Cracked rear brake rotor

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by eschaider

You are right, Mark IV; that is why I described it as, 'long standing published SPF documentation." While I suspect SPF may have published newer documentation since 2002, I am also certain they did not retrofit any brake systems on previously sold cars, which means that their, notwithstanding dated, service bulletin must be correctly identifying the brakes used on those cars built in years past.

I am sure your suggestions as to the Wilwood calipers produces a suitable and safe service alternative; it is just something that postdates the service bulletin, which itself postdates the car in question.

After your Wilwood suggestion for the rotors, I spent some time on the Wilwood site last evening looking for those rotors. The Wilwood rotor listing is impressively long. I gave up before finishing the search. For the benefit of those of us who own SPF cars, could you identify the Wilwood rotor you were speaking of as a replacement rotor?

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/wil-160-5839

I believe this is the rotor, I am not home and do not have my parts list with me so this from memory so do not order these until I can confirm. Yes, it is more than I said; the prices have risen since I last purchased them. Still a better repair than machining the rotor.

Yes, a proper parts manual would be very nice. The factory would provide one if the distributor would request it and pay for it.

Most dealers have gathered a parts list based upon experience gained over the years and will freely help any owners who inquire. We for example, provide parts that are proprietary to SPF and also non-proprietary parts that we can sell at the common price point. When the part is a common item that we cannot provide at competitive prices, we supply the common part number so the owner can procure the part(s) locally at a good price and without additional shipping costs. Honestly, we would make $2.00 on something like a radiator cap and then need to add $5-8.00 shipping when you can get it at the corner NAPA store. We don't need the $2.00 that badly.

[eschaider]

Originally Posted by Mark IV

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/wil-160-5839

I believe this is the rotor, I am not home and do not have my parts list with me so this from memory so do not order these until I can confirm. Yes, it is more than I said; the prices have risen since I last purchased them. Still a better repair than machining the rotor. ...

Thanks Mark IV.

The rotor in the summit listing is one of Wilwood's two-piece designs with a diameter of 10.75 inches and a thickness of 0.810". The original OEM rotors that SPF provided on the car were 12-inch diameter in the front, with a machine-to-maximum disc thickness of 0.980" and a minimum thickness of 0.865". The Wilwood rotor at Summit does not match the SPF rotor size or thickness specifications for a front rotor. Additionally, because the rotor is a two-piece design, the correct Wilwood hat part number will be required so the rotor is properly positioned in the caliper. When you confirm the rotor suitability, could you also include the hat part number required to properly fit the rotor to an SPF front spindle?

Thanks again for the alternative replacement rotor choice.

[redvettx2]

Mine is an early SPF before Wilwood brakes. Sounds like the rear drums are just 89' to 92' Ford rear Thunderbird drums. Most likely just replace both.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by redvettx2

Mine is an early SPF before Wilwood brakes. Sounds like the rear drums are just 89' to 92' Ford rear Thunderbird drums. Most likely just replace both.

Drum brakes? Or was that just a typo.

[eschaider]

Originally Posted by redvettx2

Mine is an early SPF before Wilwood brakes. Sounds like the rear drums are just 89' to 92' Ford rear Thunderbird drums. Most likely just replace both.

My SPF service bulletin shows cars 1-699 using '89 - '92 10" Thunderbird rotors in the back. The caliper listed as being used is the OEM T-Bird caliper for the same year. There is no mention of drum brakes ever being used anywhere.

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by redvettx2

Mine is an early SPF before Wilwood brakes. Sounds like the rear drums are just 89' to 92' Ford rear Thunderbird drums. Most likely just replace both.

The "T-Bird" rear brakes are the "Super coupe" discs, not drums.