My Big Ford Disc brakes

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Topic author
Wolffydmc16
Posts: 8
Joined: Fri Oct 11, 2024 7:52 pm
First Name: Clint
Last Name: W
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1921 Touring
Location: Sacramento

My Big Ford Disc brakes

Post by Wolffydmc16 » Mon Aug 18, 2025 12:31 am

Made my own disc brake swap to my knowledge its not been done before with these parts.

This conversion is NOT BOLT ON as it required welding and some basic fabrication. Im not making more of these. I have over 2500 miles of use on them including decending a 15% grade - no issues! 330mm rotors are plenty big but don't stick out too obvious behind the wheels.

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2012 Ford fusion rear calipers (2nd gen Fusion/Mazda 6) and parking brake cables
2012 Ford Taurus rear rotors ( 3rd gen Taurus, base model non vented)
Willwood universal 7/8" master cylinder

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I selected these rotor as they fit perfectly over small drum axle backing plates. No original T parking brake shoes used.

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The calipers have a fantastic cable operated parking brake mechanism that is just as powerful as the hydraulics.
The cables are too long to operate the same side wheel as the T parking brake cross bar but are just the right length to cross to the other side. Made some brackets to attach the cables to the frame and to attach to the brake equalizer bar, able to Pivot when the brake handle is forward.

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Calipers are mounted to the radius rods with some welded on 1/4" steel tabs.

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Brake rotors had a 5x108mm bolt pattern and we need it to be 6x 5" so they were welded up and re drilled for the 3/8" bolts and are sandwiched between the axle flange and billet adapters to fit the early Model A wheels instead of stock rear drums. Would it fit with stock wood wheels? Probably, never tried.

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Calipers did need to some trimming to clear the spokes of the A wheels, not a big issue.

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Master cylinder was mounted like the Willwood disc kit does. I made a 3/16" bracket on the output flange. I welded a tab on the brake pedal and a double shear clevis connects it to the master, 6:1 mechanical ratio.

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Thanks for looking!


Dan Hatch
Posts: 5094
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 7:31 pm
First Name: Dan
Last Name: Hatch
Location: Alabama

Re: My Big Ford Disc brakes

Post by Dan Hatch » Mon Aug 18, 2025 5:04 am

Question: What is this circled in yellow and what does it do.
IMG_0163.jpeg
Thanks Dan


Allan
Posts: 6729
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 7:21 pm
First Name: Allan
Last Name: Bennett
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1912 van, 1917 shooting brake, 1929 roadster buckboard, 1924 tourer, 1925 barn find buckboard, 1925 D &F wide body roadster, 1927LHD Tudor sedan.
Location: Gawler, Australia

Re: My Big Ford Disc brakes

Post by Allan » Mon Aug 18, 2025 7:10 am

It looks to me to be a lever action hydraulic shock absorber typically used on English cars like Morris Minors, Austin Healy Sprites etc. Does it help dampen axle tramp?

Allan from down under.


Will
Posts: 141
Joined: Wed Jan 09, 2019 5:58 pm
First Name: Will
Last Name: Copeland
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915, 1919, 1923 TT
Location: Melbourne Florida
Board Member Since: 2001

Re: My Big Ford Disc brakes

Post by Will » Mon Aug 18, 2025 9:12 am

Amazing, I do love when someone posts an ingenious fabrication that not only works but is mostly cosmetically invisible to other than those who would know. I wish I had the brains to be able to dream up something like this and make it a reality.
As Tom Sellick told Marston in the movie Quigley Down Under, I told you I dont have much use for handguns, I never said I didn't know how to use them!


TXGOAT2
Posts: 7589
Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2021 10:08 pm
First Name: Pat
Last Name: McNallen
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926-7 roadster
Location: Graham, Texas
Board Member Since: 2021

Re: My Big Ford Disc brakes

Post by TXGOAT2 » Mon Aug 18, 2025 9:32 am

Very nice installation, and more brake than the tires can fully utilize. The double acting shocks will make a huge improvement in ride and handling, and will further improve braking.


Topic author
Wolffydmc16
Posts: 8
Joined: Fri Oct 11, 2024 7:52 pm
First Name: Clint
Last Name: W
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1921 Touring
Location: Sacramento

Re: My Big Ford Disc brakes

Post by Wolffydmc16 » Mon Aug 18, 2025 5:23 pm

Dan Hatch wrote:
Mon Aug 18, 2025 5:04 am
Question: What is this circled in yellow and what does it do.
IMG_0163.jpeg
Thanks Dan
Yes I also installed a set of Armstrong lever shocks on all corners, really stops me from bouncing out of the seat

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User avatar

kelly mt
Posts: 265
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Last Name: Kelly
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 23 Speedster, 25 TT, 26 Roadster, 27 Tudor
Location: Noxon MT

Re: My Big Ford Disc brakes

Post by kelly mt » Mon Aug 18, 2025 8:21 pm

Nice work.


GregC
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat Aug 16, 2025 11:05 am
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Last Name: Cunningham
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: A single SCAT crankshaft
Location: Chattanooga TN

Re: My Big Ford Disc brakes

Post by GregC » Tue Aug 19, 2025 8:12 pm

Very nice work!! Any plans to add discs to the front axle???

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