Cobra Brake upgrade not just BOLT ON mod for '89-92, half broke thumb included :)

[metalman]

Man, I was thinkin' ok, about a 4 hour job. Hell no! Started Sat. morning-ended sunday at 9:30 at night.

All I had to do was just switch out the spindle and slap on my Cobra calipers and 13" rotors and done. HA HA

Well, it was going ok at first. To my wheel off, no problem and old brakes. When trying to split the spindle from the lower ball joint, I ripped the boots. And in the process of splitting the passenger joint, the sledge hammer I was using slammed my thumb. (It's half black and swollen and is pulsing with my heart beat ) So, set back #1, buy now LBJ. Well I bought them and found that autozone has a ball joint press for rent. (rent it for $100 and get the money back when you return it) Great. They gave me two different designed ball joints. So I had to go back and get the right one. But they didn't have any more so I traveled to another autozone. I try using it and it's not big enough to go in between the ball joint. So, finally rigged it in and pop the ball through the ball joint housing. That's where I left day 1

Day 2- I finally realized that was supposed to happen and I really didn't break anything, phew. I got the old one pressed out, the new ones press it. I noticed my tie rod ends were shot, so I went back to the store to get them.
Replaced them. So, while putting on the new spindle....hey the end links don't work...YEA! Went back to autozone to get new endlink for a 93+ t-bird/mark. (keep in mine I am replacing ball joints and endlinks that aren't even two years old yet ) Tap those in, hook up the spindle, get the rotor on, bolt up the caliper and .......ERRRRRRRRRRR WRONG BOLTS! Couldn't mount up the caliper. It used bigger regular bolts, not the star bolts on stock. I knew I got them from the junk yard when I got the spindels. Couldn;t find 'em. Went to pepboys to get new bolts-special order only, Autozone, Advanced-didn't have em. So I went back home. Look again in my back yard and (INSERT- HANDELS "MESSIAH") HALLELUJAH! I found them on a table saw. Thank the heavens So I slapped them in, bled them and cleaned up at 9:30 last night. Drove around the neighborhood. Accelerated to about 30 and gentley broke to a stop about 10 times to break in the brakes. Now I am driving very carefully as to not slam on the brakes while city driving.

They look damn cool and they are HUGE!

They're done. So, I'm glad I did it. But, it wasn't as simple of a bolt on mod as I thought. I spent more money than I had planned to with buying ball joints, tie rod ends, and end links.

Thanks for reading my story! Read this as info for anyone doing the Mark VIII spindel swap.

Metalman

[quick35th]

wow sounds like a major ordeal. I cant wait to do mine! Did you swap to the mustang bolt pattern to?

Shane

[mcate]

Originally Posted by metalman

Man, I was thinkin' ok, about a 4 hour job. Hell no! Started Sat. morning-ended sunday at 9:30 at night.

All I had to do was just switch out the spindle and slap on my Cobra calipers and 13" rotors and done. HA HA

Well, it was going ok at first. To my wheel off, no problem and old brakes. When trying to split the spindle from the lower ball joint, I ripped the boots. And in the process of splitting the passenger joint, the sledge hammer I was using slammed my thumb. (It's half black and swollen and is pulsing with my heart beat ) So, set back #1, buy now LBJ. Well I bought them and found that autozone has a ball joint press for rent. (rent it for $100 and get the money back when you return it) Great. They gave me two different designed ball joints. So I had to go back and get the right one. But they didn't have any more so I traveled to another autozone. I try using it and it's not big enough to go in between the ball joint. So, finally rigged it in and pop the ball through the ball joint housing. That's where I left day 1

Day 2- I finally realized that was supposed to happen and I really didn't break anything, phew. I got the old one pressed out, the new ones press it. I noticed my tie rod ends were shot, so I went back to the store to get them.
Replaced them. So, while putting on the new spindle....hey the end links don't work...YEA! Went back to autozone to get new endlink for a 93+ t-bird/mark. (keep in mine I am replacing ball joints and endlinks that aren't even two years old yet ) Tap those in, hook up the spindle, get the rotor on, bolt up the caliper and .......ERRRRRRRRRRR WRONG BOLTS! Couldn't mount up the caliper. It used bigger regular bolts, not the star bolts on stock. I knew I got them from the junk yard when I got the spindels. Couldn;t find 'em. Went to pepboys to get new bolts-special order only, Autozone, Advanced-didn't have em. So I went back home. Look again in my back yard and (INSERT- HANDELS "MESSIAH") HALLELUJAH! I found them on a table saw. Thank the heavens So I slapped them in, bled them and cleaned up at 9:30 last night. Drove around the neighborhood. Accelerated to about 30 and gentley broke to a stop about 10 times to break in the brakes. Now I am driving very carefully as to not slam on the brakes while city driving.

They look damn cool and they are HUGE!

They're done. So, I'm glad I did it. But, it wasn't as simple of a bolt on mod as I thought. I spent more money than I had planned to with buying ball joints, tie rod ends, and end links.

Thanks for reading my story! Read this as info for anyone doing the Mark VIII spindel swap.

Metalman

Sounds like a "fun" job, Anthony! Of course, doing just about anything on these cars is "fun"! So how's the stopping power?

[Randy N Connie]

I have been doing the same job, but the back brakes to.

I was going to install Mach VIII rear upper & lower control arms.
Could not get the very last nut broke loose.So to remove the
lower control arm, I would need to cut the bolt and nut out.
Its about 2'' from the gas tank.The nut on the drives side
I could get to. But could not brake loose, without cutting into.

Went to town to buy new nut and bolts before I cut the
other two.Well they do not sell this nut any more.So I
could not remove the stock lower arm,without parts.So
I gave up on the rear.

Went to the front to install Mach VIII spindles.I got the drivers
side parts on.But the sway bar end links.The thread just on
]the very end was mashed.So I could not get the nut started
on the swaybar link,both sides.I had every new part for the front
but the sway bar end links.

I sarted this job about one month ago.I stared right after placing
a order for front and rear Cobra brakes.Well I have all the parts for
the front suspension now.Still can not get the rear apart.And its
been over a month since I ordered the brakes.AND they have
not been shipped yet.But they chraged my card for them.
They said they were waiting on the rear calipor bracket to
come in last friday or today.So I hope they ship my new
brake parts some time this week.

So it looks like I am in my second month for a brake swap.
But I havent mashed my finger yet.When your finger heals.
You want to drop by and finish my rear arms and brakes.

I ordered mine over on the TCCoA Group buy.It was perfect timing
so far,since I almost have the front done.Then I will try again on
the back.

When I get the Cobra brakes on.I will be ready for Shane at the
twistie track.

Thanks Randy

[MarksM]

Yes, big brakes are very nice. I did the full deal on my 94 LX. I made it look so purty, I only had it 18 months before someone decided they wanted it more than me. At least I got the Cobra Calipers back when they located the gutted hulk.

I'll never go Bling bling again. I would Love to find some brackets to use these calipers with a 12" rotor though. Then I could keep the 16" SC wheels.

[metalman]

Quick35th- No, the Mark VIII spindles are the same bolt pattern as our birds. I bet now, if I were to do it again, I'd have them done in 4 ours

Randy-I also got my Cobra brakes from the group buy at TCCOA And I too got the rear suspention from the Mark VIII at a junk yard. I can't picture what nut/bolt your refering to but may I suggest the use of your foot or a Torque-o-matic 5000 (that's what call any random pipe used to slide over a rachet for extra torque). My foot did wonders-kicking the $!@# out of some bolts I couldn't get my hands on.

If you can describe the bolt, I can think of how I got it off. I'll help if I can.

Mkke- Speaking of fun jobs, hows the ported blower story?

[quick35th]

Originally Posted by metalman

Quick35th- No, the Mark VIII spindles are the same bolt pattern as our birds. I bet now, if I were to do it again, I'd have them done in 4 ours

Yeah I know they are the Tbird bolt pattern I just wander if you took advantage of the oppertunaty while you were at it. I know I will be.

Shane