Better brakes

Topic: Better brakes (Read 2625 times) previous topic - next topic

Better brakes

September 20, 2016, 06:02:32 PM

I've been doing alot to the car this year and I'm wondering what's a good pair of brakes to run. I have 4 lug 8.8 disc Rear end what's a good pair of brakes that will fit that setup for front and back. Also I want to upgrade my air shocks because mine leak. Anybody have a clue what will work

Better brakes

Reply #1 – September 21, 2016, 12:31:18 PM

Here's a great site with lots of detailed "how to" for upgrading your brakes.

http://www.coolcats.net/modifying/11inchbrake.html

Better brakes

Reply #2 – September 22, 2016, 11:03:34 PM

There are not a lot of options with four lug as far as larger diameter rear rotors so you will need to look at pad compounds. There are a couple of options on the front of which the most common is to upgrade to the 11" TC / 11" Fox Mustang 5.0 brakes. Again, after this is you are limited to pad compounds. I think Bear offers a large diameter four lug kit for the front but you will need to knock off a couple 7/11's to afford them.

I tell everyone that to get superior brakes on these cars it requires moving to 5 lug utilizing the brakes off of a SN95 Mustang. Big draw back is moving from four lug to five lug wheels.

Better brakes

Reply #3 – September 24, 2016, 01:41:20 PM

And of course going to 5 lug opens up the possibly of Cobra brakes, which are pricey, but if you auto-x or do a lot of spirited driving....and you're going to need new wheels anyway, so now is a good time for at least 17 inchers....

My buddy Steve put some 13" brakes on his '95, once it was dialed in, the thing would stop faster than I expected. I think he also used Hawk pads...definitely worth the money.

Better brakes

Reply #4 – September 25, 2016, 12:27:25 AM

99' - 03' Mach 1's/bullets also have 13 inchers. One can get New calipers with brackets from a chain store reasonably. I did that, they don't say cobra but that was ok with me. The rotors/calipers/brackets aren't too badly priced at Rockauto.

Better brakes

Reply #5 – September 25, 2016, 06:50:13 PM

I just want to clarify on which cars and years that the 13 inch and 11.5 inch "Cobra" brakes came on. This is good info to have when hunting this brake system up as they are getting a bit more difficult to source other than out of a parts store.

The Mach 1's were only built in 2003 & 2004
The Bullits were only built in 2001, 2008, & 2009 but I believe that the only brakes that will work on our cars with the SN95 conversion will be the 2001. Would have to do more digging on that if anyone absolutely wanted to know. I think when the cars made the dramatic switch in 2005 the braking and suspension geometry up front changed as well.

The brakes that will work to upgrade to 13" in the front and 11.5" in the rear would be from the following:

95-98 Cobra
99 Cobra
01 Cobra
03-04 Cobra commonly referred to as a Terminator
01 Bullitt
03-04 Mach 1

There was a 5.8L 1995 Cobra R but good luck finding one of those for the brakes. Only 2000 Cobra built was the 5.4L R model and it has bigger brakes and again good luck getting those brakes. The 2002 Cobra was built but only exported to Australia so there goes that option for the most part. Another note is for the 03-04 Terminator rear brakes is that you can use the rotors and calipers but I believe the caliper brackets are different due to the independent rear suspension set up. Again, research here would be necessary.

Better brakes

Reply #6 – September 26, 2016, 11:02:43 AM

FWIW.... in my build thread of my 83 TC I detail probably what your lookin for.

I used a new stock booster,85 Lincoln master, gutted proportioning valve,87-93 Mustang 11" fronts,stainless caliper sleeves,braided lines,adjustable valve for rears, 88 TC 8.8 with new stock brake parts. I wanted to stay 4 lug to use a set of 93 Cobra 17" wheels. Car stops great.

Better brakes

Reply #7 – September 26, 2016, 11:58:55 AM

X2 on above for a four lug setup. Again, the only way it will get better with the four lug is by running some really good pads like ECD or Hawk. I looked up the part numbers for the RedStuff and HPS as I have had experience with both and for me its just whichever one I can get cheaper. The Mark VII, 87-93 5.0 Mustang, and 87-88 TC's all use the same pad up front and the 87-88 TC and 93 Cobra use the same pad in the rear. I would double check my part numbers before you order but they should be right.

ECD RedStuff:
Front - DP31166C
Rear - DP31172C

Hawk HPS:
Front - HB125F.650
Rear - HB580F.627

Better brakes

Reply #8 – September 26, 2016, 07:53:58 PM

The Mark VII caliper is 73mm vs. the 60mm used on the 11" Mustang/Turbo Coupe brakes.

Better brakes

Reply #9 – September 26, 2016, 08:16:58 PM

Still utilizes the same brake pad. The larger bore distributes pressure more evenly over the brake pad thus increases the braking but its negligible for the BS a person has to go through to put them on i.e. a master cylinder change to a 1-1/8" bore MC. Ford finally figured this out when they went to a twin piston caliper on all '99 and up V6 and V8 Mustangs. This is the caliper to run if you swap the the base SN95 GT or V6 brakes and only requires a small mod to the 94-98 spindles. I the stock single piston caliper from the V6/V8 94-98 SN95 Mustangs on my first SN95 swap. I shortly went to the '99+ twin piston calipers and it was like night and day difference. Cool thing was swapping calipers did not require a MC change so it was truly a bolt on.

Better brakes

Reply #10 – September 27, 2016, 08:08:46 AM

X2 on the dual piston calipers. With good tires and the bias set properly, they'll pop your eyes out of the orbitals compared to the 11" brakes (let alone those shiznit 10" fronts on the V6 and older cars)

Better brakes

Reply #11 – September 27, 2016, 01:16:34 PM

Quote from: thunderjet302;457262

The Mark VII caliper is 73mm vs. the 60mm used on the 11" Mustang/Turbo Coupe brakes.

Quote from: Aerocoupe;457263

Still utilizes the same brake pad. The larger bore distributes pressure more evenly over the brake pad thus increases the braking but its negligible for the BS a person has to go through to put them on i.e. a master cylinder change to a 1-1/8" bore MC. Ford finally figured this out when they went to a twin piston caliper on all '99 and up V6 and V8 Mustangs. This is the caliper to run if you swap the the base SN95 GT or V6 brakes and only requires a small mod to the 94-98 spindles. I the stock single piston caliper from the V6/V8 94-98 SN95 Mustangs on my first SN95 swap. I shortly went to the '99+ twin piston calipers and it was like night and day difference. Cool thing was swapping calipers did not require a MC change so it was truly a bolt on.

I should have been clearer in my post. I wanted to make a note to avoid the Mark VII caliper as you did do to the master cylinder change requirement.