Thread: Disc Disc Brake System Components?

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Ryan,
You asked about the location of the "internal" residual valves. If provided, they are behind the tube seat insert, along with a little spring. To see if you have them take a paper clip or similar small diameter object (butt end of a small drill bit works good) and slowly push it into the output ports. If you feel a spongy resistance, you are pushing against a residual. If none are present, the object will easily go into the master bore.

There is a lot of info published about rebuilders not installing internal residual valves when they refurbish cores, because they pretty much disappeared from use with disc/disc, master on firewall applications. Here's a crappy old picture that shows where they reside, if installed. People removed them by putting a big sheet metal screw gently into the brass tube seat, gently prying it out, and then pushing it back in place. Doesn't damage the seating surface if done carefully....

master.jpg

Originally Posted by Hotrod46

Here is a little info I figured out when I was going to use the Explorer brakes on my project that may help.

Ford Expedition calipers have the same bolt pattern as the Explorer's. They have a slightly larger bore. It's only about 1/8", but it will make a difference in clamping pressure and bring you closer in size to the GM metrics.

Also, the Expedition pads are so close in size to the Explorer's, that they could easily be made to fit. They have a larger friction surface. The pads will almost fit as is. The Explorer rotors have enough width to just accept the Expedition pads. This will increase the "swept area" of the brakes and increase friction as well as reducing pad wear.

I changed over to the SVT Mustang brakes on my project and never got around to making the swap, but have the parts in hand. I'll put them on my 46 when I finally get around to it. I feel like I could use a little more brake power on it because it's so heavy.

Just something to think about.

Thanks for the info! I did notice the explorer calipers look small. I will make this swap. This should help keep the calipers closer to the same size as the gm metric ones on the front.

Originally Posted by rspears

Ryan,
You asked about the location of the "internal" residual valves. If provided, they are behind the tube seat insert, along with a little spring. To see if you have them take a paper clip or similar small diameter object (butt end of a small drill bit works good) and slowly push it into the output ports. If you feel a spongy resistance, you are pushing against a residual. If none are present, the object will easily go into the master bore.

There is a lot of info published about rebuilders not installing internal residual valves when they refurbish cores, because they pretty much disappeared from use with disc/disc, master on firewall applications. Here's a crappy old picture that shows where they reside, if installed. People removed them by putting a big sheet metal screw gently into the brass tube seat, gently prying it out, and then pushing it back in place. Doesn't damage the seating surface if done carefully....

Attachment 67394

Thanks for that Roger. I will check my MC to see if it has them. There is a really good chance it does not have them.

If you have access to milling machine, the caliper mounting brackets could be opened up a little to take the Expedition pads. That was the route I was going to take so that off the shelf pads could be used. As I recall, the Expedition pad backing plates are a tiny bit longer than the Explorer pads.

A couple of minutes with a grinder would modify the pads if you don't have a mill.

The calipers should fit with no mods and the Explorer pads could be used if you wanted.

Strange that Ford would make the rotor with a lot of wasted width. True enough, it's toward the inside of the friction area, but it's there.

It's possible that the Expedition caliper brackets and rotors could be used, but I never got around to checking that.

The Expedition rotors are around 11"-12", so wheels would have to be 16" to 17". They are also 6 lug, so they would have to be redrilled. There may not be enough room to do that.

Check everything out pretty good because I only bought the parts and did a few rough measurements. I'm confident the caliper and pad swap will work, though.