How To: Maximize Stock Brake System

[greasy]

I want to maximize the stock brake setup on the Cobra because I cannot justify the cost of a Brembo/Wilwood/Baer/Stop-Tech brake kit at this point in time. What would you guys recommend in Rotor/Pad/Line/Fluid/etc... mods to maximize the performance of the stock brakes. Give me some ideas......

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[Mook]

Hawks or EBC would be my recommendation for pads. Maybe look into new brake lines as well.

 

[jason05gt]

The 13" 2 pistons are actually very capable. Buy a good pad, SS lines and do a fluid flush. That's all you need:

Pads: Stoptech Street Performance are good pads. I run them on my Mustang and Infiniti. I'd like to try the new Hawk 5.0 pads.

Lines: I have Russell Stainless Steel

Fluid: Motul or ATE

Depending on the shape of your rotors, you might just be able to have them resurfaced. Oh and don't forget about tires.

 

[nos4blood70]

Had Hawk HPS on the Bonne for a long time. They dusted like crazy but bit very hard. Felt completely different from what came on the car from the factory. Night and day difference.

 

[greasy]

Anybody having success with slotted rotors or are they not necessary?

 

[Mook]

And I dont know if this applies to all cars, but if your car has brake shims, keep them in or the pads might (will) squeal like crazy (as my car does). I still need to put mine back in.

 

[EmersonHart13]

I have read arguments for and against. I personally like a slotted rotor for looks even if performance isn't added

 

[nos4blood70]

Had slots on the Bonne too, actually. Not sure if they actually did anything except kept the brakes responsive when they were wet, as the slots channeled water away. At least that's what that felt like.

As mentioned above, I did enjoy the look quite a bit.

 

[Angus]

I've heard they are good if you're road racing as the slots do their cooling, but non-slotted bite harder as they have more surface area to grab without the slots...

 

[jason05gt]

Anybody having success with slotted rotors or are they not necessary?

Use blanks. I've been running the Centric premiums in both cars and they work well. You can usually pick them up pretty cheap on Amazon.

 

[OffshoreDrilling]

drilled/slotted, I think they're a waste of money for anything short of track use. a quality rotor that isn't some eBay knockoff junk is a good buck and at that point you're significantly biting into the cost of the upgrade anyways. pads, fluid and lines is enough IMO if you aren't wanting to spend big bucks

 

[Bruce Jibboo]

I actually heard drilled/slotted rotors can fail faster on track, but not sure if true, probably good info out there somewhere that's not just marketing

 

[Shadow99]

I had brembo blanks with hawk pads. And also hawk pads on unknown drilled/slotted rotors. The blanks had my stopping much more quickly and I think I liked them more for perfomance wise. The slotted drilled ones were great for looks. But there was one time I was boosting down the street, came to a stop sign and went right through it slamming the brakes.

 

[Bruce Jibboo]

 

[Shadow99]

Yea, showing off to a friend how boost felt. Came up to a stop sign and applied the brakes but I wasnt slowing down. Pushed in as hard as I could and still went right through the sign going at least 20. Given it was a single piston caliper. But the nice pads, and ss lines. Dont think ill be going back to drilled and slotted. Maybe only slotted. Also some of the drill holes were chipping on the rotors that I had.

 

[EmersonHart13]

There are definitely people that say drilled can cause structrual problems to the rotor depending on how they are done. EBC does dimpled rotors which is unique.

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

Just chain a 3800 to it and kick it out of the trunk when you need to stop on a dime

 

[nos4blood70]

If I remember correctly, you want the "drilled" rotors that have the holes cast into their surface. Less chance of stress cracks that way apparently.

 

[Mook]

Remember what my drilled rotors looked like on the cobra, jim? Stress cracks everywhere

 

[EmersonHart13]

The drilled rotors on my GP GXP held up well. I even cut them once.

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

Yeah right...AND your married to a model too I suppose

 

[EmersonHart13]

 

[greasy]

What about bleeding the brakes? Anyone running speed bleeders? Recommendations/tips on bleeding the brakes....

 

[greasy]

I am just going to go with good blanks, definitely need the ones with the painted hats, looks WAY better than shitty rusted hats.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Don't do drilled and slotted. I've had spider cracks around holes before. Switched to centric blanks and never had an issue.


I had a friend with an ITR that would buy lifetime pads and rotors at autozone and do a ton of track days. He's replaced them at the track, burned thru them and replaced them same day

I've used ATE fluid because that's what North Star motor sports had in stock (plus side is it comes in blue and amber so makes flushing easier).