms complete and new ball joints and shaft and bushing kits. no your calipers don't know if your brakes are power or not, just alittle more foot pressure. good luck
Jamie - if your problem is getting progressively worse, and you can't see anything broken like a ball joint or bent control arm, I'd suspect a ply separation in the tire. Real easy to start on a pot hole hit. Throw your spare onto that front wheel and see if it is better. If it is a ply separation, you are in danger of a complete failure and loss of control.
Well, I have a warrenty on the tires and I went and had that tire checked out and they said it was fine. I think the problem is a combination of the trailing arm and the passenger side tie rod end. If I have someone hold the drivers side wheel from moving and then grab the passenger wheel and move it back and forth, there is a good quarter inch of movement when the drivers side wheel is perfectly still. Back a few months ago when I first started driving the car, the front end was super tight and the car would run 90+ mph with no problems. I guess now the old bushings and everything are just falling apart and everythings loosening up. As of yesterday the car is staying strictly on roads around here and only being drivin when I absolutey have to until I get this all worked out. I would park the car temporarily, but it's just not an option right now. I appreciate it.
Jamie ... here is the guy with the complete set of brake lines for your Maverick. Keep in mind they come straight and you have to bend them ... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Meta...569709949QQcategoryZ34199QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Jamie, do you have tubing benders and a double flaring kit? I'd try to have at least the double flaring kit on hand in case you get in a bind and need to add or shorten a line or two. I'd also get some assorted fittings to have on hand like extra flaring nuts and unions clint
