The Ford Barn

Old Redneck · 05-21-2026, 09:43 AM

I bought the complete Disc Brake front Kit fromHil's Thunder Center.After installing the Front Disc Brake Kit and adjusting the rear Brakes I went for a test ride to check the brakes our. I was got up to 30 MPH and slam the brakes on . The rear brakes lock up and slid the tires. front did not lock up and was poor I half to say. Np adjusting on the front brakes? What wrong?

rotorwrench · 05-21-2026, 01:03 PM

If it doesn't have a proportioning valve then it needs one. If it does have the valve, then it needs to be adjusted. The disk brake kit is mentioned but there is no mention of the master cylinder set up and how car's full braking system is configured.

Old Redneck · 05-21-2026, 01:58 PM

It does have one and I had a problem with it leaking had to replace it. Dirctions and It installed correctly I know I am doing something wrong???

miker98038 · 05-21-2026, 08:05 PM

I have had similar experiences on my 55 with front disc. The proportioning valve is one.

The other was the front pads. Either not driven enough to seat them, or very hard pads that didn’t provide much stopping power at low pressures. Changing to a softer pad (how my brake guy knew which one I don’t know) and then several slow stops to seat them.

Als48 · 05-22-2026, 12:29 PM

You do have the master tubed up correctly to the front/rear, don't you. I think the front part of the master usually feeds the rear brakes and vice versa. Worth checking in my opinion.

Old Redneck · 05-22-2026, 02:58 PM

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Yes I know that. Hills Teck contact me the Pads are too hard. He said go to Napa and get softer Pads. Mustang 1965 450 Pad size. I check at NAPA and only one sPad listed. Teck won't be in until Tues.

Gene F · 05-23-2026, 06:45 PM

The line that feeds the rear brakes needs to come out of the correct port on the master cylinder..

BTW, about how much do you have in this project?

05-21-2026, 09:43 AM	#1
Old Redneck Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Waynesburg,Pa. Posts: 1,994	Adjusting the brakes on 56 T-Bird I bought the complete Disc Brake front Kit fromHil's Thunder Center.After installing the Front Disc Brake Kit and adjusting the rear Brakes I went for a test ride to check the brakes our. I was got up to 30 MPH and slam the brakes on . The rear brakes lock up and slid the tires. front did not lock up and was poor I half to say. Np adjusting on the front brakes? What wrong?

05-21-2026, 01:03 PM	#2
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 18,006	Re: Adjusting the brakes on 56 T-Bird If it doesn't have a proportioning valve then it needs one. If it does have the valve, then it needs to be adjusted. The disk brake kit is mentioned but there is no mention of the master cylinder set up and how car's full braking system is configured.

05-21-2026, 01:58 PM	#3
Old Redneck Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Waynesburg,Pa. Posts: 1,994	Re: Adjusting the brakes on 56 T-Bird It does have one and I had a problem with it leaking had to replace it. Dirctions and It installed correctly I know I am doing something wrong???

05-21-2026, 08:05 PM	#4
miker98038 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Kent, WA. Tucson, AZ Posts: 1,766	Re: Adjusting the brakes on 56 T-Bird I have had similar experiences on my 55 with front disc. The proportioning valve is one. The other was the front pads. Either not driven enough to seat them, or very hard pads that didn’t provide much stopping power at low pressures. Changing to a softer pad (how my brake guy knew which one I don’t know) and then several slow stops to seat them.

05-22-2026, 12:29 PM	#5
Als48 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Paducah Ky Posts: 420	Re: Adjusting the brakes on 56 T-Bird You do have the master tubed up correctly to the front/rear, don't you. I think the front part of the master usually feeds the rear brakes and vice versa. Worth checking in my opinion.

05-22-2026, 02:58 PM	#6
Old Redneck Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Waynesburg,Pa. Posts: 1,994	Re: Adjusting the brakes on 56 T-Bird Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Yes I know that. Hills Teck contact me the Pads are too hard. He said go to Napa and get softer Pads. Mustang 1965 450 Pad size. I check at NAPA and only one sPad listed. Teck won't be in until Tues.

05-23-2026, 06:45 PM	#7
Gene F Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,689	Re: Adjusting the brakes on 56 T-Bird The line that feeds the rear brakes needs to come out of the correct port on the master cylinder.. BTW, about how much do you have in this project?