Upgrading brakes on my '03 Stang GT

Jarhed

New Member

Oct 28, 2003

17

0

0

Orange County, CA.

Oct 30, 2008

#1

• Oct 30, 2008

• #1

I'm looking to upgrade my brakes (rotors & pads) on my '03 Mustang GT. They're currently stock. Can this be done w/o changing the calipers? I plan on ordering the parts online and instalingl them myself. Does anyone know any reliable websites?Opinions, suggestions???

Thanks...

 

mustang50v8

Member

Feb 4, 2003

548

3

18

847 Chicago Burbs

Oct 31, 2008

#2

• Oct 31, 2008

• #2

yep get some Hawk HPS pads for the front and rear

and just some normal semi upgraded rotors and you will be set. i like those because they are a standard replacement but the fins and the hats are painted so they dont rust and look like poo after a week and a half.


with just those upgrades you will feel a great increase in stopping power and pedal firmness

 

Stark77

Member

Jun 11, 2008

501

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16

Tallahassee, FL

Oct 31, 2008

#3

• Oct 31, 2008

• #3

stainless steel brake lines will be a nice upgrade as well - The mach1 / cobra front brake upgrade kit can be had for about 400 dollars - mach1 for less

 

02nightmaregt

To hell with your Mustang, I want to see your HOG!

Jul 1, 2007

513

4

19

Southern Indiana

Oct 31, 2008

#4

• Oct 31, 2008

• #4

Cobrared has a pretty good upgrade on his car and if i remember correctly he said it was fairly inexpensive. I'll see if i can find a link for ya. Semper

 

SVT32VDOHC

waiting for the next hack atta

Founding Member

Nov 22, 2001

3,501

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Motor City

Oct 31, 2008

#5

• Oct 31, 2008

• #5

If you keep the stock calipers, you want only change the rotors to something drilled and slotted, stainless lines and a better set of pads.

I recommend a brake fluid change also. Brake fluid is overlooked, but it is so crutial to have nice clean brake fluid in your car. Over time, brake fluid gets water in it from condensation and that changes the boiling point. The older the fluid is, the less effective stopping power you will have. Just bleed the brakes out and keep adding fluid as you do it. When you start seeing clear fluid come through, then you know your done.

 

02nightmaregt

To hell with your Mustang, I want to see your HOG!

Jul 1, 2007

513

4

19

Southern Indiana

Oct 31, 2008

#6

• Oct 31, 2008

• #6

+1 on the fluid, good tip SVT

 

SVT32VDOHC

waiting for the next hack atta

Founding Member

Nov 22, 2001

3,501

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119

Motor City

Oct 31, 2008

#7

• Oct 31, 2008

• #7

No problem, and thanks.

 

IIGood

Founding Member

Aug 1, 1998

4,252

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Churchton, MD

Oct 31, 2008

#8

• Oct 31, 2008

• #8

Might want to consider "going bigger" with the brakes. I mean, if you'll be changing everything else, why not? Just a couple more bolts. I upgraded my GT's front brakes to the 13" rotors and matching calipers from the Mach 1. The whole setup looks so much better behind the wheel and gives a nice little bump in breaking power. And yes, change out that brake fluid while you're there.

 

mustang50v8

Member

Feb 4, 2003

548

3

18

847 Chicago Burbs

Oct 31, 2008

#9

• Oct 31, 2008

• #9

BTW....what is the best way to flush the brake fluid and replace it with synthetic fluid?

 

P

poindexternasty

New Member

Apr 29, 2008

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Oct 31, 2008

#10

• Oct 31, 2008

• #10

Do stainless lines actually improve braking performance or are they just stronger and resist heat and pressure better?

 

Stark77

Member

Jun 11, 2008

501

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Tallahassee, FL

Oct 31, 2008

#11

• Oct 31, 2008

• #11

rubber lines flex/swell under heavy braking pressure the stainless lines will give you better braking feedback and more firm/consistent braking

 

twogts4us

15 Year Member

Apr 1, 2004

4,188

12

79

Dunedin, FL

Oct 31, 2008

#12

• Oct 31, 2008

• #12

Do the sub $400 Mach 1 / Cobra brake front brake upgrade. Best bang for the buck. You get much better braking, stainless lines, and they look great. Since most of your braking is in the front anyway, this should be your first upgrade. And maybe your last.
For the back, Baer makes a "+1" setup that utilizes the stock calipers with new rotors and brackets that would be a good match.

 

D

darkside03gt

Member

Feb 19, 2007

851

8

18

Sacramento CA

Oct 31, 2008

#13

• Oct 31, 2008

• #13

I also recomend the mach1 brake upgrade. buyfordracing.com currently sells a kit that comes with mach1 calipers brembo rotors and ss brake lines for 359. you can also upgrade to 11.65 inch rear rotors for 175 that kit also comes with brembo discs caliper brackets and dust shields. its also quite a bit cheaper then the bear kit.

when you add up the total price of the upgrade compaired to just buying rotors and pads the price difference isnt that much and worth every penny. just dont buy any of the bear 2 piston front single piston rear kits as they are the exact same thing (bear uses the same pbr calipers) as the cobra/mach1/bullitt upgrade and will cost you 3 times as much.

 

CobraRed_96_GT

Active Member

May 20, 2006

1,421

4

39

UCSD/La Jolla

Nov 1, 2008

#14

• Nov 1, 2008

• #14

02nightmaregt said:

Cobrared has a pretty good upgrade on his car and if i remember correctly he said it was fairly inexpensive. I'll see if i can find a link for ya. Semper

Click to expand...

Thanks 02night
here it is:
http://forums.stangnet.com/763948-read-new-signature-vids-pics-too.html
I paid $175 shipped for one bullit caliper and one mach 1 caliper (same thing, just take different size banjo bolts). Shaved of the white horse on the bullit caliper and painted both red with caliper paint i alreay had.
I paid $90 shipped a group buy price and free shipping for 2 13" front cobra slotted discs zinc coated hats painted to you color preference. SRT runs them and he got 2 years out of the pads with slotteds and the dics held up great.
I paid $60 for teflon wrapped stainless steel line from lastcallracing.

$325 shipped for the whole deal. Buy ford racing is $359 + 70 shipping to me.

 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Mod Dude

Feb 18, 2001

43,260

17,945

224

Massachusetts

Nov 1, 2008

#15

• Nov 1, 2008

• #15

Best Damn $350 I ever spent. Plus they just LOOK much better


Mach 1 calipers
Brembo rotors
Stainless Steel lines
Valvoline Synpower Brake fluid


BTW, flush your brake fluid YEARLY. Nobody ever does this, but i do it at the end of fall when humidty levels drop since brake fluid likes to soak up moisture.

 

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twogts4us

15 Year Member

Apr 1, 2004

4,188

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79

Dunedin, FL

Nov 1, 2008

#16

• Nov 1, 2008

• #16

Mustang5L5 said:

BTW, flush your brake fluid YEARLY. Nobody ever does this, but i do it at the end of fall when humidty levels drop since brake fluid likes to soak up moisture.

Click to expand...

Agreed! You'll be surprised by the difference (and shocked by the color of the old stuff). Add this to your to do along with a fuel filter change...

Mustang5L5 said:

Best Damn $350 I ever spent. Plus they just LOOK much better

Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more...check out my attached pic of my ol' "black is beautiful" NOS Noszle injected beast...God rest her soul.