Front brake question

[nelsond003]

I am looking for what year mustang I should be looking for with a big brake kit? I know Wilwood makes a kit for the FFR front spindles, but I have a mustang salvage yard a few miles away and I'm always seeing big brake take offs from GT350/500s and other nice mustangs for half the price. I know my back ones are from a 2016 because that is the year from my IRS. Thank you.

[Logan]

The front spindle from FFR is a custom design, but it is heavily based on the SN95 Mustang spindle geometry. Focusing on the brake caliper mounting lugs, they have the same measurement center-to-center as the SN95 Mustang from 1994-2004. If you’re using donor brakes and expect them to bolt up, you need to buy brakes from a 94-04 Mustang. I really wish FFR would update the front spindle to accept brakes from S197 (05-14) or S550 (2015+) for many reasons, donor brake setups among them, but unless you machine a custom adapter or use an off the shelf adapter from someone such as Wilwood, you’re left with older Mustangs only for right now.

The reason Wilwood is so popular is they have excellent engineering-level data on their website, and their products are great for vehicles like the FFR. I built my own custom setup from calculating forces in a spreadsheet and choosing calipers and rotors and hats from Wilwood that met my goals. Still expensive, but the ideal solution imho. Using the lug mounts on the front spindle, their adapter bolts up and gives you radial mounting studs. Those studs will accept several different caliper models from their lineup, and they offer brakes for the rear IRS knuckles too, so you can see that making a complete Wilwood kit is pretty easy if you do enough research.

[nelsond003]

Thank you. After spending 40k already and not even received my kit yet, I was trying not to spend another 3k for brakes. Just looking at other options, but I might just bite the bullet and get the Wilwood set ups.

[Logan]

If you don’t care about the fancy looks, or want/need the increased braking performance for track driving, the stock Mustang brakes will be significantly cheaper and work just fine. They are PBR calipers, and you can get them directly from Factory Five or any parts store in the nation. Single/dual piston sliding calipers would be fine for street driving. Or if spending $3,000 for the 6-piston fixed Wilwood calipers and bigger rotors (2-piece for lighter weight) is something you can justify, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed with their quality.

[AC Bill]

Thank you. After spending 40k already and not even received my kit yet, I was trying not to spend another 3k for brakes. Just looking at other options, but I might just bite the bullet and get the Wilwood set ups.

Hundreds if not thousands of FFR roadsters, have nothing more than the stock Mustang brake calipers, and stopping has not been an issue for them. Our cars weigh a thousand pounds less then a Mustang don't forget.
Don't get caught up in all the hoopla, that can soon have your build budget sky-rocketing.

[Gordon Levy]

I have multiple Wilwood 4 and 6 piston setups from and rear for these cars. Please feel free to call me at 520-494-2745.

[CraigS]

The PBRs are all you need. Search here to get the exact numbers for them and the rotors.

[GoDadGo]

Hundreds if not thousands of FFR roadsters, have nothing more than the stock Mustang brake calipers, and stopping has not been an issue for them. Our cars weigh a thousand pounds less then a Mustang don't forget.
Don't get caught up in all the hoopla, that can soon have your build budget sky-rocketing.


The PBRs are all you need. Search here to get the exact numbers for them and the rotors.

Amen AC Bill & Mr. Craig, Amen!

The ability to get off the shelf parts like brakes and other stuff was my #1 priority for my entire build.
Ease of serviceability came in #2 because busting knuckles isn't fun either especially if you've got an issue that needs some wrenching attention.
Lots of folks upgrade to the Cobra/Mach-1 front brakes if they are going to be doing a lot of auto crossing and/or light track days.

I stop just fine with the stock Mustang GT set up on the front with Ford Explorer Brakes out back.

[Ducky2009]

Thank you. After spending 40k already and not even received my kit yet, I was trying not to spend another 3k for brakes. Just looking at other options, but I might just bite the bullet and get the Wilwood set ups.

What do you plan to do when finished? Street driver, track or 1/4 mile racing? I'm a street driver, but I sometimes like to go fast. I installed the 2 piston front calipers that FFR supplied and the equivalent single piston rear. With the supplied Wilwood dual master cylinders, I wasn't happy with the breaking. Ended up adding vacuum boost power breaks. WhitbyMotorCars.com sells conversion kits for approx $600. https://www.whitbymotorcars.com/product/power-brake-kit-complete/ You can buy most of the parts from your local auto parts store and save some money...EXCEPT the steel brake pedal. That only works if you can buy the pedal only from Whitby, or make a it yourself. If you want the part numbers, PM me.

NOTE: This is an almost impossible modification with the body on. I removed the body to paint and made the modification at that time.

[Big Blocker]

FWIW, been driving on the GT brakes now for 18 years with no issues with stopping . . . 13" rotors up front, T-Bird 11.65" in the rear. Dual piston PBR calipers in front, single piston rears - no power. I can stand the car on it's nose in a panic stop. A Summit bias valve controls locking prematurely in the rears - set once during initial setup / testing, not adjusted since. Getting the car corner balanced was a great improvement to the braking effort.

Doc

[nelsond003]

Just some spirited driving. I was told power brakes won’t fit, so was looking into good manual or some vacuum assisted. I guess I can go with comes with the kit and always change out rotors and pads to start if I need more of a feel. Thank you all for your comments. Always great hearing all of your experiences.

[GoDadGo]

Just some spirited driving. I was told power brakes won’t fit, so was looking into good manual or some vacuum assisted. I guess I can go with comes with the kit and always change out rotors and pads to start if I need more of a feel. Thank you all for your comments. Always great hearing all of your experiences.

We all have different ideas as to what our dream cars should be so think about what you want your car to be and go from there.
For me it was no power steering, no power brakes, a 383 SBC, ZF 6-Speed, an HEI distributor, carbureted with a 3-Link Rear.
If you plan your build and build your plan the outcome will be 100% perfect because it will be 100% yours!
Just don't go to far off the reservation and I'm sure you'll be A-Okay!

Good Luck From The Dark Dart Side!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8m-MdRZvaH45Y6h4orIm7w/videos

[KegMechanic]

You mention "big brake kit" 94-04 mustang base and gt had 11" rotors. If you order brakes for 2004 mustang cobra or Mach, they had 13" front rotors. Wilwoods are nice, but are out of my price range.

[nelsond003]

You mention "big brake kit" 94-04 mustang base and gt had 11" rotors. If you order brakes for 2004 mustang cobra or Mach, they had 13" front rotors. Wilwoods are nice, but are out of my price range.

Do their calipers fit the mounting brackets supplied from FFR?

[KegMechanic]

Yes, same spindles.

[GoDadGo]

This could really be a very nice OEM parts bin upgrade.
Thanks For Starting This Thread Mr. Nelson!

[totem]

Do their calipers fit the mounting brackets supplied from FFR?

FFR indicates that the 17 Halibrand wheels do not fit 2003-04 GT Calipers.

[GoDadGo]

FFR indicates that the 17 Halibrand wheels do not fit 2003-04 GT Calipers.

Good To Know & Glad I Don't Have Halibrands!

https://youtu.be/CaRlqMmKIzk

Thanks-O-Million!

[KegMechanic]

FFR indicates that the 17 Halibrand wheels do not fit 2003-04 GT Calipers.

This made me a little nervous as I'm in the process of changing out my fox body brakes to the 13" mustang and I'm running the FFR 17" Halibrand wheels.

My parts finally all came in the other day, 13" rotors, dual piston calipers for a 2004 mustang mach or cobra, factory five lower control arms and the 2 piece spindles.

Last night I changed out everything on the right front. I was nervous as I put the wheel on, but while there is not much room to spare, everything fits fine.

I can't wait until spring, to drive it with the new front suspension.

119915

[davidpearcy]

In 2003, I understand that Ford increased the piston size in the Cobra brakes from 38mm to 40mm. Are you certain you got the 03 - 04 brakes, and how do you tell the difference.

[Mick40]

If you don’t care about the fancy looks, or want/need the increased braking performance for track driving, the stock Mustang brakes will be significantly cheaper and work just fine. They are PBR calipers, and you can get them directly from Factory Five or any parts store in the nation. Single/dual piston sliding calipers would be fine for street driving. Or if spending $3,000 for the 6-piston fixed Wilwood calipers and bigger rotors (2-piece for lighter weight) is something you can justify, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed with their quality.

Logan is exactly right. I have the PBR calipers and Hydro boost. My car stops like someone dropped an anchor.

[Dgc333]

Thank you. After spending 40k already and not even received my kit yet, I was trying not to spend another 3k for brakes. Just looking at other options, but I might just bite the bullet and get the Wilwood set ups.

The 2003/2004 13" front disk brakes from a Cobra Mustang bolt on. I have them on my Speedstar. If you want to do a little more fiddling the 4 piston calipers from a Cadillac ATS are almost a direct bolt on. You need to knock out the mounting bushings in the caliper and replace with ones with an offset mounting holes. You use these calipers with the 13" Cobra rotors. This is a very popular upgrade for the Mustang folks and there is an outfit that sells the offset bushings if you do a search.