Thoughts about running Cobra Rear rotors.

[SASHO91]

I've been thinking about running Cobra Rear rotors on the front (96 upgrade style).
The two problems that I see are, 1)They're thinner than the 11.6'' SHO rotors. and 2) I'll have to re-drill them(obviously).

I know there is a formula out there that can measure the rotors "thermal capacity", using it's dia x thickness or something to that effect.

I'd like to know if these rotors would be up to the challenge for a street car which is lighter than the normal SHO anad.

For those who are going to ask, these rotors are lighter than the stock SHO rotors(11.6'').

 

[Brett]

I've been thinking about running Cobra Rear rotors on the front (96 upgrade style).
The two problems that I see are, 1)They're thinner than the 11.6'' SHO rotors. and 2) I'll have to re-drill them(obviously).

I know there is a formula out there that can measure the rotors "thermal capacity", using it's dia x thickness or something to that effect.

I'd like to know if these rotors would be up to the challenge for a street car which is lighter than the normal SHO anad.

For those who are going to ask, these rotors are lighter than the stock SHO rotors(11.6'').

I dont have the experience or know how to answer your question and i apologize for the hijack. Im assuming you want to run the cobra rotors because of the said weight difference you mentioned? Now your getting a question you meant to avoid by putting that out there. Do you think the loss in weight would actually be worth it? Not being a smart ass in the least. I'm just questioning the fruit of the labor.

 

[Jarrod]

I'm guessing it has more to do with the fact that they are smaller diameter than the front rotors and would fit under 16" wheels without having to be cut down.

 

[SASHO91]

It's mainly for the weight loss, and since I will not be tracking the car, just you average sprints, I figured I would ask. The SHO rotor's are 17-18lbs and the Cobra rotors are 12lbs. Not only is it unsprung weight, its rotational mass(not that it's THAT far from the centerline).

 

[JEM]

On a stock Gen 1/Gen 2 SHO the 'thermal capacity' of rear brake rotors is rarely an issue and even the stock vented '88-92 Taurus rear discs are more brake than the car can use.

I downsized the rear brakes on my '91 to the '93-95 solid rotors and smaller calipers, in part to save weight, in part because I was considering running the SN95 Mustang calipers (they're the same GT/Cobra, just the brackets and rotors are different) instead of the SHO items to reduce rear brake bias.

The Mustang caliper bodies are similar to the small solid-rotor Taurus calipers but have different mounting rings and a 38mm piston instead of 43mm, so if one was of a mind to do so one could swap the ring/slider from the Taurus calipers onto a set of Mustang caliper bodies and take roughly 30% off the rear piston surface area.

As things stand right now, though, I'm very happy with the brake bias of the car with the 43mm Taurus calipers and the valve tied full-open (no plugs) and the Gen 3 front suspension (more anti-dive.) I'll know more when I finally get it out on a track - maybe I'll end up going back to the vented rear rotor setup...but I'd be very surprised to need anything more than that.

 

[SASHO91]

I'm not refering to the rear brakes... I'm talking about running the rear Cobra rotor's upfront instead of the SHO rotors(11.6'').

I've thought about downgrading the rear as well, but meh, I think I'll stick with the vented rotors for now.

 

[JEM]

I'm not refering to the rear brakes... I'm talking about running the rear Cobra rotor's upfront instead of the SHO rotors(11.6'').

I wouldn't remotely consider doing that, they're vented but they're quite thin (.625in.)

You'd be better off running the stock '93-95 11x1 front rotors.

 

[SASHO91]

Wow, I didn't know they were THAT thin...



Erm... Scratch that idea.....

 

[SHO92]

If you're concerned about the weight of the 96 brakes, why not just run the stock 94-95 style? Same thickness, but smaller diameter.

 

[SASHO91]

Then I loose my Cobra's.

 

[SHO92]

You might be able to redrill the bracket similar to running 96 rotors.