For many of us, speed is the number-one priority. Installing engine compo-nents that produce more horsepower puts a smile on our faces when we step on the loud pedal. Lacking from this equation, however, is the ability to properly bring said fun machine down from triple-digit speeds in a quick and precise manner.
All too often, we neglect the things that don't make the car go faster, like brakes, but in every arena aside from drag racing, great brakes help produce quicker times, both in their ability to allow later braking points and by giving the driver repeatable results that allow him/her to drive on "the edge" lap after lap, thus reducing times.
With all the wheel choices...
With all the wheel choices out there, we spent way too much time pondering what shoes to equip project Stolen Goods with. In the end, we went with an R-model look, but bigger and meaner.
By starting your build with the suspension and brakes, you'll be able to extract maximum performance from your stock powerplant. Once you have wrung it out, then you should improve the engine output. But don't forget that your brakes may need to be upgraded as well.
The factory disc/drum brake setup on LX and GT 5.0 Mustangs was no doubt lacking from the start, but it hasn't stopped most of us from doing plenty of burnouts and quarter-mile attacks. For those who want to do something other than the aforementioned fun acts, it's in your best interest to step up the stock braking package to something more reliable and predictable.
Forged from the coals of Dearborn as a '93 Mustang Cobra, Project Stolen Goods came equipped from the factory with a four-wheel disc-brake system that improved stopping per-formance. The '93 Snake's front brakes featured two-piston calipers with 10.84-inch vented rotors, while the 8.8 axle was equipped with single-piston clamps and vented 10.07-inch discs.
This setup was great for the Cobra's stock 235hp rating, and it gave those looking to flex the Snake's muscle more track time before the brakes got hot and the pedal went to mush, which happened 100 feet out into the first stop with the stock GT brakes. Unfortunately for us, Stolen Goods had its brakes excised long ago, which sent us looking for some suitable stoppers.
We wanted to get everything...
We wanted to get everything we needed for our braking system from one company, and with Baer we were able to do just that. The company has the Fox Mustang scienced out, and the brake components were some of the easiest things we've bolted on the car yet. Retail for the Extreme Plus front system is $2,900-$3,100, while the rear Track Plus setup goes for about $1,275.
While we probably could have...
While we probably could have used the factory master cylinder (the two looked identical to us), we went with the unit Baer provided. You'll need to drain the brake fluid to install it, but we were lucky as the car's previous owner had already done this for us.
To install the rear disc-brake...
To install the rear disc-brake setup, you'll need to pull the rear axle shafts out of the 8.8 housing to bolt on the brake support brackets.