Caliper Questions

[CDsDontBurn]

Now that I have two of these cars, and as I check RA for parts options, I'm starting to have more questions....

Q1a: Are the front calipers between sport and non-sport identical?

Q1b: Are sport rotors plug and play into non-sport spindles?

Q3: What is the difference in brake lines between ABS equipped and non-ABS equipped?

 

[XR7-4.6]

Now that I have two of these cars, and as I check RA for parts options, I'm starting to have more questions....

Q1a: Are the front calipers between sport and non-sport identical?

Q1b: Are sport rotors plug and play into non-sport spindles?

Q3: What is the difference in brake lines between ABS equipped and non-ABS equipped?

1. No

2. Yes but PBR Mustang calipers on non sport rotors are always the better upgrade over sport

3. Brake lines(as in hardlines) or brake hoses? I assume you mean the latter and if so the hoses to the calipers from the hardlines are exactly the same, ABS or non-ABS.

If you are curious about the hardlines all the lines in the engine bay and to the front calipers are different, the routing is the same but instead of going to/from the ABS HCU the non-ABS ones go to a proportioning block in front of the battery. The rear lines from the firewall back are the same, the ABS ones connect to in-line proportioning valves and the non ABS ones simply connect the lines there together with fittings.

 

[CDsDontBurn]

@XR7-4.6 , your responses have answered some and sparked other questions!

1. No

Then I can swap sport calipers with non-sport calipers, and same with the rotors.

2. Yes but PBR Mustang calipers on non sport rotors are always the better upgrade over sport

Why is this? A larger diameter rotor is always desirable whenever possible. Or is this because of the banjo bolt needing to be modified?

3. Brake lines(as in hardlines) or brake hoses? I assume you mean the latter and if so the hoses to the calipers from the hardlines are exactly the same, ABS or non-ABS.

Yes, I meant the latter; brake hoses to the caliper. Which is also good to know for a better deal / different brand.

 

[Grog6]

The rubber lines to the calipers on a 97 are 28 yo. I'd replace them They were ~10 bux When I failed one on Lazarus.

 

[theterminator93]

Refreshers on some of these questions may be found in the brakes articles section.

A large part of the reason why the PBRs are greatly superior to any MN12 caliper is the fact that due to its dual piston design, they can provide a greater, more even clamping force against the rotors. This also effectively eliminates the complication of warped rotors.

 

[MadMikeyL]

The rotor size is only one part of the equation. There is also the clamping force, and most importantly the surface area of the pad, which not only helps stop the car, but helps transfer heat out of the rotor. The twin piston PBRs are much better in both those respects, and so the result is a setup that brakes harder, warps less, and is far more fade resistant. Plus it is lighter thanks to the smaller rotor and aluminum caliper, which reduces unsprung weight.

 

[CDsDontBurn]

@theterminator93 , @MadMikeyL

I knew the PBRs were dual piston already and ergo, have better clamping force and have a larger pad. I was more curious about the rotors themselves in conjunction with the PBRs.

Like, why is it better to do the PBR mod with the non-sport rotors than doing the PBR mod with the sport rotors as mentioned by @XR7-4.6 ? One would think that having a larger diameter rotor is always the more desirable setup, but his response there is having me question why in this scenario that is the opposite.

 

[theterminator93]

The PBRs are designed for use with 10.87" rotors, not the 11.6" rotors that came on the Sports. The caliper and pad must have the correct geometry for the diameter of the rotor they were engineered for.

OTOH, there is a PBR dual-piston caliper for use with 13" rotors - Bullitt/Cobra calipers - that fit behind 17" wheels. These bolt right on to the '93+ spindles and are a direct swap... however there are no 13" rotors in the MN12 bolt pattern. You need to either redrill the rotors for the MN12 bolt pattern, convert to SN95 hubs, or elongate the holes in the rotors slightly to fit the smaller circle of the MN12 bolt pattern (my choice).

 

[XR7-4.6]

@theterminator93 , @MadMikeyL

I knew the PBRs were dual piston already and ergo, have better clamping force and have a larger pad. I was more curious about the rotors themselves in conjunction with the PBRs.

Like, why is it better to do the PBR mod with the non-sport rotors than doing the PBR mod with the sport rotors as mentioned by @XR7-4.6 ? One would think that having a larger diameter rotor is always the more desirable setup, but his response there is having me question why in this scenario that is the opposite.

It’s simply that the PBR caliper won’t physically fit the sport rotor. If you could do both that’s what I’d recommend, however in a world of compromises with the choice between sport rotors/calipers or the smaller rotors +PBRs the latter is the superior setup.

 

[CDsDontBurn]

@theterminator93 , @XR7-4.6

I just finished reading all the brake articles and it answered my questions, lol.

It is disappointing to know that PBRs will not work with the sport rotors.

Stock 10.8" brakes: 100%
Stock 11.6" SC/Sport brakes: 103%
PBR dual-piston calipers with 10.8" rotors: 122%
PBR dual-piston calipers with 13" rotors: 128%

 

[MadMikeyL]

SCs used the 10.8” rotors, not the 11.6” Sport rotors. The MarkVIII used the 11.6” rotors.

 

[Kenz]

I have had both; sport brakes are on my Cougar, and my Tbird had the mustang PBR front calipers. They are close in performance, the PBR defiantly have more bite and overall feel a little stronger. However, going from the sport brakes to the PBR fronts with the smaller rotors would be a somewhat lateral move.
Either option is a big upgrade over the stock front brakes, they are so bad I would not recommend them for a daily driver.

I generally like the sports better and would go with them given a choice. Switching over is an easier swap, probably cost less and looks better with the bigger rotors.