SN95 Brake Install on a Fox

Introduction

We all spend countless dollars to make our steeds go faster. We research it all, we bolt on blowers, juice em up, bolt the latest heads, intake, cam and raise the compression all in the name of those extra horses we can tame, that extra tenth in the quarter, or to beat that guy down the block with the SS Camaro into a tearful submission.

What most of us fail to realize is that its one thing to go fast, it's another to be able to stop. And by stop I don't mean 'eventually'. I mean now. Quite frankly, the brakes the good old Ford put on our fearless foxes are marginal at best.
I have owned Project Fobra for almost 10 years now. Ironically, all I was looking for was a stock AOD GT I could leave stock, maybe put some mufflers on and rear disc brakes. Well here we are all this time later and I am still rolling with those pint(o) sized rear drums and 4 lug wheels. Not that 4 lug is a bad thing, but it limits your wheel choices and brake options.

My eyes were opened when we bought our 1999 GT, and instantly I fell in love with the brakes. They felt sure, strong and confident. Gone was praying for our safety in panic stops. And if you know the NY Metro area, its full of them.
Two of my friends had done SN brake conversions (Chuckstang and turfmn) and they both boasted about how they stopped on a dime. Add to that the fact that 17in wheels really fill the wheelwells of a fox car, and add the fact that I loved the way the wheels looked on Chuck's car.. (more on that later)... but mostly I wanted to feel the same way about the 88's brakes as I did with the 99.

What we are starting with

I suppose I am somewhat fortunate, as in 1987 Ford went to revised spindles with larger 11in front rotors replacing the previous 10in setup. Single piston 60mm front calipers apply pressure. In the rear, the familiar (since the Fairmont days) 9in drums do thier best. But we all know sometimes thier best isn't good enough.

What we will be installing

Front Brakes

• 1994 Mustang spindles, hubs, rotors, dust shields (11in)
• 1999 Mustang GT PBR Dual piston calipers
• Russell DOT Approved Stainless Steel Brake hoses

Rear Brakes

• 1997 Mustang rear rotors, calipers, caliper brackets, brake hoses, steel lines, dust shields

Misc

• 1995 Mustang GT master cyl
• 31spl SN95 length axles with 3in studs
• Summit adj prop valve
• M2450A FRPP Prop valve plug kit

Rolling Stock

Hitting the pavement will be 1999 SVT Cobra wheels (17x8) with the 'correct' silver SVT logo caps, wearing 245/45/17 fronts and 255/45/17 rear tires

My current 26x8.5 DT Drags will be moved from the current "Ten Hole" wheels to 15x7 SN95 V6 aluminum alloys.

I will not have to run the longer wheel studs with these wheels, as they are OEM acorn type conical seat lugs. Besides, I didn't love the way the 3in studs would look coming out of the Cobra wheels.

The disassembly!