Don't know what size drums you have on the truck, but I will bet they are a lot bigger, and the shoes are a lot wider. You may want to bleed your lines. Mine are pretty hard, and stops just fine. But again, I don't run up behind someone and slam on the brakes either. I downshift every time. I use the brakes after I have slowed down a lot.

 

The drums on the truck are wider I believe. I downshift too, and can stop, but I just worry about people who don't drive like that, pulling out in front of you or just slamming on the brakes to turn. I've bled and adjusted the brakes on that mustang so many times I've lost count. And it still don't help. The brakes on the truck, If I slammed them on, the wheels would lock and stop it.

 

Well, what you don't want is for the brakes to lock. That's why ABS brakes were invented.

 

Yeah, I know locking brakes aren't good and will cause you to loose control, but I mean if you really slam them on hard, which you would want then. My mustang would never even think of doing that.

 

I can drive my stang just fine with the stock drums. I have learned how to stop with them as Glen said. At the moment i need to adjust the back brakes, but it stops ok. I usually throw my transmission into low on stops anyway though. So how long do you give my C4 lasting me?

 

Just installed a new dual master cylinder, new front drums, hardware kits and shoes on my 66 A code 4-speed convertible. Learning to work the downshifting with the brakes is all part of the fun of driving a Mustang. I have no problems with my manual drum brakes. Smooth straight and true. Just a matter of keeping them in top condition and getting used to them.

 

Yeah, someone made a point that even though you may be good at driving with drums the fact that every other car out there uses discs means their deacceleration rate is much greater than yours even under normal conditions, right? Like drums might be perfect if every car used them also so in the event of a quick brake, the car braking in front of you would slow down and the same rate as you would, unlike if they had disc brakes where they would slam them on and just come up on you that much quicker. I guess it's all relative to everyone else out on the road. But like my dad says, they've been using drums forever and they still do! Anyway, that wasn't much help, hehe.

 

We have run into this quite a few times with our customers. V8 Pony's ran 10 inch disc, bigger by a 1/2" than GM A bodys (GTO, Chevelle, etc) and the GM's are half a ton heavier- yet stop better. All I can figure is that the geometry of the Mustang drum did not lend itself well to the elimination of asbestos in brake shoes in the 80's.

We, along with other companies, do sell affordable conversions for the 4 lug Mustangs and Falcons that fit inside the stock 14" rims. Driving a car that has sub-par braking is asking for trouble. I shake my head at the foolish advice to "learn to drive drums". Would you learn to drive with a defective master cylinder? Fix the problem before it fixes you.

 

To all of you who responded to my message about Mustang brakes thank you very much. It was very enlightening and informative. The bottom line seems to be-learn to live with it or go with disc brakes. Thanks again.RPeeler

 

I believe your salesmanship has one-upped your common sense.(re: "foolish advise")

Arbitrary legalities aside, every driver has a responsibility to learn his vehicle's abilities, to stay within those limits, and to keep his vehicle in proper working order (including drum brakes). Every vehicle on the road stops, accelerates and turns at different rates... some better, some worse.

A modern Subaru Impreza WRX stops from 70 mph in 157 feet. A Jeep Grand Cherokee takes a whopping 205 feet in the same test. Is the Jeep owner 'foolish' for taking this accident waiting to happen out on the public roadways? No, he just learns to anticipate stops a little sooner.

A Mazda RX-8 (.91 g's on a skidpad) is immensely more capable of making an emergency maneuver at highway speeds than a Dodge Durango (.67 g skidpad). Is the Durango driver 'foolish' for even stepping foot in this boat? No, he adapts his driving style accordingly.

Keep in mind these are all new vehicles. There's quite a few older cars on the road that widen the performance gap even further.

Your question "Would you learn to drive with a defective master cylinder?" has no relevance here. We're talking about a properly maintained brake system. You're talking about knowingly operating with a defective brake system.