I know this topic has been covered a million and a half times allready. But I'm getting ready to do a disk brake conversion on my '70 Mav(currently non-power drums), and was wondering if anyone had a parts list of everything I'd need. I know I need disk brake spindles from either a disk brake mav, or Granada. (what years of Granada's by the way?) How bad would disk brakes work if I were to stay manual and not upgrade to power brakes?. If I were to go power, how hard is it to get the new peddle and stuff? could I buy the setup new? and get them from a varity of cars or is it a used and speciality item like the spindles? anyway, thanks for the help
I know a little about the subject, but I am sure you will get plenty of answers to cover everything... The Granada spindles use a different tie rod end than early Mavs from what I understand. The hub center might also be too large for stock early rims. If you convert to power brakes, you could probably get away with just relocating the rod pin in the pedal arm. Many cars don't have different pedals for power and manual. The manufacturer just raised or lowered the pin that holds the rod that goes into the back of the booster. It is all about leverage. One position is used for manual, and the rod is pushed from a point on the pedal arm that gives more leverage. The power setup has less leverage to the booster/master. If you mix them, you will either have manual brakes that are too hard to push, or power brakes that are overly touchy. Same brake pedal, different leverage. Mav power brakes require a few unique parts. The setup is ugly IMO. Some folks use modern, small, and thin boosters, so the setup fits behind the shock tower and under the regular tower brace. The stock power setup uses a tower brace that is bent upward and over a protruding master cylinder. Disc spindles from many cars will swap to our cars with varying degrees of interchange, depending on year of Maverick. In some cases, interchange also depends on original engine of the donor car. 75-81 Granada, Monarch, Versillies 68-70 Mustang, Cougar (I have heard 71-73 Stang spindles will fit too) 68-69 Fairlane, Torino, Montego, Cyclone There are variations of bearing size and tie rod end size among these different years. This means that you must remember what year spindle you have for future maintenance. You also may need to swap more or less parts to get them on a given year Mav. There is a guy on eBay that sells a bracket that hybrids some late model disc brake parts onto your stock drum spindles. The things I have heard about this setup are really mixed. On Stangnet, most of the guys say they have problems with it... However some folks like the ease of parts accessability and maintenance, and the seller has some strong feedback. My guess on weight is that the hybrid kit is lightest. The Granada would have to be second. Then the small bearing Stang/Fairlanes. While the big block, big bearing Stang/Fairlanes would have to be the heaviest parts. One other thing: They say the Granada style brakes are only 11" rotors on a V8 car, but I don't think this is true. I have seen many V8 and I6 rotors in the yards, and they all look the same to me. I never put a rule on them though. They say I6 brakes are 10". Anyway, out of curiosity, I asked some parts houses what part numbers they come up with for different Granadas and different engine combos, and they all show the same bearings, calipers, rotors, etc... So I don't believe there is a difference. Hope this helps Dave
I did this years ago on mine the easy way. i went to a junk yard and got the spindle set off of a 74 mav and had the disks turned(the pair i found were really in good shape) rebuilt the calipers and bought a new master cylinder for disk brakes. i bought the bearings for a 74 with disc and installed those, i also switched in the proportioning valve from the donor car which required one of the lines to have a brass adapter on it also the lines from the caliper to the steel tube need to be changed. I went with manual disk for a couple of reasons. one is that i have been in a car with a dead engine and almost no brakes on the freeway, NOT FUN. the other is that like Ratio stated, the power assist is a pain to position in the car. even with manual brakes, it will stop quick with very little effort, the brakes almost pull as hard as the wifes subaru and pull harder than the ones on her cougar did. the cougar was a 68 with power and front disk, but the power assist was worn. the cougar required less strength to push the pedal down, but the same or more to stop hard . if she hadnt sold it i was going to replace that vacuum assist. so reliability is another thought. good luck
