advice on brake pads / rotors

[Avu3]

Hi All -
Have recently driven a Contour which stops much more quickly than my Lincoln. I'm wondering what I can do (on the lower side of the budget) to improve my 95's stopping power.

I was thinking new pads and rotors. Does anyone have any reasonably priced suggestions?

TIA,
Avu3 http://www.dogg302ma.com

[Lscman]

Heavy cars typically stop slower. For this reason, a featherweight Contour with HD brakes will stop better than a Lincoln with 13" Cobra brakes. This is why many owners of 2900 Lb BMW M3's and similar featherweight German sedans do not like american iron. They can eat you alive in the braking zone and negate a 150 HP deficit. If you are experiencing fade from severe duty braking heat, a harder pad like the Performance Friction Carbon Metallic will help. However, be aware these pads require MORE pedal pressure to stop quickly than a standard pad and they have a tendency to squeal and they produce more dust. If you like a light, sensitive brake pedal that can almost throw you through the windshield for one panic stop, you should buy low performance $10 pads. Pads are optimized for a particular operating temperature and what works best cold does not work well hot and vice versa.

[This message has been edited by Lscman (edited November 10, 2000).]

[Avu3]

Yep - to all of the above. Just was wondering if there was a next stage to what I already have. Don't get me wrong - these breaks are GREAT compared to other cars I have driven, but I was just fising to see if there was something better.

I started doing some of my own research... Are 13" Cobra brakes an option? I haven't found that anywhere yet.

[Lscman]

I believe Baer and a few aftermarket companies released performance brake setups for the late T-Bird and the sister VIII and distant cousin the Taurus SHO. You will need to scour MM&FF magazine in the early '90's for such info or call brake companies. Those cars are similar in the spindle/brake area. The Cobra kit does not fit non-Fox chassis. Someone like Baer probably has a special rotor and caliper bracket to allow the popular PBR calipers that were used on Cobras and '88-'96 Vettes to be adapted. The front and rear kit will surely exceed $2K, if it matters. I live with brakes inferior to yours on my VII and run in top classes against Porches and M3's on Road Racing Tracks. Careful Brake Use Management techniques will allow you to get away with Performance Friction Carbon Metallic pads on otherwise stock hardware under most any conditions. I doubt you're running 300+ miles of 25 minute sessions flat out at Road Racing tracks in a weekend like me. These brakes will not give/fade out in a dangerous fashion, they'll simply burn to the ground and require replacing often. It's still worth burning a set of rotors, calipers and pads up in a weekend just to see the looks & comments from drivers after being passed by a peelin' paint stock lincoln. The more exotic the opponents hardware, the better. They mill around scratching their heads & examining my junk heap, as we sit on the hood eating our bag lunch between sessions. The event coordinators for Porsche Club of America love us and sincerely appreciate the reality check we provide to certain wealthy, "nose skyward" participants all season. I convinced them all to buy Champion sparkplugs last season. Perhaps next year it'll be a fuel magnetizer.
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Rick, Road Track Terror in my '88 Mark VII LSC. See ya at Northeast Events! Pgh, PA

[This message has been edited by Lscman (edited November 11, 2000).]

[Avu3]

Thanks for the info. When it comes time, I'll put stock grade stuff back on it. I've not figured out how to get on any tracks yet, but if I could, I might be tempted to learn how to do it....