jprovence
New Member
The front set will be ok with stock rears. ALOT of drag cobras run stock 13" brakes up front and GT setup in the rear.
The larger vented rotor of the Cobra/Mach/Bullitt dispate the heat better, I don't think the same exact caliper and pad in GT and Cobra makes any difference unless you are doing some serious track events, and then the cooling effect is the vented larger rotors to dissipate the heat. That is why the rears are slightly better. I would not spend the money for rear brakes that only contribute 15-20% of stopping power. Huge waste.
I agree the slightly larger radius helps, but in the rear case, I think it is negligable
The front set will be ok with stock rears. ALOT of drag cobras run stock 13" brakes up front and GT setup in the rear.
The larger vented rotor of the Cobra/Mach/Bullitt dispate the heat better, I don't think the same exact caliper and pad in GT and Cobra makes any difference unless you are doing some serious track events, and then the cooling effect is the vented larger rotors to dissipate the heat. That is why the rears are slightly better. I would not spend the money for rear brakes that only contribute 15-20% of stopping power. Huge waste.
I agree the slightly larger radius helps, but in the rear case, I think it is negligable
how do you figure leverage is leverage. and the cobra/bullit/mach1 rears are thicker. thats why gt pads wont work. I doubt the slighty better heat disipation makes the difference.
any one know how to change rear brake pad ?
As long as the GT pads are slightly worn, you can use them when you make the swap. The reason the rotor is thicker is because it is vented and the GT is solid.
how do you figure leverage is leverage.
Not sure what you meant by this part. The slightly larger radius is what helps, though for rears that provide 15-20% stopping power, that radius difference isn't doing much.
I agree the front is a huge difference. More stopping power from the end that provides 80-85% of all stopping power is dramatic. I just wouldn't spend the $300 on the rears. Not enough of a difference.
Should I save up for the whole front and rear set? Or will the front set be ok with the stock rears?
try more like $200 with new pads. thats not worth it to you? you will pay almost that much just replacing your stock pads and rotors with quality pieces.
It is a matter of choice I guess. I personally would do them both at the same time. Do not pay the high price for the rear kit because it uses the same calipers as the stock GT. If you can find just the taller mounting bracket and some stock Cobra rear rotors you will be fine.
I did the Cobra front swap, too. I did it because my front brakes were finally done, after I had run the car for >4 and a half years. I got the FMS 2300-Q set from Summit, but I see they have raised the price on that kit already. Too bad.
BTW, the rotors rust only if you don't paint them. I used the Duplicolor silver 1200-deg spray can on mine. Best $6 I've spent in a while.
I noticed an excellent difference after my install, as far as braking ability, but my front brakes needed to be done in a big way before I actually put these on.
I think the real difference between the GT and Cobra brakes (rear especially, but front too) is not how quickly you will stop the first time, but how quickly you will stop on the 3rd or 5th time in quick succession. In other words, at a track. I have no doubt the fronts improve stopping distance on the street, but I bet it isn't by as much as some might think. I don't think anyone would argue that, at a track, the stock GT brakes are completely useless.
I did the cobra brakes (vs just a brake job) because I want more confidence at the drag strip after I get blown. Spending a Saturday at a "Test and Tune" event at Sacramento Raceway for a bit of "hot lapping", to practice launch technique once the blower goes in, would scare me a little w/ the stock GT brakes. I am confident it would be fine on these Cobra rotors and calipers. When the rear-end comes apart for pre-blower hardening, I will add the $175 Ford Racing Cobra rear brake conversion kit. I don't see the point before then, though.