Please Help w/Mustang II to Grenada Brake Conversion

Mike_I · #1 (**permalink**) 12-12-2003, 08:07 AM

I am in the process of upgrading my Mustang II brakes over to the Grenada Rotors and GM Calipers. I am using the stock Mustang II control arms. The back of the Grenada rotors end up hitting on the lower control arm near the lower ball joint. Am I missing something here? Do you have to grind on the lower control arm or something? Also, I had to remove the rock guards because they also rubbed on the rotors. Is there anything wrong with leaving the rock guards off?

Thanks for the help!

B L & sons · #2 (**permalink**) 12-12-2003, 09:22 AM

Hello Mike
I have the same set up.You are not missing anything. You will not need the rock guards.I had to grind a little off the lower control arms,you will not have to remove much.I would grind a little then check then grind a little more until the rotors cleared the arms lock to lock.
Good luck
Bill

Mike_I · #3 (**permalink**) 12-12-2003, 10:55 AM

Thanks for the info Bill. How do the new brakes work as compared to the old Mustang II brakes?

Thanks

B L & sons · #4 (**permalink**) 12-13-2003, 10:36 AM

sorry about the slow reply.Mike I am still in the build stage.There are a lot of cobras on the road with this setup all say that its night and day defferents.Its a big inprovement over the stock setup and not bad on the pocket.
Bill

scratch · #5 (**permalink**) 12-14-2003, 08:29 PM

Mike,
Your setup is what I have (bought mine as the entire front end clip from Total Cost Involved in Ontario, CA) and it works very well - but only after the pads set. I was worried for the first 100 or so miles but then the "bite" took over and now I am pleased. I might try softer pads later, since I don't have vacuum boost, and I really haven't experimented with my dual master cylinder balance much either.

Remember this GM caliper set-up was to stop Camaro type weight, so with our kit car weights we are ok. Also used on Speedway cars everywhere.

Can't you buy Speedway spindles, so that you don't have to grind on such an important part?

MAXVELO · #6 (**permalink**) 12-15-2003, 07:01 AM

i HAVE THE SAME SETUP ON MY CAR. I WOULD LIKE TO REPLACE THE STOCK GM CALIPERS BUT I DONT KNOW THE PART# TO CROSS REFERENCE WITH THEM. I HAVE THE GRANADA ROTARS. DOES AMYBODY KNOW WHAT CALIPERS THESE ARE FROM. I WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME WILWOOD CALIPERS TO REPLACE THES UGLY THINGS.
THANKS

Mike_I · #7 (**permalink**) 12-15-2003, 07:05 AM

They came on several GM Mid-Size Vehicles and S-10 Trucks. Tell the parts store to look-up a caliper for an 1987 Monte Carlo. I am pretty sure that will be the correct one.

Thanks

Shell Valley · #8 (**permalink**) 12-15-2003, 07:49 AM

The caliper you need is actually off of several mid 70's GM cars (an 87 Monte would actually be what they call a metric caliper) If you get calipers from a 77 Monte Carlo / Chevelle / Buick Regal you should be fine.

Wilwood does make a replacement caliper. They are pretty cool but kind of expensive. I think they call them a GMIII caliper. I don't have the part # in front of me but if you need it I can find it.

Dana

Mike_I · #9 (**permalink**) 12-15-2003, 07:54 AM

Thanks for the info Shell. I believe my calipers are the Metric ones if I am not mistaken. I know that the Banjo bolt that secures the brake line onto the caliper is metric. Also, we looked up a caliper for an S-10 truck and it was an exact match for the one that I have. Hmmm, got me wondering now?

Thanks

Shell Valley · #10 (**permalink**) 12-15-2003, 10:46 AM

Most of the set-ups I've seen use the bigger calipers but the metric calipers are similar so I would imagine they are being used too. The Intermediate calipers measure about 7" from center to center of the mounts while the metric calipers are about 5.5".

I checked on the Willwood calipers and they actually make replacements for both the intermediate and metric calipers under the GMIII name. There are several different part #'s depending on piston size and rotor thickness.

Dana

Jack21 · #11 (**permalink**) 12-15-2003, 03:50 PM

The 11" Grenada rotor on a MII spindle with late '70's early 80's GM calipers is a pretty standard street rod front brake system. Ads and sources all through Street Rod magazine.

Initially planning to use 15" wheels, I went one step up. Stainless Steel Brakes uses the same Grenada rotor, but an updated version of the original Kelsy-Hayes 4 piston calipers. These things work superbly. Street pads are semi-metallic.

On the rear, I used Ford SVO M-2300-C Mustang rear disk brake conversion kit. This setup is the 87 - 89 T-Bird Turbo Coupe, 10", single piston caliper, rotors, caliper mounting brackets, master cylinder that bolts right onto the MII brake booster, and brings the lines out on the engine side for easy install. Kit contains adjustable proportioning valve, stock proportioning valve modification kit, and E-brake cables all in the box! If you go this way, order a set of semimetallic pads for the turbo coupefrom SSBC above. The kit comes with organic lining.

This car stops, and is about as good as it's going to get for a 15"wheel braking setup.

Coloradocobra · #12 (**permalink**) 12-21-2003, 08:31 AM

I am running a Granada rotor/Wilwood setup on my Mustang II spindles. I got the whole kit from Heinzman Street Rods
Phillips, NE 402-886-2275. This is actually a kit from Heidt's, however, so you can buy direct from them but I think the price will be about the same. The calipers are polished, which provides a nice look. The kit contained the rotors, caliper brackets, calipers and pads, and stainless hoses and brackets. See Heidts at Heidts.com. Installation is smooth. For street use, many prefer the Granda rotor over the Wilwood rotors as they tend to last longer without warping - or so I have heard. Gary