Installing Granada Disk Brakes on a Classic Mustang

This was the first project I wanted to do that didn’t consist of just bolting stock parts back on. This is one of the more common modifications Mustang enthusiasts make, because it’s so easy, cheap, and makes a vast improvement in braking stability.

There’s no magic to changing your front drums to disk brakes. The only issue is, where do you get the brakes from and what do you get?

Ford made mid-’70′s Granada’s with front disk brakes, and luckily enough for us, their spindles bolt directly to the early Mustang ball joints. For mine, I went to Pick-n-Pull, found a ’76 Granada with a complete non-power brake setup. To make the swap, I took the spindles, rotors, calipers, and dual reservoir master cylinder. I’m not sure if there’s a difference, but I made sure I had a 302 under the hood and a 5-bolt lug pattern.

Here are the disk brake parts as they came out of the Granada

I brought them home, cleaned them up with solvent and a wire brush, and gave them a nice black coat of paint.

Here are the Granada disk brakes after clean-up and painting

Once I cleaned up and rebuilt my front suspension, I bolted the Granada spindles to the Mustang ball joints and assembled the rest of the unit from there. To connect it to the rest of the steering, you’ll want to get a new set of Granada tie rod ends and you’re all set.

Here is a set of the disk brakes installed in the Mustang

I haven’t finalized the master cylinder situation yet, but I’m thinking that I’ll be pulling a late model Mustang pedal unit, power booster and master cylinder. This has the added benefit of adding a modern cable clutch that matches the T5 I’ll be installing.

It’s important to use a proportioning valve to make sure the rear wheels don’t lock up before the fronts. I’ll be using the stock Granada piece. From the master cylinder, some brake line fabrication will need to be done, but nothing too tough.