FFR Rear 8.8 Wilwoods - Reverse Orientation?

[Chopper]

Hi all,

Back when I built my car (2014 kit), FFR instructions for the rear 8.8 solid axle single piston Wilwood brakes placed the calipers below the center line of the axle in the front lower position (about 8 o'clock). This is where my brakes are installed. More recently, I have see the same brakes used, but in the top of the axle (still in the front), more like 11 o'clock. Is there any reason (aside from parking brake cable routing), that I can't flip the brackets and calipers to the opposite sides of the car to move the calipers to the top orientation? It sure would make bleeding the brakes a lot easier.

How my brakes are currently installed:

https://photos.smugmug.com/Cars/Cobra/n-PLTRn/i-CKj39tV/0/5ad6ddd0/XL/i-CKj39tV-XL.jpg

How I would like to install the brakes (FFR photo):

173087

[CP82AERO]

Mine are at the 11 o'clock (Driver's side) as the mounting brackets supplied in my kit only allowed this orientation/could not be flipped. I thought I was missing something until I saw the same (your inset) photo. As you probably know Wilwood wants the bleed screws vertical when bleeding and so I unbolted the calipers and temporarily clamped them on top of each disc (so that the pistons wouldn't pop out during bleed). The e-brake cable routing and adjustment (standard, no pulley) worked out OK with the supplied one inch links--but in order to fasten them/get them to reach I had to both adjust the e-brake adjustment screw fully loose/rearward and also temporarily clamp each caliper's e-brake actuator. Once all fastened up, when I removed the clamps I found that I was all set, with the handle/ratchet teeth about mid-range. Hope this helps.

[Papa]

Mine are where I think you're asking about putting them.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=84462&d=1524416413

[Chopper]

Papa,

Correct, yours are in the orientation I desire. The FFR supplemental instructions at the time I built my kit suggested the lower 11 o'clock position instead. Even pictures of the FFR 2013 SEMA car (the charcoal and yellow stripes) on Factory Five's website show the brakes as they are installed on my car...but I can see on their newer builds, as it is on your car (and also on the FFR truck builds from EdwardB and Erik Treves) that they are mounted up top.

What I don't know is whether or not the brackets were changed. They are somewhat pricey to replace (over $100 ea), so not sure I'm willing to go that far; but I may pose the question to Factory Five and see if they have any insight. I could also pull my brackets and see if they flip, although I probably won't get around to try that until the winter project season. If I do, I'll post the results.

I am a little jealous of that pretty Moser Axle though! Mine was a rebuild, works great....but I like the elegance of the banana bracket permanently installed on the Moser axles, and also the lack of fox shock mounts.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Cars/Cobra/n-PLTRn/i-D8WTSqC/0/b784624e/XL/i-D8WTSqC-XL.jpg

[Papa]

I don't know if this will help or not:

https://www.wilwood.com/BrakeKits/BrakeKitsProdRear?itemno=140-12049-DR&year=9998&make=Factory+Five+Racing&model=MK4+Roadster&option=1994-2004+Mustang+Spindle+%2f+8.8+Rear+End

There is an exploded view of all the parts near the bottom of the linked page.

[Chopper]

To close the loop on this, if you have the original Wilwood 8.8 rear brake kit from factory five that mounts the calipers below the center line of the axle, it is possible to retrofit to put the caliper above the center line of axle (moving the caliper from 8 o'lock to 11 o'clock). Wilwood lists part number 250-13579/80 for this kit. However, it would appear this part has been superseded by Wilwood 249-13579/80. 249-13579/80 is what you want to move the caliper up. It does cost $88, but worth it to me to make servicing the brakes much easier.

If you have a doner axle and have the stock fox shock mounting points (unused in a 3 link), you will need to cut them off as the back of the caliper will interfere with them. The calipers also need to be swapped to the opposite sides of the car to allow for the parking brake cable to connect with the standard routing.

The mount:
https://photos.smugmug.com/Cars/Cobra/n-PLTRn/i-3Hqj79b/0/70e075ac/XL/i-3Hqj79b-XL.jpg

Cut off (add lightness):
https://photos.smugmug.com/Cars/Cobra/n-PLTRn/i-CM95MZG/0/f91e5b10/XL/i-CM95MZG-XL.jpg

New bracket installed (ignore my flaking axle end paint):
https://photos.smugmug.com/Cars/Cobra/n-PLTRn/i-79PG93L/0/1b781291/XL/i-79PG93L-XL.jpg

Final Product:
https://photos.smugmug.com/Cars/Cobra/n-PLTRn/i-Cb6634g/0/ab067363/XL/i-Cb6634g-XL.jpg

[Chopper]

Also, a photo of the new and old brackets for comparison. Top: new. Bottom: original.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Cars/Cobra/n-PLTRn/i-dvLhMmm/0/4e3d35a1/XL/i-dvLhMmm-XL.jpg