Rear Disc Brake Conversion

2 Darts said
The slickest rear disk brake conversion I've seen sourced from a salvage yard comes from the 77-80 Lincoln Versailles. Disk brakes, cable operated e-brake, 4½ bolt pattern, 9 inch rear center section, and spring perches that fit the A-body perfectly. The downside of this is that with only about 50,000 made, there aren't many in junk yards. I can remember only seeing one. The rear end was already gone.

Don't use the Versailles/Ford parts from the 70's. They are very heavy and problematic. The caliper uses both the hydraulic fluid for brakes and cable to to compress the caliper. The problem is the e-brake drags and holds the pads slightly closed if the piston is not completely screwed back in the proper location. I had this problem when I owned a Merc Monarch from the 70's. The caliper piston is reset with a tool that screws the piston back to zero setting, but if the piston is not just right (the pads will still fit) it drags. Anyway, Ford dumped the design when they discovered the disc drum parking brake combo works so much better. I wouldn't consider anything else but the Ford style. Doctor Diff is a nice guy I met at a few trade shows. Jeep kit is good, but no parking brake, No bueno! The Ford set-up will require some fab work. Good luck