brakes on the cheap

[1guydude]

So my 1st cylinder in my master leaks down to empty. I know I need to replace 3 more wheel cylinders but im here for ur help.
I want to do brakes on the cheap.
Junkyard disks and master with a booster or vaccum thing.

I think u get the jiff of what I want... need points in the right direction. Like usual.
Truck is a 67'

I was thinking ill need the spindles and disks and calipers off an 80"s ford truck? Master off an earlier 90's explorer or exploder?
thanks
-d

[tsherry]

There's lots of info on here about disc conversions, but do-it-on-the-cheap is the property of Rock Auto.com. Go there to get cheap parts. Been doing it for years with ne'er a problem.

[sargentrs]

The 80+ models spindles are not compatible with our trucks. You'll have to look for '73-'79 trucks with disc brakes. '73-'74 spindles are a drop in to our I-beams but '75-'79 you will have to swap the whoke front suspension as a unit. http://www.fordification.com/tech/discbrakes01.htm

[colnago]

For my '67 F250, I used a '67 booster, and calipers/brackets/MC from a '68. I was able to keep my spindles. Everything bolted right up. I could buy new rotors, and rebuilt calipers/booster/MC, but I had to get the brackets from the junk yard. I'm not sure about doing a half-ton, but I think you can get kits from LMC for around $800. Not exactly on the cheap, though.

If you want to keep drums, you can get rebuild kits for the cylinders. Or, if you want to lower your truck, you can do a Crown Vic swap.

Joseph

[sargentrs]

Scarebird sells a decent conversion kit for a reasonable price.http://ww.fordification.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=86405

[1guydude]

Thank u all for the replies.
I plan on doing this. Havent bought anything yet. I will do it as cheap as possible but i want to do it right and not cut any corners.
Rock auto is indeed my go to.
$800 is not cheap. Lol.
Not even sure i wanna pay the $200+ for the brackets.
I might try and find em cheaper or make em myself. A.k.a DIY.
Junkyard job maybe.
-d

[cep62]

If you're really on a budget why not rebuild your drum brakes?

Wheel cylinder rebuild kits used to be cheap.(although i haven't bought them in many years.)

Shoes are fairly cheap , or heck if there not down to metal reuse them.

Are disc brakes better ? no doubt , but drums have been used for more than 100 years.

In your sig line it looks like you have other transportation , so I assume this is just a occasional driver , so save your money to do it right ,
but enjoy it in the meantime.

[Ohiotinkerer]

Rebuild kits and new cylinders are almost the same price nowadays - the 2 front ones were $11 each and the rears were $13 each.........I kept the drums and with the addition of power brakes and all new parts it works really well for me. I only drive it a couple thousand miles a year and don't pull or haul anything really heavy so that was why I stuck with the drums........it just pretty much depends on your driving and hauling habits whether it's worth the $$$ to change or not.........

[1guydude]

im with u all and doing it right and such. touché.
I just looked on the interwebs for some brackets and emailed a couple of ppl. speedways and macs.
I want discs up front.

For now I will prob do the booster. new lines. new cylinders. new drums and pads... itll be cheaper for now and will work properly when done and done right.
-d

[1guydude]

I cant find scarebird.
?!@#=
...
-d

[MadMike]

I cant find scarebird.
?!@#=
...
-d

https://scarebird.com/index.php?route=p ... uct_id=155

[1guydude]

Thank u for the link.
Options include but arent limited to. Lol
- scarebird
-rebuild the oem drum set up.
-lmc for 67'booster and 68'brake parts. That should bolt right up.

Im actually thinking of.going with lmc this round.
D

[1guydude]

K. Heres my plan.
Get the new spindles. Get the lmc stuff. Do the job. Lol.

Maybe ill just do the scarebird thing. Im have troubles.matching it all up.
I can get the spindles and master brake cylinder with a booster.
Cant get the brackets for the calipers. Rotors and calipers are for a 68' f250 it says on lmc... :/
Grrrrr
Lol

Edit. Maybe ill do the rebuild on the OEM set up.
Im just not looking fwd to putting those pads back in the drums. Especially with all new stuff and being tight and all. I grew up on discs and its what i know.

Edit edit. Thinking ill do the drums with all rebuild and add the lmc booster. Stainless lines. All new line.
-d

[sargentrs]

Your simplest route is the '73-74 spindle swap +'97 Explorer M/C swap. Finding the spindles and dust shields is the hardest part but car-part.com has a multitude of dent sides, including '73-'74, front suspension parts in junkyards all across the country, probably near you. Complete you'll have under $700 in it and get power front discs with stock available parts and minimal effort.

[1guydude]

that's the plan! ^
Thank u for summing it all up for me.

If I could get a direct answer on what the spindles im looking at need. Id b getting em. Only answer I got was that they used later 70's model f100 pads and rotors and calipers. Im guessing 76-79'....
these spindles are an ebay item.
-d