All of the early mustangs do have a little bit of bump steer the way they are stock.Tcp and baer tracker both are tie rod ends that help a lot but most people don"t know what bump steer is to understand it.It is when you hit a bump in the road the car was to go left or right that is bump steer.There is two companies now that sell a disc and 5 lug kit for the 64-66 inline spindles.I understand wanting to save money but some things its not work cutting corners to me.
Bumpsteer (to me) is the geometry of the suspension remaining constant throughout its usable vertical travel. If you are building a track car this is a big deal, but on a non race street car it is a little less critical but still important. The real key is this, the tierod lengths should be as close to the lower control arm length as possible so when they travel up and down they are doing so in unison. if the tierod is too long or short the tire toe in toe out will vary too much when you go over a big dip(not a hole - but a gentle dip like a bridge apron) in the road making a sqealing tire sound or pitching the car one way or another.
Set the steering straight and change one spindle and put the car back down. it sould be really close if not dead on straight as the factory side. if its far off then look at the aftermarket tierods.
I cant tell you how much info floating on the net is pure crap. We (and guys like us) have been doing this swap since the 80's long before any internet or aftermarket industry to tell us how stupid we are.
Trust in your self make your own assesment, if you are happy with the results then it is worth it.
You want the real answer to your question "why the Granada swap?" Because long before mustangs were collectible or valuable there was a great desire to make them better and safer and more enjoyable by regular people who did and dont have wads of cash to buy all this high end stuff and more importantly there WAS no high end stuff, no kits no nothing.
So pretty smart everyday people started trying to find a better way and the Granada, Maverick, Fairlane, cougars...... all had the same platform and - parts. so people stared swapping and here we sit with 15 different companies telling us how theirs is better, all derived from normal folks taking matters into their own hands.
We have 3 69 convertibles that have 46 upgrades each to date, from power windows & doorlocks to electric trunk release(almost all fords are the same under the skin) to fuel injection, roller spring saddles and a list a mile long -"that cant be done" - right. We are up to power mirrors with led indicator lights now- we need to stop really.
Anyway that is why Granada - good, easy, accessible, proven, cost effective. If you do have a doubt put your setup on ebay and buy one of the dozens of kits(they are good too), you wont have any trouble selling your stuff at all. good luck and sorry for being long winded
Joe
I am currently finding out about Granada disc brakes myself after buying all new goodies for my 1970. I tore it apart and it did not look the same. I am now trying to decide what to do. I found the caliper brakets in town $35 each. If the spidles are the same I am good to go. And thanks andrewmp6 for your response to my questions.
If you already have them on the car id stick with them they are ok brakes unsized for my taste tho.The granada swap is still the cheapest way to get disc brakes but i rather spend more for the cobra ones or wilwoods but i road race some and love the whiney country roads i drive on everyday..
I have a 68 and want to convert fronts to disc. Can you elaborate a little and let me know what a Granada Swap it? I know a Granada is a car, but what year do I need to find that has the disc set that will fit my 68? And what all do I need?
It would seem that if you are a type of person that is ok with driving a car with a used front end, spindles, ball joints, calipers, rotors, hoses and the such, and you don't mind a few non perfect brake line to hose to bracket type
connections, then you can put a debatably better front end on your car for cheap by buying the complete unit off a salvage car. (like a not in much demand Granada). The degree of new parts needed is a variable. I can tell you that side by side the Granada stuff is mostly bigger, 2" piston versus 2 1/4". Does it matter. More steal on the rotor around the bearings and yet it looks like the spindle size itself is the same. I don't know that fer sure yet, that is where I am now. But if you like all new stuff with no previous road grime and hammer dings, it is all available online these days, what a country. Personally, if you stay "mustang" someone won't wind up having a front room full of mail order new parts that might not fit on your
car but thats just me. Does anyone know for sure if the spindles are the same?
If I go to the junk yard and find a Grenada, What year Grenada's brakes will fit my 68? What do I need to bring home with me (from the Grenada) to completely put disc brakes on my car?
I just read an atricle where some dude did a resto-mod on a 66 fastback and actually used a set of disc take-offs from a C-5 Corvette! He said he found them on e-bay and bought them from someone that was upgrading their Corvette brakes. The pics are pretty wicked, you can see the "Corvette" calipers through the wheels.
That is what I'm talking about!!! excellent! someone got the nads to slap vette brakes on a mustang!. Point being use the best part that will fit and function.
All granadas, mavericks, cougar(68-70) falcon ....... are identical. Really all you need are the spindles because the rotors new are $20 each, Calipers new are $15 each, brake hoses new are $25 each and the system works very well, if you a building a race car dont go granada, if you are like the rest of us not made out of money and looking for a reliable - doable upgrade from wild drum brakes you are in luck. If you want new - buy a kit, the choice and final decision is yours.
By the way, you will seperate the upper and lower ball joints and leave them on the donor car along with the old tie rod end, so if your parts are crap - change them.
really the only part you will be using that is "used" is the spindle. Now use your common sense here, if your donor is crashed in front and the suspension is spaghetti - keep walking, look for a better one like an abandoned then junked older car with no devastating injuries. Good luck!
This is a half day direct bolt in ford parts for ford parts upgrade.
you need the spindles and the spring clips and lock bolt for the calipers.
Want to make your 68 handle sweet? slap in some roller spring saddles too(mustangs unlimited) a machinist buddy of mine made some for me and I love it!
We found a guy named Dennis from CSRP in Texas that sold a complete "Granada" kit with NEW spindals and all new parts for $525. EVERYTHING was in the box for the replacement and all quality equipment. This is the way to go if you are going to do an upgrade to the brakes. Good guy, honest and answers all questions Here is his site: http://www.discbrakeswap.com/
He has very detailed instructions for the installation of the kit. Great reference even if you go the junkyard route to get the donor parts from a Granada.
He also sells kits with the 4 piston Kelsey-Hayes calipers for the same price
A code 66 coupe
289 4v, Roller Rockers, Electric fan
Performer & 650 Edelbrock
MSD ignition
Tri Y into 2.25 Shelby side exhaust
T5 conversion & Hydraulic clutch
CSRP Discs
Last edited by 66 restomod; 12-04-2008 at 03:55 PM.
Reason: added our website for pictures
