Gen 4 rotors

[Emerald94]

I was reading the current issue of Motor Trend and there was a comparo of mid-size cars including the Taurus SEL. The specs show that the front rotors are 11.6" (combined with 8.9" drums. What's up with that!). Could they be used for the brake upgrade on a '94?

 

[AutoXSHO]

To be a complete nitpicker, the gen IV SLO you refer to is actually a gen III SLO. We have Gen I, II, and III SHOs but the first two SHO generations are both considered the "gen I" Taurus. Thus a gen III SHO is actually a gen II Taurus. Confused yet?

Regardless. The development of SLO front brakes seems to lag one generation from the SHO. Thus those 11.6 front rotors are probably the same as on the '96+ SHO and '95+ Continental.

I don't know if the hubs are different, I suspect they are.

John V

 

[drivinhard]

Yes, they are the same brakes as the 95 conti and 96+ SHO. Ford rehashes parts for a long time...

 

[SW SHO]

If Ford rehashes parts, then why the **** didn't they put disk on the rear of the newest SLO? It pains me to see this on any full size sedan. I could see maybe Hyundai or Suzuki or some crap like that, but DRUM Brakes on a new model sedan. It's propostorus!

Lance

 

[drivinhard]

Drums are cheaper. If they can save $1.00 per car on the assembly line, they'll do it! It's all volume, that over 380,000 cars starts to add up...

 

[RStalveyARFF]

I believe 95% of the slo's out there have drum brakes. I noticed on my mountaineer they even tried to save money, by making the rear disc a drum also for the e-brake, so they didn't need to do anything fancy with the caliper. The mountaineer wouldn't have entered this family if it had rear drums. Braking in an SUV is one of the most important things.

 

[ChrisR]

I noticed that also today. I was walking back to my car and saw a nice gen 4 (3?) all black and I thought it has some nice factory rims, then I looked behind the rear rim... Drum!

 

[AutoXSHO]

Rear disc brakes with integrated parking brake drums are fairly common. It's actually a better design in my opinion, since it allows the use of a higher quality caliper in the rear. Any car with fixed caliper rear brakes HAS to have an integrated rear drum.

I don't know what the Mountaineer has - the SHO of course has a floating caliper.

John V

 

[DeaconBlue]

If you buy a so-called Gen IV SLO wagon with ABS you still get the rear disc brakes, but the sedan has rear drum only. Are you even more confused yet?