Why go with PBRs?

[firebat45]

So it seems to be a pretty common upgrade, get the PBR calipers from a 'stang.

I started doing some shopping and found some nice Wilwood 4 *** calipers that weigh almost nothing, brand new for ~$120 each. Pads are cheap too, and available in different compounds. The sho-stopper kit used these calipers, IIRC.

Yeah it will take a custom bracket, but I would think most of us are used to that sort of thing by now anyway.

I read a bit about pedal feel being off, that could be solved by a new master cylinder (although that starts getting more involved). Either that or suck it up and enjoy the Wilwoods.

Nice thing about the Wilwoods is that you can get them in widths from around .380 to over 1.25. They're also good for rotors from 10 inches or so up to 14 or so. You could eventually upgrade rotors to the Wilwoods as well, 2 piece rotors come to around $150 for the initial buy (both pieces) and $70 or so for each subsequent rotor replacement.

Best of all, you don't have to bolt Mustang parts onto your SHO!

 

[K-Dawg]

I went with the PBRs because they were cheap, easy, and effective.

If the Wilwoods do the same for you, then go with them.

 

[SeanMc]

Unless you can fab up your own bracket, how much is it going to cost?

PBRs are just a simple no hassle bolt on.

 

[Shoaz]

Depending on who you talk to, Wilwood > PBR. In general four pots will give better pedal modulation than two.

The Wilwood is a fixed caliper rather than floating like the PBR, if that matters to you. On the track a floating caliper won't be as subject to pad knockback as a fixed caliper.

TCE has been making Wilwood brake kits for the SHO for eons. They're very popular kits.

 

[CademiaX]

I went with this set. Cost me $200. Rotors are pretty cheap, just need to have the bolt pattern drilled. Stainless steal brake lines from shosource are nice to throw on as well.

 

[jedhead]

I have a combination of both. PBR Calipers on custom brackets (corvette offset instead of mustang) with wilwood rotors on custom hats. Two minor issues with Wilwood. One is no dust covers. You need to keep the exposed caliper pistons clean. Second the calipers are fixed and more sensitive to warped rotors or rotors with uneven pad deposits.

Bob

 

[SHOtime2511]

I went with the PBRs because they were cheap, easy, and effective.

If the Wilwoods do the same for you, then go with them.

agreed.
i got mine back before prices went through the roof,new mach 1 calipers,brackets and pads for around $180.00

 

[PAracer]

Replacement parts are much easier to find and cheaper for the Cobra stuff, too. Especially if you go with an 11.6" rotor. A cracked wilwood rotor is going to cost several times more than a generic taurus rotor to replace. Try getting a replacement if you're out at the track. HA!!

 

[firebat45]

Replacement parts are much easier to find and cheaper for the Cobra stuff, too. Especially if you go with an 11.6" rotor. A cracked wilwood rotor is going to cost several times more than a generic taurus rotor to replace. Try getting a replacement if you're out at the track. HA!!

I'll have to disagree on "much". If you go the 2 piece rotor route, replacement rotors are not much more than stock. I'd think if anything you'll have an easier time finding generic track rotors than Taurus parts at a track too. Not to mention the lesser chance of a cracked Wilwood rotor.

Brakes pads are actually cheaper than the Cobra stuff, from the quick price checking I've done. Other replacement parts for the caliper itself are all available from Wilwood.

In any case, I think I will be using stock rotors for the time being, until I get a bit more funds to go with the Wilwood ones. Means making 2 sets of brackets but they're not that difficult to make.

Thanks for the input everyone! They would need to be cleaned due to the lack of dust boots, but a few guys say they just use a toothbrush every time they have the wheels off. I do enough work on my car that I'll be able to clean them regularily.

 

[SolidState]

How exactly are brackets easy to make?

 

[Sho Amo]

the hard part is the measurement. im sure you have seen the bracket before. its just a thick painted flat surface with 4 threaded holes.

 

[jedhead]

All the wilwood set ups that I have seen used modified hubs and brackets. The cobra set up needs IIRC the 1994 and up hubs. I have hubs modified to take the corvette offset rotors.

1991 stock hub on the right. modified hubs with bracket on the left.



Installed:



Bob

 

[SeanMc]

All the wilwood set ups that I have seen used modified hubs and brackets. The cobra set up needs IIRC the 1994 and up hubs. I have hubs modified to take the corvette offset rotors.

1991 stock hub on the right. modified hubs with bracket on the left.



Installed:



Bob

Can't see the pics.

Edit - Nevermind

 

[jedhead]

btw with the corvette offsets I can use the stock slicers with the brakes.



Bob

 

[firebat45]

Well, I won the ebay auctions so I'll definitely be getting these now. 4 Wilwood calipers for $93 total, I think that's an ok deal. Brackets are trivial to make, but like someone said, the measuring is the tricky part.

 

[38SHO]

All the wilwood set ups that I have seen used modified hubs and brackets. The cobra set up needs IIRC the 1994 and up hubs. I have hubs modified to take the corvette offset rotors.

1991 stock hub on the right. modified hubs with bracket on the left.

Installed:



Bob

that seems like a lot of work(money to someone to make the parts/modifiations) for what seem to me, a setup like cobra calipers.....

granted you can use the bigger 12.5" rotor under a slicer, this is the only benefit of your setup I can see... if my goal was to run the slicers, I'd take the 11.6" rotors and spend money on decent rotors and a pad that can take 4 digit temps...........

I like simple stupid on my chassis though

what if I break something on my brakes? I don't have modified parts to retrofit back to stock, I can walk into parts stores or junkyards and find what I need immediately.... you on the other hand......

 

[jedhead]

I purchase the Baer Racing set up used. Baer Racing was designed before the Gen2 SHO and came with modified hubs. I had TCE make two piece wilwood curved vane rotors for my Baer Racing setup. It just so happens that the slicer still fit and so I could use them as a spare. I installed 17X8 OZ Racing Superleggera with 235/45ZR-17 tires on my SHO since they were the lightest 17X8 wheel at 16 lbs each. The modified hubs wiegh 6lbs less than stock and the 12.5" rotors wieght one pound more than stock. I was able to reduce unsprung weight and at the same time increase my braking power and cornering power at the same time. Wilwood rotors are easily available and I just unbolt the old from the centers and attach the new. The Baer Racing/PBR calipers are easy to find at stores and junkyards. The only modified parts I have are the hubs and the custom two piece rotors.
I wanted to have the lightest set up, use slicers for a spare, increase braking power, reduce fade and improve handling. I think I achieved my goals. Everyone has different goals and different ways to get it.
If I wanted to start with new parts from scratch, I would go to Todd at TCE and get his wilwood set up with the 6 piston calipers.
I am happy with my set up. I think the 94 hubs, cobra set up with whatever size rotor is very good for the price. Many of my friends have it and are very happy.

Bob