Considering 03-04 Cobra Calipers? Read This.

[5LugFoxFanatic]

This is for anyone that is considering 10 Anniversary Cobra Calipers for their Mustang. I bought a pair of them and rotor’s from Tousley Ford in December. It was a nice day out yesterday so I decided I would put them on. I took out the stock pads and replaced them with EBC Green Stuff pads. I then proceeded to put the banjo bolt into the caliper, and to my dismay, it would not fit. So I looked closely at the threads. The brake hoses I got from Ford were fine thread. I also bought some steel braided lines and I noticed that the banjo bolts I got with that were fine thread too and the same length as the stock ones. The calipers however are a coarse thread. So I was thinking that I got the wrong hoses from Ford. I called Steve at Tousley to explain the situation to him and he said that Calipers that they sell do not come with brake hoses, so I got lucky I guess. Then I did some searching. It turns out in 03 and 04 Ford switched to the Coarse thread for their calipers and do not include the proper banjo bolts with their calipers, unless of course you buy a Cobra. The kit needed to make these calipers work is FMS M-2321-A. Summit was the only place I could find them at, and they only had one kit. Every FRPP dealer was out and on backorder via Ford. I was thinking about just taking them to Napa or Checker and going through their banjo bolts and lining them up and getting ones that fit, but in the end, I didn’t want to get the wrong ones that might have had a small difference I could not see and jeopardize my braking. The kit cost me 9 dollars, plus a 9 dollar handling fee. So if you are considering them, even if you have a Cobra…94-01 they will not work unless you buy this kit.

 

[sweet88gt]

A friend of mine already found this out the hard way. He has a 99 Cobra ordered up 10th anv calipers and bam!! I thought I was helping him out by changing them out and just about tore up the new calipers. I retapped the bolt hole after I pulled a few threads and he purchased the kit. You are entirely right ONLY 03-04 Cobras use this course thread. Pain in the a@#. The only problem is arent all Cobra calipers the same, 13 inch up front and 11 inch in the back?? I wasnt sure why my buddy changed his out, but I got the 99 Cobra cailpers for free.

 

[5LugFoxFanatic]

Yes, all 94-04 Cobra Calipers are the same. The design is the same. They might have changed manufacturers because I know PBR makes them now. The rotors are also the same, and I know for a fact that they changed manufacturers, as Brembo makes them now. 94-01 Cobra Calipers use fine thread banjo bolts and 03-04 Cobra, and I am pretty sure Mach 1 uses the Coarse thread. I wish Ford would send them with. They sent me the fine threaded ones and I almost did what you did, tear up my new calipers.

 

[sweet88gt]

Ok, so I have a question. I now have 99 Cobra calipers. I have 95 gt front brakes, will the 95 gt hoses fit these calipers?? I read they would. I have to change the rotor i know but this should work. If i ever get enough motivation I will install the 3 to 2 port conversion and the 93 cobra master cylinder that I have to complete the front. Then Ill work on getting rid of the drums that I hate so much.

 

[5LugFoxFanatic]

If they do not fit, I have brand new hoses never used for the fine pitch like you need. The only way you’ll know is to crack it open and see if it fits. Also, I am upgrading my rear brakes to the Cobra’s because I need them when I do my IRS. They are SN95 rear disc’s. I basically have a whole rear solid axle with all of the brakes that is coming out. So if you need it, I will have it in about 1/1/2 to 2 months.

 

[sweet88gt]

I have a spare 8.8 in the garage that Im slowly going to put the parts on and just swap the unit when done. Whats your thought on how the 93 Cobra master cylinder will work without rear disc brakes?? I would like to install all of the front and when Im ready install the porportional (spelling) valve and rear disc later. I think it may apply too much pressure to the rear drums and lock them up before the front will and send me into a spin. Any thoughts??

 

[RacEoHolic330]

fwiw, the 94-98 cobra calipers have 38mm pistons while the 99+ have 40mm pistons. When I bought my Mach 1 calipers, I was able to find a banjo bolt at Auto Zone that would work. I had to use 03-04 cobra stainless steel softlines. As said above, any others won't work.

 

[5LugFoxFanatic]

I would not swap out the master cylinder until you actually do the rear disc brakes. Doing a MC is easy, so do the rears first and then the MC. Since the 93 cobra is designed for 4 wheel disc, it would be a bad idea in my opinion to match that up with drums. I myself would rather run the fronts with the stock MC than do the fronts and swap the MC and then do the rears at a later date. But that’s just me.

 

[sweet88gt]

Sounds good to me.

 

[Mustang5L5]

Yes, all 94-04 Cobra Calipers are the same. The design is the same.

Actually the design is slightly different. The 94-98 Cobra calipers are 38x38mm pistons while the 99-04 Cobra/bullitt/Mach 1 calipers use 40x40mm pistons. They also changed the pitch of the banjo bolt and bleeder valve screws. No idea why though

 

[Shakerhood]

Check out Maximum Motorsports for the correct lines and Banjo Bolts.

 

[superhuaman]

I would not swap out the master cylinder until you actually do the rear disc brakes. Doing a MC is easy, so do the rears first and then the MC. Since the 93 cobra is designed for 4 wheel disc, it would be a bad idea in my opinion to match that up with drums. I myself would rather run the fronts with the stock MC than do the fronts and swap the MC and then do the rears at a later date. But that’s just me.

*right here* lol
93 cobra master cylinder works just great with 13" rotors in the front and 9" drums in the rear, with the stock gt booster.
pedal is nice and firm, until the shoes wear down a couple of 32nds and then you have to adjust the shoes out. but all-in-all, you can do the mc and the 3-2 port conv first and the rear disc later (just did mine).