Soft Brake Shoes

[Wouter]

I have abandoned the intention of a disc brake conversion, because there are no kits available for the standard 14" steel rims that have just been fitted with new tires..
Please, correct me if I'm wrong.

I therefore replaced all the leaky and corroded drum brake master and brake cylinders.
Now I'm looking for softer brake pads for better(?) results.

Question,
Do these exist and who sells them?
Rockauto does not provide any further information about the hardness of brake pads..

Thanks,
Wouter

[jopizz]

There are 14" disc brake kits available but not for the stock factory rims. You will need to use 14" disc brake rims. Ford Ranger rims from the 90's will work as well as aftermarket rims. You can reuse your new tires.

I'm not sure about softer brake shoes. Other than wearing out faster I don't know what advantage they will give you. I used standard shoes that you can buy anywhere for years and the stopping performance was fine as long as everything else in your system is good.

John

[YellowRose]

Wouter, IF you can find any Ford, Lincoln, Mercury 1975-1982 Granada - w/ 4 wheel disc brakes (11" rotors) on 14" rims in an auto wrecking yard in the Netherlands, see if you can get all four and the spare 14" disc brake ready rims off the car and out of the trunk. It is good to have all 5 so when it comes time to rotate the tires you will not have a rim problem moving a rear tire to the front, or vice versa. When I was looking for 14" disc brake ready rims I found mine on a 1975 Granada with disc brake rims all around, got all five rims and that made things much easier. I see John mentioned 1990's Ranger rims. You may want to include any Ford-Lincoln-Mercury car or truck into the 1990's that are disc brake equipped. It is good if you are looking at an actual car and see the disc brakes on the car before you buy. Otherwise you risk someone selling you what they say are 14" disc brake ready rims and they are not.... Here are some additional ones to consider. Finding them in an auto wrecking yard there might be difficult but bears looking into.

Related Cars
Mercury Monarch 1975-1980
Lincoln Versailles 1977-1980
Ford Maverick
Mercury Comet
Mercury Cougar 1981-1982
Ford Fairmont
Mercury Cougar XR-7
Mercury Zephyr
Lincoln Mark VII
Lincoln Continental
Mustangs?

[simplyconnected]

Are we looking for soft SHOES or soft PADS?
I prefer soft pads on my front disk brakes because they are quiet, they grab better making the stopping distance shorter and they are easier on my rotors. The down side is, soft pads wear out sooner. I don't run my classic cars very much and pads are very easy to replace so I don't mind doing the work. It also gives me an excuse to look around under the car, give things a shake, and determine if anything else needs attention.

BTW, I'm the kind of guy who checks the brushes on my starter motor before they fail. Brushes cost US$8 while a starter motor is over one hundred dollars IF you can find one for sale. - Dave

[Wouter]

Indeed I meant brake shoes instead of pads.. sorry for the confusion.
The list of donor cars is very welcome! But it will be a search in the Netherlands..

Until then I'll continue with the drum brakes that work very well after replacing of all crucial parts.
I understand that braking deceleration cannot be compared with disc brakes, hence my interest in shoes with softer friction material.

I recognize myself in Dave.. and also replace everything before it breaks..!
This will definitely get me through the new year..!


Thanks,
Wouter