Just bought 1989 SHO, looking for information for brake upgrades among other questions.

[Nathan Lawrence]

How's it going guys, so I just bought my first Taurus SHO on sunday, and the brakes need to be done, I'm looking for information on how easy/hard it would be to upgrade to the brakes to the 12"-13" rotors and better pads, how much work and modification would be needed to do said upgrade? Also, it's not brake related, but whether I'm in neutral or in gear, I can spin the shifter 360 degrees, anyone ever had this issue and how would I go about fixing it. Help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[zoomlater]

Welcome, car looks really nice. Do you have a rod shifter or cable shifter in it. The second link is picture of a rod shifter

http://www.shoforum.com/index.php?threads/help-93-mtx-shifter-spinning.125595/#post-1391897

http://www.shoforum.com/index.php?t...pic-inside-shifter-problem.93398/#post-961659

http://www.shoforum.com/index.php?threads/shifter-handle-rotating.55864/#post-521631

As for the brake upgrade, you will need different spindles if your car hasn't been modified already. Take a look at the Shosource website for brake information

 

[Irish Pride]

To upgrade the front brakes you will need to swap over front knuckles from a 94-95 SHO if it hasn't already been done. Then you can do the Gen3 brake upgrade which is 11.6" rotors or you can go big with the Cobra upgraded 13" rotors. Both require the different knuckles on an 89.

 

[Toolman]

Once you get the knuckles, I have some 13" brakes for sale.

 

[sperold]

There is something to be said about a stock 89 SHO.

When you go big, you give up your basket weave wheels, which to some is no big deal, but to others it is. There is something about those exposed wheel nuts in that tiny center cap.

The 89 is the only SHO that uses the same rotor on all 4 wheels, which has a certain purity. And currently you can get one for a whompin $8.41.
And currently you can get semi-metallic pads for the front for $7.74 and rears for $13.51.
You can have brand new brakes every spring for $54.89 plus taxes and shipping, and you cut that price by selecting other pads than semi-metallic.

The stock 89s have a rotor diameter of 10.16 all around. If you change your front hubs to 94 - 95, you have a stock rotor diameter of 10.86; and further work, and money, gets you bigger diameters.

The choice is yours and only you know how you will drive it. If you are making a living on the autocross circuit, then no one will argue that bigger is not better.

 

[pjtoledo]

you can keep the 15" basket weave wheels with a brake upgrade to the 10.86" (11") front rotors that are the factory 94/95 setup. it is a noticeable improvement.
get the required 94/5 steering knuckles from Taurus, Sable, (either sedan or wagon), or Continentals. since your 89 does not have ABS that simplifies matters in that not all Taurus' had ABS .
same knuckles and calipers are used for the 11" and 11.5" front systems, the rotors and anchor bracket are the difference.

 

[pjtoledo]

since this is your first SHO,


WARNING!!!!!! the transaxle does NOT like to do burnouts!!!!!
the diff pin will become galled, then it seizes and ejects thru the side of the case.

 

[shobote]

Welcome and while it is tempting to spend $ on upgrades, unless you plan to do regular track events the stock 89 brakes will be just fine for the street. Upgrading fronts to larger means adding more weight, plus needing larger diameter wheels with most larger kits. I would just go the low cost route, get new rotors and pads for now, and save money toward the next needed fix,. These cars are well known money pits and unless you have complete records, expect many things to be replaced before long, and unless you can do the work, most are not cheap or easy to replace either.

 

[SHOCH]

I'm just happy as **** a new owner asked how to stop it faster rather than the usual "How do I turbo this ?"
IMHO 11.6" upgrade is all you need unless you're trying to fill the wheels with rotor. I'd do the stainless steel flex lines too, I've done track days for years with no worries, Hawk pads.

 

[itwonder]

The advice in this thread is sound. I'll just add that there have been several helpful threads over the years concerning the brake upgrades and the required bits. Check the stickies and use search. The later model knuckles are the starting point. The improvement is noticeable, but it's way more work than a simple brake job on what you have!

 

[rubydist]

As to your shifter question, the shifter is broken in the ball that it pivots on in the console. I don't remember what is required to fix it since its been a long time since I had a cable shifter setup, but that is where its messed up.

Also, do all the regular maintenance that was likely not done: timing belt, valve cover gaskets, water pump, crank sensor, struts, suspension bushings, etc. If you do all that, these things will last indefinitely.

Welcome to the addiction!