Now the car is ready for a set of new tires and a wheel alignment, as the take-off Goodyears were pretty far gone. Converting to five-lugs does have its appearance virtues, no doubt. Jose's 'Stang looks great with the '02 Bullitt wheels, and there's no doubt it will look absolutely sinister when the car is lowered an inch or so. There are no rubbing or clearance issues to worry about when the conversion is made with the Baer Racing Sport system for '87-'93 Mustangs, as the wheels and/or tires don't stick out from under the wheelwells. The bigger rotors at all four corners bring about much-improved stopping over the disc/drum setup.
The red-logo'd Baer Sport two-piston caliper and 12-inch slotted/drilled disc peek through the new five-lug 17s up front. A wheel alignment is mandatory after completing this type of conversion. The slight difference between the Fox and SN-95 spindles creates a change in the steering geometry that leaves the front wheels severely toed in, which makes steering difficult.
We decided to use Baer's Sport brake system. The front system, for '87-'93 Mustangs, features one-piece, cast-iron 12-inch rotors. The discs are slotted and drilled, Zinc-plated (to help prevent corrosion), and are stopped by dual-piston, pin-guided calipers. Baer's rear-brake system includes 12-inch rotors with single-piston calipers. The rear brakes also have provisions for reinstalling the parking brakes on a Fox Mustang.
One of the cool things about Baer's five-lug conversion is that everything needed for a smooth swap is included. All the necessary bolts, brake lines, and fittings are there, which saves time and makes the installation easier.
Also shown are the take-off parts necessary for a five-lug conversion for those on a budget. Finding everything you need in a junkyard, 'Stang shop, the Internet, or at swap meets can be hit and miss, and the lines required for the swap aren't available in take-off form. You're taking a big chance when you "build" a five-lug conversion, as the parts you install may have damage that isn't immediately visible, as we found out. Having a good braking system on your Mustang is critical, regardless of how fast it is. For the time and money you'll spend trying to cobble together a conversion kit from take-off parts, you're better off buying a setup such as the one we used from Baer Racing. If you still want to brave the take-off part route, consult http://sn95brakes.cjb.net/ for some valuable info.