Disc brakes

[42guy]

I think Ford started front disc brakes in 1967. Am I correct?

[dmsfrr]

As standard equipment or optional?
They were *new* and standard on '65 T-birds... could have been optional on the 1st gen Mustangs and a couple other models about the same time ???

http://automotivemileposts.com/tbird...fications.html

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[V8 Bob]

Originally Posted by dmsfrr

Maybe the '65 T-birds... could have been optional on the 1st gen Mustangs about the same time.

http://automotivemileposts.com/tbird...fications.html

Also '65 Lincolns and Mustangs.

[dmsfrr]

The front drum brakes on my brand new little '71 Merc were worthless over 40mph.
If I'd known back then discs were available I would have ordered them.

[Charlie Stephens]

My '66 Mustang GT had them and my guess is that some of the earlier ones had them also.

Charlie Stephens

[42guy]

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I have a 66 Ford wagon and set up looks wrong. I don't know if some one added them from a later version. My 67 Cougar had them and were the four piston caliper style. This wagon does not have that style. Just wondering if previous owner changed them.

[V8 Bob]

Originally Posted by 42guy

I have a 66 Ford wagon and set up looks wrong. I don't know if some one added them from a later version. My 67 Cougar had them and were the four piston caliper style. This wagon does not have that style. Just wondering if previous owner changed them.

You have an aftermarket disc kit as '66 Big Fords had 4 piston KH discs up to '68, like T-Birds and Lincolns.

[bobss396]

I had a '67 Cougar with 4-piston calipers, so did my '68 Cougar. My '68 Mustang GT s-code had the Kelsey Hayes 4-piston calipers.

[flatrod]

Ford first offered disc's in 65 as fixed 4 piston calipers. 68 was the first year for the floating calipers.

[craig]

As mentioned, 1968 was the first year for floating calipers, single piston. If bobss396 '68 mustang had the 4 piston, then it was a very very early production '68 or somebody went to the trouble to put all '67 stuff on it. Not all S codes came from the factory with discs, so who knows

[bobss396]

Originally Posted by craig

As mentioned, 1968 was the first year for floating calipers, single piston. If bobss396 '68 mustang had the 4 piston, then it was a very very early production '68 or somebody went to the trouble to put all '67 stuff on it. Not all S codes came from the factory with discs, so who knows

This was a highly optioned car, factory 390, 4-speed, Detroit Locker out back. Front brakes were Kelsey Hayes 4-piston.

[willowbilly3]

I think Volvo or some European cars had them in the 50s, way before any American car

[craig]

Not sure what you had, but all 68-73 Mustangs came with the same single piston, floating calipers. I actually had an original 68 1/2, 428 4spd Mustang, new ( it's long gone now) and it too had single piston calipers

[willowbilly3]

Originally Posted by craig

Not sure what you had, but all 68-73 Mustangs came with the same single piston, floating calipers. I actually had an original 68 1/2, 428 4spd Mustang, new ( it's long gone now) and it too had single piston calipers

I still remember the magazine test of that car. I think on slicks it timed the quickest of any production car tested that year.

[Milt/Las Vegas]

Originally Posted by craig

Not sure what you had, but all 68-73 Mustangs came with the same single piston, floating calipers. I actually had an original 68 1/2, 428 4spd Mustang, new ( it's long gone now) and it too had single piston calipers

I bet you're sorry you sold that.I had a 68 GT-E 427 Cougar,was that ever a mistake selling that.

[scicala]

"I had a 68 GT-E 427 Cougar,was that ever a mistake selling that."

To me, Mercury screwed up a little when they offered the 427 in the '68 Cougar GTE.
They detuned the heck out of it with a lot lower compression ratio and a mild hydraulic camshaft. Cool to have a "427" but actually pretty tame compared to all the other versions of the 427.

Sal

[craig]

I agree, Merc did screw up with their 427 version. Probably had something to do with emissions and they needed something a little more docile to fit the image. The cam was the same as a 390GT/428CJ, but had a different part number. I got a hold of one of those engines years ago and put it in a 69 F100 with a C6. It actually worked very good and had more low end torque than I had expected

[KULTULZ]

I realize this is an old post and I am coming in late...

FORD released the 427/390HP for the 1968 model year as CHEV-MOPAR-AMC was whomping the heck out of them on the street. The S-CODE 390 was just not making it.

This new 427 was also very costly to produce (and along with concerns about possible warranty claims) and at the last moment FORD backed out of FORD installs and the engine was picked up by MERC DIV.

FORD had no HP for the street. This is when TASCA FORD developed a street 428 MUST that was a proven winner and got FORD execs interested in it. A FORD version was released in spring 68 and at a much lower cost and we know what happened then.

[triumphleroy]

I have an 1949 Crosley Station Wagon which came from the factory with 4 wheel disc brakes! I remember seeing in my old motors manual as a youngin where the Chryslers disk brake set up in the 50's was covered with shields to apparently keep dirt etc out. Remember the first time I worked on Disc brakes I thought I was in for a lot of hard work and was pleasantly surprised at how easy they were to repair compared to the old drum brakes!