[Tydeorum]

I have a 67 289 mustang and was wanting to know if is something i should do. I want this car for a driver. How much of a difference does this make?

[Jonk67]

I'm in the middle of this conversion now and adding PB, I think the difference will be dramatic going from 4wh. drum nonpower.
Just think of that panic stop when you're coming off an interstate exit ramp and all of the sudden the cars at the bottom are at a stop and you're standing up in your seat trying to get the drums to bring you to a quick halt which is happening very slowly. This happened to a friend in his '66, he ended up on the shoulder next to the stopped car just missing it, he's now converting to disc and fresh underwear.

I have read it is night and day and makes our classic cars much more like driving your newer daily driver car. I have not let my wife drive my '67 yet (owned it over a year) because of the nonpower drums, not only that it's hard to get them adjusted so they don't pull to one side in a panic stop. Once I get these on I won't be embarrased to let a close friend or relative test drive the car, I think they will be impressed instead.
I've never found braking specs from '67-'68 between drum/disc but I imagine there's an increased distance for the drums.

First you need to decide what size rims you will be using - stock 14", 15", 16/17" as this will limit the different kits available.
Jon

[jay67fast]

johnk67,
I had a 67 F/B with non power drum brakes. Used to have a lottery to pick which lane I wound up in when I hit the brakes!!! I installed a set of discs (non power) almost 2 years ago. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!!!!! Night and day. Now, when I hit the brakes, I KNOW I'm gonna stop (and stay in the same lane I started in).
Best mod I ever made (followed closely by LED rear lights and Pertronix ignition.
DO IT!!----DO IT SOON!!!
jay67fast

[Tydeorum]

how long did it take you to make the converison? And you said that changing to led tail lights made a huge difference also?

[Jonk67]

How long it takes will depend on a few factors, to start with:
1. What size rim will you be using?
2. Will you be doing PB or nonPB
3. How mechanical are you? can you bend brake tubing, install calipers, etc.? Tools?
4. I'll think of more....

We can start there and help you narrow your options as kits come in different amounts of completion and how much time you'll need to complete.
I think Jay meant that the LED tailights helped since he could be seen better to avoid a rear ender and the electronic ign. upgrade makes starting and running smoother than points.
Jon

[Tydeorum]

If i am going to do this I would think that power disc brakes would be the way to go instead of nonpower? I am so what new to cars but am very mechanical. Half the reason to get an old car is the fun of working on it and making it mine. I have 15" rims so there is some room behind there.

[65BlueHorse]

I changed my 65 from nonpower drum to nonpower disk front and drum rear. I didn't see the major change as everyone is saying but it is still worth it. I could and did a few times lock up all 4 wheels with the drums but I had the same problem as jay67fast when i hit the brakes i wasn't sure which way it would pull and the disk up front did fix that.

[Jonk67]

Ok that gives us a better idea, the 15" rims will limit your number of kits due to rim size mostly, you won't fit any rotors bigger than ~11.5" rotors so all of the 13" rotor kits using late model mustang brakes are out.
You also need to pick a budget, how much are you willing to spend to upgrade the brakes?

We can start a list of what will be needed:
1. PB booster and MC - ~$300
2. PB pedal - $50-100 (you can reuse your pedal box by drilling 2 holes to mount and removing some backing nuts so the booster will mount, also have to enlarge the firewall hole for the booster.)
3. disc prop valve - $50-125 depending on where you find it, I would only buy new. The valve is different from drum to disc.
4. Brake lines -? may be able to reuse/bend some may have to be replaced.
5. Rotors, calipers, bracket, dust shields, brake hoses

Companies I have read about with kits that fit 15" rims:
1. Chockostang Classic Mustang Disc Brake Conversions and Power Steering
2. CSRP CSRP discbrakeswap Mustang Disc Brake Conversion Kits CATALOG
3. ?
There are companies that offer kits with the power brake booster and MC as well as various other parts so you really need to research what is in each kit before buying.

I would lean towards the kits that are like the original '67 - 4 piston Kelsey hayes but with the improved SS pistons, from what I've read the steel stock ones tend to corrode/stick so the SS are an upgrade.

There are Granada kits where you change out your spindles, outer tie rods, get a realignment, etc. There are also kits that use a mix of ford, chevy and cadillac? parts which is a hodgepodge to me, I don't know how I'd remember what came off what when it came time to fix something or change pads.
As you can see there are a lot of choices out there and others can chime in with more companies that make kits that fit under 15" rims.

At a minimum you will need to install the booster, pedal, lines, rotors, calipers and bleed the system.
Going with a stock type setup will minimize the number of things you need to change, they will bolt right up to your stock spindles.
I'll think of more later but as you can see research is important to get a kit you'll be happy with and can afford. You can search fleabay for kits too.
Jon

[jspagna1]

It's the first thing I did on my car. I installed SSBC front disc brakes (Non power). And had the rear drums rebuilt. It's the best investment and safety improvement you can make on the car especially if it is going to be a driver.

[lswartzi]

I have completed two scarebird brake conversion on a 64.5 mustang and a 65 mustang. The conversion is easy, cheep and improves the braking a lot. Plus you convert to a dual master cylindar which increases the safety of the car. I did the whole conversion for under $500 bucks and highly recommend it. You do not have to be the best mechanic in the world to add disc brakes.

[Tydeorum]

I just want to buy a complete setup that I car start and finished without having to find any parts or leave my garage.

[Warrior 2011]

what i did was i went to a old car salvage yard and got the disc brake spindles, then bought all of the parts at NAPA. i havent put them on my car yet but the 4 wheel drums are POS. BTW can someone give me a pic of 1968 mustang disc brakes so i can kind of get a feel for how ever thing attaches. I have a general idea but pics would be helpful.

[Tydeorum]

are the drum spindals different than the disc spindals?

[Jonk67]

Originally Posted by Tydeorum

are the drum spindals different than the disc spindals?

Near the end of my previous post "they will bolt right up to your stock spindles."

Take a look at the links I posted, if you install the stock type upgraded brakes I described you will not have to change spindles or tie rods or get a realignment and all the parts should come in one kit.

Your '67 drum brake spindles are the same as the '67 disc spindles. If you install '67 Kelsey Hayes 4 piston calipers (SS pistons preferred), caliper bracket, rotors/pads, brake hoses, dust shields - that should be everything at the wheel. You will also need the booster, M/C and prop valve for front disc/rear drum setup. I think the lines come with some of the kits. You will need to read the websites and contact the seller to find out if there is anything other than fluid that you will need to install.
These are the kits I found during my research as I am also staying with 15" rims, I have not purchased or installed either yet as I am just installing the PB booster and pedal and will be going with rear disc also so I have to use a different MC anyway.

I felt the 2 kits above (#1 & #2) were the closest to what you're looking for, there may be others selling these stock type kits. I didn't want to change spindles, tie rods, realign, etc. as that runs the cost up to the same as a complete kit that uses the stock spindle and I didn't want to scrounge junk yards or use mixed parts.
Jon

[andrewmp6]

Only in 67 is the disc and drum spindle are the same.Rest of the years they are different.