96.5-99 Caliper Brackets from Ford on hold...

[National #19]

Well early this week i had ordered some caliper brackets for my 94 SHO to do a 96 upgrade. I had ordered some 99 brackets. I got them 3 days later to find that they are the regular 96 cailper brackets which are not the same as the 96.5-99. They are the same as the 94-95 brackets. Then the guy at ford looked a little closer and there was a note on the screen saying that there is some company making a bunch of brackets right now that are for the 96.5-99 since Ford is currently out of stock on them. So I said I'll go ahead and order a set for around $40 something a side, which isn't really too bad for brand new ones. The company supposedly should start sending these out to Ford dealerships around the end of the month. So if other people are having trouble at ford dealerships, this would be why!

 

[Mike Kopstain]

They've been on national backorder for 1 and a half years now.

 

[Mark W]

Every time I post something about the '96 brake upgrade I seem to get a correctional beating, but I'll put this out here again.

You can buy '95 Lincoln Continental reman calipers, WITH the brackets that will fit and a premium semi-metallic pad, for $55 from NAPA. For $15 difference between what you'll pay for the Ford brackets, you can get a reman caliper and pads. Something to think about.

 

[National #19]

Yeah i was told they should be in by the 21st though. so we will see what comes then...

 

[Zap]

I am stepping in here, since I am not real familiar with the upgrade in detail... however I do know this: FWIW, Some of the "rebuilt" calipers suck quality-wise you are in the rust belt. They strip all of the coatings that the factory puts on the calipers during the rebuilding process and they don't recoat them. This could lead to earlier rusting/sticking/etc.

My original (from when I got the car a year ago) front calipers still look decent. The rear ones (replaced a few months after I got the car) look like crapola. Rusty, too. I already had problems with them.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

A couple of important points...

The '96 brackets from Ford are routinely reported in the computer as being on backorder. I've never had to wait more than 1 day for them locally (Boston area). Various Ford warehouses are going to have varying quantities, and sometimes it just takes a little prodding of the guy at the parts counter to track them down for you. FWIW, I always order by part #, not by year/make/model, which may have something to do with why I haven't had a problem.

Also, Josh at http://www.shonutperformance.com always has the brackets in stock at less than dealer retail and is a good guy to boot who deserves our business. Plus, he has the little extras available like new bolts, etc.

The '95+ Conti loaded calipers from NAPA are *NOT* available at all NAPA stores, and even some of the stores that can get them will often end up being the wrong brackets. NAPA uses different caliper rebuilders regionally, and it seems that some of those rebuilders put the older brackets on their loaded calipers. I tried this at two different NAPA's (one in the Boston area and one in Miami), and both times (with different rebuilders) they came with the wrong bracket. Wherever you go, make sure the FN74 casting code is on the brackets.

Last, one oft-overlooked source for brackets is your local boneyards. Just ask for front calipers from a '95+ Conti -- every junk yard I've been to sells the bracket as part of the caliper. Again, double-check for the FN74, but frequently you'll get each caliper for $20-$30 with the brackets, and then you'll have a spare set of calipers, or cores, or sell them on eBay and make most of your $$$ back.

 

[National #19]

I have gone to NAPA looking for cailpers and the brackets as well for the 95+ conti and the SHO. But it must be the ones around here don't or can't get them i guess. I've checked many junkyards as well...Nothing in this area. I've got everything i need except the brackets.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

National #19:
I've got everything i need except the brackets.

http://www.shonutperformance.com/Brakes.htm

Second item down on the page.

 

[National #19]

Yeah the brackets from SHOnut are $91.89, the ones from Ford I'm getting around $75 for both sides...