TCE SHOstopper brake kit

[Lance Cheney]

Yeah, my rings -- plain with no coating -- were $175/ea plus shipping. Hats are another $150+ for the ones that I got from Todd (the larger 12x8.375" mounting circle).

13x0.81" ones aren't that much cheaper -- I think they're around $130 plated, and you'd save a bit by getting them plain, but you get a lot more bang for your $$$ with wider rotors.

On the plus side it looks like I may be able to do a minor amount of shaving on a later-style spindle (the gen2 ones) and build a bracket that will put my FSLs on that with this larger rotor (would have had to take too much material off for the 13" rotors). I may have a 13x0.81" rotor+hat+old BSL + spindle +bracket set for sale if that's the case...

-Lance

 

[SHO92]

On the plus side it looks like I may be able to do a minor amount of shaving on a later-style spindle (the gen2 ones) and build a bracket that will put my FSLs on that with this larger rotor (would have had to take too much material off for the 13" rotors). I may have a 13x0.81" rotor+hat+old BSL + spindle +bracket set for sale if that's the case...

-Lance

Very interesting find. That could mean a lot of potential for Gen 3 owners, and those running 94-95 spindles already. Gen 3 subframe swap folks too...

Keep us informed!

 

[ManySHOs]

Very interesting find. That could mean a lot of potential for Gen 3 owners, and those running 94-95 spindles already. Gen 3 subframe swap folks too...

Keep us informed!

Lance and I discussed this privately. It appears that Ford used more aluminum around the mounting ears on the gen3 spindle than the gen2 (94-95) to compensate for the loss of strength between steel and aluminum. I would be worried about the integrity of the ears if I milled down the aluminum on the gen3 spindle. I tried mocking up an FSL before and it didn't fit the gen3. It appears that a radial mount caliper is the only way to go. If I remember, I might measure the thickness of the aluminum today and compare notes with Lance.

Ian

 

[Todd TCE]

Would you guys be surprised if I told you I looked this whole thing up one side and down the other years ago? And came to the conclusion that short of a custom radial mount package it would not work. I could have done an iron kit too the same way but nobody was interested in doing $1800 kits (more costly calipers and brackets). Anyone want to revisit this let me know.

 

[Lance Cheney]

Todd -- I agree that with 13" rotors you'd really have to take off too much material on the spindle ear if you wanted to run lug-mount calipers, and you'd end up with a safety issue. But with the larger rotor I have an extra 3/16" of clearance, which looks like it should be enough -- right now with the caliper nestled in between the spindle ears the pad is only overhanging the rotor by ~1/4", and it'll have to overhang a bit due to the larger rotor radius anyway. I'll finally have some time tonight to actually grind a little material off and find out exactly how much has to be removed.

Not saying that's worth it, because it increases the cost of consumables as you have to run the 14" casting forever, and it probably wouldn't work on the gen3s' aluminum spindles without running the diameter up some more.

What I don't understand is why the radial mounts are so much more money... is it just sales volumes or are they really that much harder to manufacture?

-Lance

 

[ManySHOs]

Would you guys be surprised if I told you I looked this whole thing up one side and down the other years ago? And came to the conclusion that short of a custom radial mount package it would not work. I could have done an iron kit too the same way but nobody was interested in doing $1800 kits (more costly calipers and brackets). Anyone want to revisit this let me know.

I would love for you to revisit this but I think you already knew that.

Being as thrifty as I am, I'd like to be able to re-use my exsisting hat and rotor (13 x 1.1 setup) but I would understand if this is not feasible.

I have been looking out for a used SN95 Mustang/SL6 radial kit ever since Lance showed me an auction that ended early with a BIN of $500. I would have been all over that had I seen it first. In the end, we both missed it.

Ian

 

[Todd TCE]

Couple of thoughts.

An FSL or standard BSL6 will not support a rotor larger than 13.5". Or it has a lot of pad overhang as the top and bottom bridge contact the rotor before the pad sits correctly. In other words the caliper body is not matched to a 7" radius of a 14" rotor.

The BSL6r and BSL4r as well as the W4a and W6a are the only calipers that will really work for a 14. The W series being the superior part in mass. The more common BSLr series will work but is a lighter caliper and has thinner pads than you are used to.

The BSLr series is not that much more money. When you compare them to the normal SIX *** version that was available for $275 more per kit. But...yes it costs more than a normal BSL6 due in part to supply/demand as well as the additional machine work on the radial mount side of the body. However...the real ass kicker is the cost of a radial bracket vs the conventional tab mount. I generally factor a set of radial brackets to run me about $350 to produce them in mega low volume. That includes the ARP studs for $7ea and the proper spacers and lock nuts- another $4 per bracket. Of course the primary cost is in the design, mfg and finish of the alum bracket.

13" radial mount six or four *** on a SHO; figure on $1800+
14" on a SHO; call it $2100