Rear brakes

[John Allen]

Planning ahead here but need advise. I have my English axle pretty much ready to be installed with my 5 link setup. However I will need to buy all new rear brakes, shoes drum, cylinders etc. firstly I can't find a new back plate for escort/cortina drums. The ones I have are ropey. I've sanded and painted them but still look pants. Where on earth can I buy a new set. Fleabay failed. Car spares failed. I'm at a lose. Does no one buy new backplates!!?!?!?? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Or can I get new car options like fiesta parts????

[Big Vern]

Do your backplates function? If its only cosmetic your gonna have to live with it, if not then source better second hand ones. Think I only have 8" rears.

Ford stopped making parts for Escort and Cortina in 1980/81 and divested themselves of spares for them more than 20 years ago. Your only chance is to hope some decent second hand ones turn up on ebay or trawl the classis ford breakers - its why Dutton donor parts are so sort after!

[Steve Kerswell]

Look around some of the historic rally guy's? Or the Escort owners forum? Or, be extravagant and go for a disc conversion. I've been meaning to look at that myself. See several hot rods, rat rods etc. Running small rear disc. Simple brackets to hold the calipers etc. V W golf set up springs to mind.

[John Allen]

There are disc conversion kits out there but don't need that extra stopping power as car so light. The back plates will work but truly on last legs plus a complete rebuild I don't see point fitting crap but if no new bits out there I'll have to go second hand. Thanks gents.

[Steve Kerswell]

I have a friend who is foreman of stores for Ford main dealers. A few months back they cleared their shelves of stuff over a certain age (10years?). Plus they had their computer system modified, he claims he lost valuable data to historic parts. Progress??

[Big Vern]

Ford dealers don't generally stock parts on site, they are ordered in from central stores in Daventry or from Germany. The 'microcat' is updated monthly so if central stores clears out stock over a certain age then it drops from microcat. The microcat system is online now but you have to be a recognised dealer to access it/order from it.

By law the oem is required to stock parts only for 10 years after last production vehicle. After that you're on your own. 

[Big Vern]

They only have disc brake shield plates. Not rear brake back plates.

They get a lot of stuff straight from Ford when they get rid according to the guy who runs it, had some stuff from him a while back when he would only deal with owners clubs.