9 inch rear discs (again)

Hey guys

I am trying to come up with a combo using different components to make my own 9 inch disc kit that doesn't cost $500+, and I am wondering about what parts will work with what I have.

My current setup cosists of a 70's Bronco big bearing rearend that I have converted to a 4.5" bolt pattern. I have considered the Explorer kit, but it will not work for this setup. The housing flange to axle flange gap isn't large enough.

The most attractive option is to go the Cadillac caliper/ Lincoln rotor route and buy a weld-on bracket. This sounds like a good combination, but i'm not sure if my axle flange diameter is too large given the fact that it originated as a 5.5" bolt pattern. I want to be sure the rotor will fit over it. Does anyone know the inside dimension of the Lincoln Mark VII rear rotors?

Another thing I was wondering about is why wouldn't the Explorer rotors work with the Cadillac calipers? They have good axle flange clearance, and they are about $50 cheaper per pair. I'm just not sure about the thickness of the rotor. It looks rather thin, but I can't really tell from a picture. Judging by the calipers in the picture, they can't be very thick at all...probably not even vented.

I would appreciate any suggestions about anything that might work. I know that brakes are the biggest safety element in a car, but I don't think I need to spend $500+ to have a quality system.


I fully expect Streets to recommend something similar to a Packard rotor/ Chord caliper setup. :)

The versailles stuff works great, but they have gotten too popular and too expensive.

It looks like I can get a pair of rebuilt Caddy calipers and a pair of new Lincoln rotors for about $225 outright. If I can find some caliper cores to trade in, it will cut about $60 to $70 off of that. I have found some GM mounting brackets for about $25.

I need to do some junkyardin' and make sure those rotors will fit on my axle flanges.

I know cost is a factor (is for me, too) but I'm removing the 8.5" 10 bolt and leaf spring setup from my '36 Chevy to install a '95 or newer 8.8" Ford Explorer rear. They come with posi and disc brakes from the factory and 3.55 or 3.73 gears. I've found a source for the 3.55 version (non posi) NEW and still on pallet from Ford for $500. Wrecking yards get about that for the posi version used.

As for strength, they're 31 spine (compared to a Mustang's 28) making them stronger than the Mustang unit. And there are MANY Rustangs running 10's in the 1/4 with the 8.8" factory rear.

They measure 58.3" from hub to hub (that's 1.7" narrower than my Nova 10 bolt.)

The only thing I don't like is purely cosmetic. The "pumpkin" is off-center like a 4WD front axle. Hell, my car's gonna be so low, no one will ever see it!!

Just an idea from a fellow Mississippian!!

I have a Lincoln Versailles set up on my mustang and I love it. I also have another complete Versailles rear end that I bought for spare parts it is still complete. Email or post if you are interested in it.

Try a Jeep front rotor, 4.5 bolt circle and a GM metric caliper. All you need to mount the caliper is a simple bracket welded to the rear housing and the caliper bolted to it. Lots of circle burners around here run this set up. We have a guy here locally who laser cuts the brackets and sells them cheap. Let me know if you want his phone number.

Take a look at http://www.tsmmfg.com... They have brackets, rotors, etc. for what looks like reasonable prices...

Thanks for the info guys. I ordered a couple of GM metric weld-on brackets for about $11.

I determined that the calipers I need come from an '80 to '85 Cadillac Seville or Eldorado. They are unloaded with the parking brake hardware included.

-The part #'s are 18-4138 and 18-4139 ( A-1 Cardone brand). I can get them at O'Reilly's for about $61 each outright.


The rotors a lot of guys use comes from an '84 to '90 Lincoln Mark VII. I need the 5 on 4 1/2" bolt pattern and the rotors have to fit over a 7" axle flange, so I'm still not sure if they will fit.

-The part #'s for them are BD60628 and BD60629 (Wagner brand). I can get them at O'Reilly's for $54 each.


Hey Dave, do you have any dimensions on the Jeep rotors?

Does anyone know of a link where I can find info on rotor dimensions?