[922.3]

I just acquired a set of axles from a junkyard to do the swap on my 1989 GT. One is from a 90 ranger (driver's side) with the 3.0 v-6 and the other from a 90 areostar (passenger side). Both are out of the 7.5 axle. One of the axles is about 1/8th" longer than the other. Is that going to make a difference? Also one of the axle's lug nut studs are longer than the other. Would I just be able to use longer lug nuts to compensate? Thanks for any help. This is my first conversion.

[85MUSTANGGT]

Originally Posted by battlr

I recently went to a junkyard and took off the front disc brakes of a
94 or 95 V6 mustang . I was able to get everything in one whole unit. For the rear, I removed the rear rotors, dust plates, brake lines, mounting brackets, and driverside rear caliper bracket. I was only able to get one caliper bracket because the other one was already removed. And I still need to get two rear calipers and the passenger side caliper bracket. My first question is, can I buy cobra calipers and would they mount up and work fine with these parts or should I stick to buying parts (calipers, rotors, etc.) for an SN95 V6? The rotors now are in excellent condition. If I could use cobra calipers now, I would buy them now, and upgrade to the rotors when the time comes to replace these. I haven't determined which rims I want. All I know is I would like to use 17" x 9" wide as long as I don't need to modify anything (such as tubbing). Will 9" fit all around? Do I need 9" in the back and 8" in the front to avoid rubbing? Or should I just stick with 8" all around? I plan on taking the axels out of a ranger (driverside) or aerostar. Whichever the junkyard has. Can I use both sides out of an aerostar? Now I guess there is more involved and this is where I'm getting lost. What do I do about the e-brake cable? I just purchased a 93 Cobra MC, 3-2 bracket for it, adjustible proportioning valve, and proportioning valve eliminator from maximum motorsports today. And Steel braided hoses from irotors.com. I know I have already asked a lot of questions, but is there anything I might be forgetting? Thanks. MM Caster / Camber plates will also be purchased before the install. YTD $500 so far. Hoping to keep it under $1000 if I get lucky. (not including rims and tires)

Are you asking about Cobra caliper for the front or back? The fronts are a simple bolt on swap from the V6/GT calipers and rotors. The rear calipers are the same between the V6, GT, and Cobra. The only difference is the Cobra uses a longer axle bracket and moan braces, the caliper brackets are wider where it slips over the rotor, and the Cobra has specific pads that are thinner to allow the thicker rotor. I used a set of calipers and brackets from a GT and ground the bracket to clear the Cobra rotors.

You should be fine with 17x9's. They will rub on the front, but that is easily solved with rack limiters or what I do is simply keep in mind how sharp I can turn and avoid those situations. This is primarily in parking lots. On the rear all you'll need to do is roll the fender lip up so it doesn't cut the tires.

If you're going to use the SN95 brakes on the rear then you'll need to use the axle shafts from a '94-98 model. The Ranger/Aerostar axles are for keeping the stock track width with 5-lug drum conversion. You could use them but you would have to buy special axle brackets.

For the parking brake cables you'll need two M-2809-A a and one M-2810-A cable available from Summit.

Sounds like you have everything else covered. I can't think of anything else at the moment. Ask if you have more questions.

[85MUSTANGGT]

Originally Posted by 922.3

I just acquired a set of axles from a junkyard to do the swap on my 1989 GT. One is from a 90 ranger (driver's side) with the 3.0 v-6 and the other from a 90 areostar (passenger side). Both are out of the 7.5 axle. One of the axles is about 1/8th" longer than the other. Is that going to make a difference? Also one of the axle's lug nut studs are longer than the other. Would I just be able to use longer lug nuts to compensate? Thanks for any help. This is my first conversion.

Those axles should be the same length. If you measure from the flange of the axle to the tip where the c-clip goes, is it the same? They should be 29-5/32" long. If you're concerned about the studs you can hammer them out and replace them with new ones from the auto parts store. What kind of conversion are you doing?

[922.3]

I am going to swap the front with spindles from a 95 v-6 ( I know a guy who has a wrecker service and he has a wrecked 95 v-6 that I can get the parts for free) and the rear I am just going to do the drum brake conversion with the axles I mentioned. I think the axles should work. I'll just replace the studs on the one axle. Thanks.

[battlr]

Ok, I guess I'm not sure what stock track is. I thought the axles from the sn95's were longer so the tires would stick out farther if you used them. (past the fender) And if you got the axles from the ranger or aerostar it would be stock length so you could but you could put larger rims and tires, still be within the fender, and have discs brakes. Using the parts taken off the sn95. So if I want disc brakes I have to use the sn95 axles, but the tires will stick out a little if I run with 9".

[85MUSTANGGT]

By stock track width I'm talking about the width from flange to flange of the axle. Like I mentioned before, you can use the Ranger/Aerostar axles with the SN95 brakes, but you'll have to by the special axle brackets to mount the caliper further inboard to line up with the rotor. Using the '94-98 axles will not make the wheels stick out past the fender unless you get wheels with a very shallow backspacing. The axle I put in my car came from a '98 GT and I have 17x9 '03 Cobra wheels w/ a 6.125" BS and the wheels a even with the fender.

[battlr]

I think I'm grasping this a little bit more. I'm not exactly sure what backspacing is, but I've seen you guys talking about it. I have someone thats actually helping me out. So your replies help out tremedously. He's reading your replies and trying to explain it to me so I understand it a little better. He's speaks the "language" and knows cars in general, but not mustangs specifically. Thanks for the help and time invested.

[85MUSTANGGT]

Backspacing is a measurement of the wheel. It is the distance from the mounting face (where the wheel bolts to the axle) to the inner lip. If you have a summit catalog, in the wheels & tires section is a list of terminology with some diagrams. Also the instuctions for the Ford Racing M-2300-K conversion kit is on their website. It helped me alot and has pictures. Just scroll down and click on the "View" next to the M-2300-K kit.

Ford Racing Performance Parts [Instruction Sheets]

[Sniper]

Kind of late but- Do you guys know anything about using 04 front spindles? After buying them at a junkyard, I read that they'll stick the wheels out about 1/2" more than stock, which is fine with me. BUT, I also read that the tie rods will be too low for proper steeting geometry. How does this actually relate to everyday driving, no more racing, and very little use. Only nice weekends in spring/summer? Should i go through the hassle of trying to exchange these for 94-95's?

[85MUSTANGGT]

I've heard of people using the '96-04 spindles, but there will be bumpsteer issues. It may not cause any problem for everyday driving, but there is no way to fix the problem with those spindles if it does. It would be wise if you could swap them out for the '94-95 counterparts.

[shakerhood]

Originally Posted by Sniper

Kind of late but- Do you guys know anything about using 04 front spindles? After buying them at a junkyard, I read that they'll stick the wheels out about 1/2" more than stock, which is fine with me. BUT, I also read that the tie rods will be too low for proper steeting geometry. How does this actually relate to everyday driving, no more racing, and very little use. Only nice weekends in spring/summer? Should i go through the hassle of trying to exchange these for 94-95's?

Unless you plan on buying an Aftermarket K Member for your Car then I would use only the 94-95 Spindles.

[base70d]

What is the five lug bolt pattern size. Meaning, 5x what.

[85MUSTANGGT]

5 on 4.5" circle

[93gtowner]

hey guys,
I have a '93 GT and am very interested in doing a rear brake conversion, from drums to discs. (oh, and I have a four-lug bolt pattern that i'd like to convert into a 5-lug so i'll have more wheel/tire options.)
i want to get an idea of the work i'd need to put in to make this happen.
thank you!

[85MUSTANGGT]

It's basically a bolt-on deal. You'll have to pull the axle shafts, remove your stock brakes, install the new brakes, and reinstall the axle shafts. You'll also have to change brake hoses and parking brake cables, gut the stock proportioning valve and install an adjustable proportioning valve. It may also require changing master cylinders.