Finally posting

[Hebes10]

Hi everyone!
I'm a long time lurker in the forum and have found it to be very helpful with fixing maintenance issues and learning about improving performance. I have a 2011 SHO PP with 40k miles. I purchased it in 2012 with 17K miles; I really don't drive it too much since I live less than 3 miles from work.

I think this year I am finally going to get a tune and some other performance parts! Only mods so far are a K&N drop in and upgraded all the brakes with EBC redstuff and GD sport rotors, which I did last month. Those stock front pads were worn down to the backing plates!
So, now that it stops pretty well, time to get it to go faster!
I washed, clayed, and waxed last week so here's what she looks like:

IMG_0002 by John Heberger, on Flickr

 

[Madyaks]

Looks great love the color

 

[SHOdded]

Welcome, Hebes, glad to have another SHOfanatic on board That is one beautiful specimen, you did the right thing upgrading the brakes. Did you paint the calipers as well?

 

[Hebes10]

Thanks so much! I've noticed a huge difference with the brake upgrade. I did paint the calipers and brackets with the G2 Caliper paint. I had both front calipers off so I was able to clean them off with a wire wheel on my bench grinder. The G2 was easy to use and looks great. I also found some SHO brake decals on eBay and then sprayed a clear coat over the decals.

IMG_4038 by John Heberger, on Flickr

 

[SHOdded]

Looks even better up close

 

[Madyaks]

Looks good

 

[Chris Horner]

Wow those brakes look sweet. Nice work!

 

[Toolman]

Welcome!!

 

[OmaHahn]

Man NICE job on those brakes! Please do mine for me! ;-)

 

[Hebes10]

Man NICE job on those brakes! Please do mine for me! ;-)

Thanks so much! It actually was not too difficult; just replacing old parts with better ones and finding the time to do it. If everything went according to my plan, I probably could have completed the brake job in a long weekend.
I did run into a few issues:
1) received the wrong rear rotors in the mail and didn't notice until I went to put them on (part# 7280 is not the same as 728!).
2) driver side caliper had a blown seal and no one (not even my ford dealer) had them in stock. I think the PP brakes are a little different than non-PP.
3) G2 paint took a very long time to dry. Working time is supposed to be 2-4 hours, but I think I had about 10.
4) This one is my fault. I wasn't paying attention and over torqued the banjo bolt into the caliper and it snapped in half. Luckily I was able to back it out, but I had to get another bolt at my dealer. It was supposed to be 35lbs, but I just torqued the caliper pins at 53lbs and I mixed them up. I guess thats what I get when I decide to do this with a 2 week old! My wife wasn't thrilled. I am on a "car project" ban for 1 year. Luckily the tunes and mods I want don't look like big projects.

@OmaHahn - your signature says you have a PP, but you changed the suspension to H&R springs. I thought the PPs had much stiffer suspensions. How much difference did the H&R springs make?

 

[OmaHahn]

@OmaHahn - your signature says you have a PP, but you changed the suspension to H&R springs. I thought the PPs had much stiffer suspensions. How much difference did the H&R springs make?

I don't think the OEM springs are any special performance type spring - they looked exactly like the H&Rs I installed except the H&R are shorter of course. It completely transforms the appearance! My car sat up SO frickin high in the back it looked like a Ford F150!!! Now all 4 corners are down on the tires with a very nice gap-fitment between fender & tire. Since the car is lower it definitely handles better. I am satisfied with the purchase!