Performance Brakes?

[AirBrontosaurus]

OK, so I've been looking at different types of brakes. Slotted, drilled, solid, and about a million other types.

First: Do aftermarket brakes really affect braking performance, or do the stock rotors and pads do as good as any?

Second: Are there any brands that are better than others? Are the brands that suck? Are there any brakes that out-perform the stock brakes that also aren't that expensive?

Third: How much of the stock stuff needs to be replaced for new brake rotors and calipers? Are they bolt on, or do they need other mods to work?

I think that's it. thanks.

[bbunt302]

Your best bet is to go with a set of Cobra calipers. You can get them just about anywhere. For rotors, I'd look into Powerslot rotors, because they come with a silver cadium plating that is nice and shiny and won't rust. The whole slotted/drilled/solid argument has been done a thousand times, so I won't get into it here. Basically, get whatever you think looks best if it's just a daily driven street car. Another good upgrade while you're doing this is some stainless steel lines.

If you want to just do the front brakes, all this can be done for about $600 or less. Not sure how much the rear would add because I've never really looked in to it.

[STEVE]

if you have money to burn get 4 piston brembos if not
just 03 cobra corbra bullit or mach 1brakes will be enough
stangsuspension.com

[SpectorV]

you should upgrade your calipers, rotors, and brake lines. Thats all that is needed.

For calipers: You can spend a ton of a little. You can upgrade your front calipers to cobra calipers for 200 dollars~ I would go to www.gefracing.com to look around (other places may be cheaper, just look there) you can see they have more than one cobra calipers for you to choose from. The rear calipers do not need to be altered, even the cobra's use the same rear caliper, they just have a bracket on them that allows for a larger rotor.

The cailpers alone dont do much of anything, its the larger rotor that really makes the difference in the base/gt VS cobra brakes. I would spend a bit here and get some Bear rotors, they are stonger and better made and will be much harder to warp. Slotted and drilled rotors are for looks only, they dont increase performance~ if you buy them you risk them not lasting long and them warping/cracking depending on driving and how they are made. I would buy the Bear calipers and be done with it, or just go OEM ford plain rotors (but have them coated to prevent rust) If you do NOT coat them they WILL rust and look like total CRAP so keep that in mind.

For brake lines you just need stainless steel lines, they are 75 bucks~ but well worth it.

Other sites to check out:

www.discbrakesrus.com (i went here my first trip, very good quality, but OEM ford has red calipers ( www.gefracing.com for instance) so unless you want a custom color get OEM. Get them powdercoated, just painting is ok.. but powdercoating is much much nicer.

Price to upgrade front: 225 for calipers, 120-400 for rotors (depending on type) and 75 for hoses, you dont need anything else other than some brake fluid and a friend to help you bleed the brakes.

When bleeding the brake you must be VERY careful to keep the fluid off of the caliper, it will remove paint, may not on powdercoat but dont risk it, use a vacume hose to silde over the bleeder valve and direct the fluid away.