Cobra brake upgrade question

007

Founding Member
Jan 29, 2002
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Since the "Cobra" calipers bolt to the spindle into the holes currently used by the GT caliper bracket,you don't NEED the bolts. New banjo washers are a great idea when changing calipers. For $11 just get it and then you've got nice clean bolts to use,and you don't run the risk of developing a leak from an old washer.
 
I'm going through the same upgrade on my 2001 GT. I bought the stainless steel lines from Summit Racing (Russell 693170) as well as speed bleeders (Russell 639560). In regards to the banjo bolts...I did some research and it appears there are two types of banjo bolts. Course thread and fine thread. I believe that I need to get the fine thread ones which I plan to go to my local NAPA to pick up. Also, you might want to check on those brake calipers at JohnBleakleyFord.com They have good prices but tack on 10% for S&H so it might be a wash.
 
I used my stock GT banjo bolts and they worked perfectly. I also used the Russell brake lines, which were well worth the money. For the fronts, I didn't need to buy anything extra at all. It was a 60-minute job for me when I'd never even done a brake job before in my life. Picks of the finished product in my garage.
 
How do I know if I need the course thread or the fine thread bolts?:shrug: Seems like I can reuse the stock ones, but for 11 bucks I dont mind getting new ones.
 
If you want SS lines go to maximum motorsports; They have AWESOME SS lines. Just tell them which calipers you have and they will get you fixed up. I know for sure the black cobra calipers take the fine thread, not sure about the bullitts though.
 
The kit from buyfordracing comes with SS lines that have new banjo bolts and washers.

Be CAREFUL when threading the SS line onto the stock hardline, mess the flare up and you'll curse yourself for a few days.
 
I don't think he's buying the kit, i think he's getting the calipers only. He prob has his own rotors I assume??


I am 95% sure that the 99-04 Cobra/bullit/mach calipers use the coarse bajo bolt pitch. If you buy SS lines, just specifiy them for a bullit, mach or 99+ Cobra and they should give you the right ones.

Some GT's have the coarse threaded banjo bolts. I beleive 99-00 use fine threads and the 01-04's use coarse. I remember i used my stock Gt brake lines for a while because i thoght i had the wrong SS lines. My '03 had the coarse threads so with fresh crush washers they bolted up perfectly and i drove around like that for a week.

You could just buy the kit from buyfordracing.com for $350 and sell the Brembo rotors to someone if you want to use your own rotors
 
I don't think he's buying the kit, i think he's getting the calipers only. He prob has his own rotors I assume??


I am 95% sure that the 99-04 Cobra/bullit/mach calipers use the coarse bajo bolt pitch. If you buy SS lines, just specifiy them for a bullit, mach or 99+ Cobra and they should give you the right ones.

Some GT's have the coarse threaded banjo bolts. I beleive 99-00 use fine threads and the 01-04's use coarse. I remember i used my stock Gt brake lines for a while because i thoght i had the wrong SS lines. My '03 had the coarse threads so with fresh crush washers they bolted up perfectly and i drove around like that for a week.

You could just buy the kit from buyfordracing.com for $350 and sell the Brembo rotors to someone if you want to use your own rotors

Yeah I have my own rotors, slot/drill/zinc. I could do the kit and sell the brembos. Anyone want em?
 
Lol, well i am pretty sure the 94-98 Cobra calipers were fine thread. I've had a couple pairs in hand and they were all fine. My Fox is wearing a set from a '98 and they are fine thread.

As for the GT/V6 PBR's there is a cutoff when ford went from fine to coarse. I *THINK* it's 2001 that the change was made. I have a pair of GT calipers off a 2000 and they are the same fine thread as the 94-98 Cobra calipers i had are.

My 2003 GT on the other had had coarse pitch threads. When i installed my Mach 1 kit, i thought i has the incorrect SS lines, so i ran my stock GT brake hoses and banjo bolts with new crush washers for a week until i resolved my SS line problem.

EDIT: actuially now i can't remember if i used the banjo bolts from my SS line kit. I think i may have. I am 90% sure the Mach 1 calipers were coarse, but i am not positive. I don't want to take it apart to find out though :)

If you look at the caliper, it would be easy to tell though.
 
Lol, well i am pretty sure the 94-98 Cobra calipers were fine thread. I've had a couple pairs in hand and they were all fine. My Fox is wearing a set from a '98 and they are fine thread.

As for the GT/V6 PBR's there is a cutoff when ford went from fine to coarse. I *THINK* it's 2001 that the change was made. I have a pair of GT calipers off a 2000 and they are the same fine thread as the 94-98 Cobra calipers i had are.

My 2003 GT on the other had had coarse pitch threads. When i installed my Mach 1 kit, i thought i has the incorrect SS lines, so i ran my stock GT brake hoses and banjo bolts with new crush washers for a week until i resolved my SS line problem.

EDIT: actuially now i can't remember if i used the banjo bolts from my SS line kit. I think i may have. I am 90% sure the Mach 1 calipers were coarse, but i am not positive. I don't want to take it apart to find out though :)

If you look at the caliper, it would be easy to tell though.


I dont know man, I looked on the american muscle site and it says right on the 10th anniversary kit link that you will need coarse thread bolts and not on the others.
 
Guess we'll have to wait and see if anyone buys a kit anytime soon and lets us know.


I've def not pulling a line off my caliper to check. It's not that important to me lol
 
the way I undersand it is cobra and bullitt calipers are fine thread. 10th aniversary and mach 1 calipers are course thread.

my bullitts were fine thread. As for stock I never even looked as I bought a stainless line kit.