Fox Mustang 5-Lug Brake Kit - Four No More

Taking a style cue from our project T-top coupe's street appearance, GTR's Ricardo Topete fits our test subject with new and blingy 17x9-inch Shelby GT 500 wheels from AmericanMuscle.com; the tires are 245/45 17 Nitto Triple 5s. Stepping up to a five-lug disc-brake system more than doubles the amount of wheel styles available for '79-'93 Mustangs. They greatly improve a Mustang's stopping quality.

Horse Sense: Four lugs and horsepower. Can the two co-exist? Don't spout any "it's not possible" quotes of Mustang mythology if NMRA Renegade racer, George Seeger, is within earshot. George's '91 GT clipped off an absolutely senseless 8.614 e.t. at 160.33 mph at the '06 World Finals with only four bolts holding each wheel in place.

Be it through hearsay or firsthand experience, most Fox Mustang owners are all too familiar with the fact that there's a limited assortment of stylish aftermarket wheels available for four-lug '79-'93 'Stangs.

It's not that wheel companies don't have love for the first-gen, late-model Pony when it comes to producing things that suit its antiquated 4x4.25-inch bolt pattern. The 17-inch '07 Shelby GT 500, '03-'04 Cobra, and 16- and 17-inch '95 Cobra R wheels are probably the most popular four-lug stampings produced for nonconverted LX and GTs.

The simple truth is the majority of today's hottest bling and its coated or painted counterparts are produced as five-lug. That's the mounting configuration bestowed on Mustangs as standard equipment when SN-95s were unveiled in 1994. From an understandable business perspective, the transition ended most companies' ability to continue producing new wheel styles for Fox cars that still sit on four lugs.

It's important to keep in mind that the switch to five lugs wasn't necessarily done for appearance purposes. Improving a 'Stang's stopping ability is always good: It didn't take 'Stangbangers long to realize the best way to have looks and functionality with a five-lug swap on a Fox is to ditch the drum brakes in the rear and set up a true four-wheel, disc-brake system.

The core procedures of a five-lug conversion typically involve swapping rear axles from four- to five-lug, front rotors, and each end's respective brake hardware. Early versions of the conversion featured take-off parts from '94-'98 'Stangs, '83-'92 Ranger pickups, and '91-and-up Lincoln Mark VIIs. Over time, making the switch evolved into using hard-core, prepackaged brake kits. They're considered upgrades, as brake manufacturers began producing larger-diameter rotors. The kits make an easier go of things for enterprising Fox enthusiasts who try to perform the swap operation themselves.

Once the 'Stang is lifted and its stock 10-hole wheels are set aside, Ricardo disassembles the front brakes, inspects the spindles, and cleans the area prior to installing the new front discs. SSBC's upgrade kit is a rotors-only deal up front, so it's important to hang on to all the other original parts since they'll be reinstalled.

Naturally, cost is a concern for any do-it-yourselfer. With that in mind, we thought it would be cool to check out an all-inclusive Fox five-lug-swap system (PN A112-2; $1,700) from Mike Jonas and his crew at Stainless Steel Brake Corporation. It's possibly one of the most cost-effective prepackaged setups to date.

While we concede the fact that Lee Kilcoyne's 200,000-mile '89 LX convertible doesn't have much in the looks department, the 'Stang is actually stout between the fenders, where a Dart-based, 375hp, naturally aspirated 302 bullet and a six-speed tranny reside. Underneath, it has a full collection of Maximum Motor-sports handling hardware. As a seasoned veteran of many an autocross, being hard on brakes is an understatement in Lee's case, but it validates our reason for choosing his car for this upgrade.

To test the swap kit's ease of installation, Ricardo Topete and Chris Balster of GTR High Performance tag-teamed on our five-lug conversion without using any air tools-except removing and installing the wheels with an impact gun. They had the car back on all fours-well, all fives-in about four hours. Getting a 'Stang safely elevated high enough is key. Once that's accomplished, you'll find SSBC stocked its kit with all the goods necessary to make the transformation easy.

After removing both brake drums, draining the diff fluid, and extracting the pin and C-clips from inside the rearend housing, GTR's lead technician, Chris Balster, yanks out the four-lug axle. Our brake drums required the gentle persuasion of a few good hammer shots to knock them loose. Stock 28-spline Mustang axles have a 4x4.25 lug pattern. A move to five lugs changes the parameters to 5x4 1/2.

The brakes on Lee's 'Stang have seen a lot of action and are ready for replacement. Look at the chunk of material missing from the front pad.

SSBC's semi-metallic "street-performance" brake pads will do a much better job of handling heat and the hard braking that Lee subjects his Pony to on the autocross grid.