I have a '55 Merc. When I pulled the front drums the insides (all the brake stuff) was missing in action. Are the shoes, cylinders, springs and the rest of the hardware the same as a '48 Ford? I had brand new stuff for the '48 Ford front end I had on hte HA/GR car and would like to use it instead of buying new again. Thanks! Glenn
It is not the same,could you adapt it? If you want it bad enough anything can be made to fit.'48-56 Fords used a 10X2 5/16" front shoe your Mercs drums should measure 11" X 2 9/16" wide, good news is the shoes are still listed on Autozones website so shoes, wheel cylinders and hardware should only set you back about $75 total.
Jeff is correct . They are as different as night and day . You can get all the parts from the parts store , from one of the many good manufactures of Ford parts or you can order them all off Ebay . One thing to understand is most all the brake parts you get now are made overseas in china ! If you want good American made products then you will have to ask and shop around for them but you can get them ! I would also replace the front wheel bearings and wheel cylinders while you are at it . That way you have a new fresh front brake system ! rakes are the one place you just can't skimp on ! Jim
Thanks guys. I am now considering doing the Granada disk upgrade now, since I have to buy all new parts.
You could do the Granada swap,but with the huge contact area your Merc drum brakes have if you have the Merc's shoes relined with Kevlar which decrease fade a bunch and almost eliminate drum wear you would be going backwards with the Granada Parts,add the $200 power brake and dual master combo some of the guys have used in you'll stop on a dime.
You are talking about a big difference in price to fix what you have with quality brake shoes compaired to the Granada swap . I think the swap kit is about $500 give or take . Then you chance the stock appearance but that choice is up to you . Consider this , I have a 1969 Dodge Super Bee with a tone of HP and torque and I drag raced it all the time and never had any problems ever stopping that car . It was a heavy car too . OH it only had drum brakes too ! Good quality brake shoes is the key ! Just remember this , once the brakes are locked up , it doesn't matter if you have drum or disc brakes ! Just my opinion . Jim
OK.... What will a COMPLETE brake setup with the upgraded shoes cost? There was NOTHING inside the drums. BARE backing plates, bearings and drums is all I currently have. No grease seals, even the blot at the top where the shoes push against is gone. If the cost is reasonable I'll go that way and have the drums turned and put in new bearings. Where do I go to find all the pieces?
Drum brakes will cost a lot less plus you don't have to change your spindles either . If you have the extra cash then disc brakes are nice but not necessary . I am going to leave my drum brakes on my 55 and just install a power brake booster for mine . If it wasn't for my bad knees I wouldn't even install power brakes ! Drum brakes were use for a long time till the disc brakes came around in the early to mid 60's . Remember the tires are what grips the road first , so unless you have good radials and a better suspension to take care of the body roll , then the disc brakes aren't really going to be any better than good drum brakes . If your drums are goo then I would clean and repack the bearing or replace them , get the grease seal , a new spring kit , wheel cylinder and brake shoes . You can get them from Macs , Carpenter , Obsolete just to name a few . If you measure your brake drum you can get the shoes at the local parts store sometimes . Ebay is another good place to get the spring kits , wheel , cylinder , seals but I would check around for the better brake show . Ebay shoes aren't always the best . I am guessing at the price and I would say it won't cost 1/2 what the conversion will cost you . If you give me all the details on what you have or need with the year of your car , the size of the drums you have now , I can try and find some places to help you out if you would like me to . I don't mind helping anyone when possible . I do most of my internet looking late at night like the time I am posting this now . I am on the east coast and it's "1 am" now . Just my 2 cents . Jim
Autozone lists everything except the hardware kits wheel cylinders run $12.99 each,however the shoes are semi-metallic measure your drums if they are 11" X 2 1/2" the shoes are part#264 now if you would like to jump on a real premium lining check this out:http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php?catalog=27&partnum=264PG&a=FR27-264PG-451087 the normal price on these are around $50.A while back in the archives we had a discussion about adding self adjusters to our Fords and here is a clue on how to do it parts wise, go to O'Reillys website and look up your Mercs brake shoes (should be part# 264) you will find a notation where you can click on to see "what other cars it fits" find a car from the sixties and later FORD product that uses the same part number brakes by using the wheel cylinders and hardware kits and adjusters from the later application you will then have self adjusting brakes,same goes for the rear.Heres a link on the self adjusters on a Ford http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?do=discuss&group=&discussionid=20141
"I measured the drums....11" across 2.75" deep." I checked my old Wagner brake parts book and JeffB2 is correct, you will need the 11" X 2 1/2" shoes part #264. You will also need the hold down kit part # F19471. My book shows that Mercury started using a self adjuster in 1960 with the #264 brake shoes, that self adjuster kit is part #F98344/5 This brake shoe and self adjuster combination were used untill 1978.
A few other parts that you may need; left front wheel cylinder F18290 1 1/8" Right front wheel cylinder F18291 1 1/8" My book also lists a master cylinder but I wouldn't use it, I would use a dual resevoir master from a later model Ford or Merc.
Found more stuff in this book; return spring kit F36403 1955-1957 return spring kit F36466 1960-1978 (use this kit if you are going to use the self adjuster) self adjuster kit F98344 and F98345 (left and right) kit includes adjuster lever, cable guide, cable link, override spring, lever return spring and starwheel adjuster.
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