Performance Braking Systems

Brake technology has improved tremendously over the years, especially compared to the Fox body braking systems that have their roots in the 1970s. The sub-11 inch discs, single piston calipers and small drum brakes were barely acceptable when the car was in production, and they're wholly inadequate on modern builds that push power well beyond stock levels. SN95 and later Mustangs have four-wheel disc brakes, but there's still plenty of room for improvement between stronger calipers, better rotors and more effective pads. How do these parts work together, and which upgrades will give you the best results?

Pads

Pad formulations are designed to balance friction, noise, wear, operating temperatures, dust and price. Standard pads focus mainly on price and noise, while racing pads focus on maximum friction at high temperatures. This makes them unsafe to use on the street and at drag strips where the brakes won't be hot enough to work effectively. Performance pads are in between these extremes, providing superior performance in a wide range of situations. We carry Hawk performance pads that work great both hot and cold, while keeping noise down. This makes them a great choice for track days while still performing well on the street and at the drag strip.

Blank and Slotted Rotors

When you start getting into performance rotors, the first thing that comes up is off-gassing. Pad material is made up of particles held together by an epoxy. Under extreme conditions, the pads can get so hot that the epoxy vaporizes, creating a layer of gas on the pad surface. This cushion prevents pad to rotor contact, reducing braking force. However, newer brake formulations, and performance formulations in particular, use glues that stay solid at high temperatures.

While blank rotors may all look about the same, a major difference can be made in the details. Stop Tech rotors are precision machined to reduce runout and improve balance, and the coating on the hat keeps it from rusting on the hub. Center split cast vanes provide even contact between the rotor faces for better heat dissipation. The end result is a rotor with maximum pad contact that can manage heat in racing conditions.

Slotted rotors increase airflow for better cooling, create a brief gap between the pad and rotor to let gases escape, and help reduce weight. However, removing rotor material means there's less thermal mass to absorb heat and less contact area with the rotor, reducing performance.

Manufacturers choose which rotor will be used based on application. Ford Racing brakes are aimed at track use, so they use solid rotors for maximum contact. Strange Engineering uses slotted rotors for their drag-focused brakes to save weight and reduce gas and heat issues during the brief, hard stops needed to slow down at the end of the track.

One Piece vs. Two Piece Rotors

Most rotors are one piece, using a single steel casting to form the hat and disc. Two piece rotors have a steel disc that bolts to an aluminum hat. This reduces weight, increases cooling around the hub to protect the wheel bearings, and lets the disc expand evenly without making the hat bind. This is generally overkill on street builds, but it can do a lot to keep the brakes performing under extreme conditions when racing. Ford Racing packages their SVT brake upgrade kit with both types of rotors, letting you choose the setup that works best for your application and budget.

Calipers

Unlike other components, caliper performance boils down to one thing: the more surface area the pistons cover, the more force they can exert on the pads, increasing braking performance. That means adding more pistons and making them bigger increases stopping force.

Manual vs. Power Brakes

Why do so many drag racers eliminate the brake booster? Weight is a good reason by itself, but it's mostly due to decreased vacuum pressure at idle caused by high flow intake components. If the engine is pulling less than 16 inches of vacuum at idle, it's going to have trouble supplying the booster.

Get the Brakes Your Mustang Deserves

No matter which direction you're going with your Mustang build, you can get the brake parts you need at www.AndersonFordMotorsport.com. We've been helping customers with their project cars for over 30 years, so we know what works.