I know that I can buy a kit to install disc brakes on my 8" Ford rearend but can someone tell me what rotors and discs are used in those kits. Are they from Ford, Lincoln, Chev or what? I would like to have the emergency brake included with the rear calipers. Any info on this subject would be appreciated. Thanks.

I SPOKE WITH SOMEONE AT CURRIE ENTERPRISES A FEW MONTHS BACK AND HE SUGGESTED AN EXPLORER (95-2000) REAR DISC SET UP SAYS THEY WORK GREAT AND INCLUDE THE PARKING BRAKE. KINDA WIDE THOUGH, NO PROBLEM IF YOU HAVE THE ROOM. THEY SELL THEM OR YOU CAN GET THEM FROM THE USED AUTO PARTS YARD. ALSO I WAS TALKING TO A GUY AT WORK AND HE SAID HE WAS DOING BRAKES ON HIS 92 (I THINK) GRAND MARQUEE AND SAID THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WAS A DRUM BRAKE INSIDE THE ROTOR. SHORTLY AFTER THAT I SAW AN ARTICLE (IN STREET RODDER I THINK) "INSTALLING WILWOOD DISC BRAKES" FEATURING THE SAME TYPE SET UP. BIG $$ I'M SURE. DON'T KNOW HOW THE EXPLORER E-BRAKE IS SET UP THOUGH. EITHER WAY I'M SURE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE THE HOUSING ENDS TO ACCOMODATE. MY WIFE DRIVES A 97 MERC. MOUNTAINEER (BASICALLY AN EXPLORER WITH A DIFFERANT GRILL AND HIDIOUS REFLECTORS IN THE REAR BUMPER) AND IT STOPS GREAT.

GOOD LUCK, JOEL

try "kennys rod and custom" they have a complete set up including a e-brake using vette calipers...and the price is cheap....good luck.....pat

TRY RALPH AT ECI,I HAVE USED THIER REAR DISC KIT,IT'S A GM ROTOR/SET-UP FROM MID 90'S CADILLAC.THEY WORK SUPER BUT ARE BIG$$$.THE ONLY TROUBLE I ENCOUNTERED WAS THE AXLE FLANGE WAS TO BIG FOR THE HAT,HAD TO TURN IT DOWN A BIT ON A LATHE.THEY WORK GREAT.HAVE ALSO HEARD THE ENTIRE REAR END FROM UNDER THE EXPLORER WORKS GREAT AND THEY'RE PLENTIFULL.GOOD LUCK!!
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DARYLE

I had a 47 Ford that the first time I put together, I used an 8" with drum brakes. On a later refurbish, I replaced the 8" with a Versailles disc brake rear. The swap was a waste of time and money. I have come to believe that on a typical street car, rear discs are not at all worth the effort. Under 99% of street situations, the drums are up to the job. After I sold the 47, Every thing I have built I've stuck to drum brakes.
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Fred aka ZZFord or 33Highboy

I did a swap on my early (small brg) 9" ford. I got a rear from a mid 70's Lincoln (I think it was a 76) which had disk brakes on the rear. I guess some of the wagons of that vintage also had disks. Anyway, it is real wide and not in demand (cheap). If you take all the parts off the end and then cut the bearing retainer flush, it will all bolt on the early rear. I had to make a ring to center the rotor on the axle and then re-drill to small bold pattern as the Lincold is 5 on 5. I was going to Chevy pattern to match the 78 GM front on my Olds anyway. These brakes have in intergral parking brake also. Try to get one with good rotors and they are directional and about $100 each. I also had to slot the mounting holes on the retainer. If it was going on a big bearing 9" rear it would be a bolt on.

Hope this helps.

Doug
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The Land Yacht specialist

I've run the Lincoln disk brakes on a Jeep YJ (my driver) for nearly 6 years and only late last fall did the linings finally wear out to bare metal (110 thousand miles all with Chevy power). The only draw back to the Lincoln caliper/disk combo....dismal e-brake setup. Don't expect them to hold on *ANY* hill. Pluses.....pads and rotors are easy to come by...albiet a little on the pricey side.

If your looking to buy a kit for most any axel combo the folks at ssbrakes.com is where I went.

I have a Ford 9" and I used a kit for the bracket and rotor and 85 Eldorado/Toronado calipers. They are available in the bone yards and provide built in emergency brakes. If you get them from a bone yard, consider taking the cables with them.