[DeTomaso] Aftermarket Disc Brake System for a 1973 Pantera

[MikeLDrew at aol.com]

In a message dated 4/30/06 9:04:12, bwerner at ykwc.net writes:

<< I am looking for a good street disc brake system for my 1973 pantera.  I 
want the most bang for the buck.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. 
 Thanks. >>

>>>If you are truly only going to be driving on the street, then the stock 
brake system with subtle upgrades is by car the best 'bang for the buck' 
solution.  If your master cylinder is tired, then replace it with one of the various 
OEM-derived solutions the vendors have cooked up (EIther Ford or 
Corvette-based).  Quality pads from Porterfield, EBC and others make a HUGE difference over 
the iron-hard stock pads.  Braided steel flex lines area nice touch and 
improve pedal feel; chucking the non-adjustable proportioning valve over the hedge 
and replacing it with a Wilwood adjustable valve will also greatly improve 
feel and allow you to dial in your front/rear brake bias properly.

Lots of cars that have been sitting for years and/or had their brake systems 
neglected suffer from one or more pistons in the brake calipers freezing up.  
Several vendors sell reconditioned stock front calipers with additional 
passages drilled internally which reportedly improve their performance; these are 
sold on an exchange basis.

If you really do want to start over from new, I would seriously consider the 
Corvette-based system that both Hall Pantera and Precision Pro-Formance 
carry--it has a new master cylinder and booster, four vented rotors, four aluminum 
sliding two-piston calipers (actually the rears are single piston I believe), 
and new flex linesat a fairly reasonable price.  I would expect their 
performance on the street to be about the same as the stock system if it's in tip-top 
condition, but certainly better on the track.

Good luck!

Mike