95 V6 Cobra Brake Upgrade

Panzer Rob · Jan 24, 2010

Hi,

Need some help with an upgrade. Bought the Cobra Upgrade kit for the GT, but want to fit it to a V6. Does anyone know where I can get the hardlines to the front brake hoses, or can I use the original hose pipes on the calipers? I am using the Ford Racing kit M-2300-Q

Many thanks

jthorn9 · Jan 24, 2010

Well if it's the complete kit its made to directly swap over from a base GT/V6 brake kit to a Cobra brake kit. I put the conversion kit on my 5.0, but that was over 2 years ago, so I'll be damned if I remember what all it came with, but I didn't need to buy anything extra.

atlanticblue98 · Jan 24, 2010

moved it to the Suspension section because the brakes are the same as a GT and it might get more attention here

ReplicaR · Jan 24, 2010

If it's a Ford Racing kit, it should include the lines in it. If not, I suggest you call to whoever you got the kit from and get to the bottom of it.

Also because your car is a 95, you will have to upgrade your master cylinder to a Cobra Spec one, otherwise you will get a super stiff pedal and brakes that work maybe 50% of their true potential. For that you will need different hard lines that run from the master cylinder to the hard lines on the body. You can either do it the pain in the ass way, by swapping the fittings and reflaring the the lines, or you can just order a ready made set from Maximum Motorsports. I did it the first way, it sucked, and I'd gladly pay 20 whatever dollars to get prebent lines if I were to do it again.

atlanticblue98 · Jan 24, 2010

ReplicaR said:
If it's a Ford Racing kit, it should include the lines in it. If not, I suggest you call to whoever you got the kit from and get to the bottom of it.

Also because your car is a 95, you will have to upgrade your master cylinder to a Cobra Spec one, otherwise you will get a super stiff pedal and brakes that work maybe 50% of their true potential. For that you will need different hard lines that run from the master cylinder to the hard lines on the body. You can either do it the pain in the ass way, by swapping the fittings and reflaring the the lines, or you can just order a ready made set from Maximum Motorsports. I did it the first way, it sucked, and I'd gladly pay 20 whatever dollars to get prebent lines if I were to do it again.

what years have to swap to Cobra master cylinders?

i know a ton of other V6 owners who upgraded and didnt touch their Master cylinders?

ReplicaR · Jan 24, 2010

94-95 should be the ones that have to switch over. The difference is pretty clear. I had to drive the car around on the old master cylinder for a week, because when my kit came from Summit, master cylinder reservoir was cracked. Sure the car stopped, but it felt more like I was coming to a gentle stop, rather than really biting into it. When I finally installed correct master cylinder, pedal got softer, and first time I really slammed on the brakes, the car did a huge nose dive, before that I could not even lock up my brakes, and it felt like I'd break pedal before I'd break traction.

atlanticblue98 · Jan 25, 2010

ReplicaR said:
94-95 should be the ones that have to switch over. The difference is pretty clear. I had to drive the car around on the old master cylinder for a week, because when my kit came from Summit, master cylinder reservoir was cracked. Sure the car stopped, but it felt more like I was coming to a gentle stop, rather than really biting into it. When I finally installed correct master cylinder, pedal got softer, and first time I really slammed on the brakes, the car did a huge nose dive, before that I could not even lock up my brakes, and it felt like I'd break pedal before I'd break traction.

why only 94-95? 94-04 have the same master cylinder

ReplicaR · Jan 25, 2010

Perhaps I'm wrong. I'm not a V6 expert. I know that's the case for the V8 powered cars, because those master cylinders were different, and when installing Cobra brake kit on 96 and later cars, you don't have to swap anything.

atlanticblue98 · Jan 25, 2010

ReplicaR said:
Perhaps I'm wrong. I'm not a V6 expert. I know that's the case for the V8 powered cars, because those master cylinders were different, and when installing Cobra brake kit on 96 and later cars, you don't have to swap anything.

V6's didnt switch to Hydroboost in 96. the master cylinder swap probably applies to all 94-04 V6's, although i know alot of V6 guys who run the stock master cylinder and says it is fine

ReplicaR · Jan 25, 2010

I know a lot of 94-95 guys who run Cobra brakes with stock master cylinder as well, and they say it's fine. I've had experience with both, and I clearly felt the advantage of running cobra master cylinder. As far the V6 matters go, OP is probably better off talking to someone at Ford Racing.

Panzer Rob · Jan 25, 2010

Thanks for the replies guys. I got the complete kit from Jegs, and it had the Cobra master cylinder with it, so that will be getting fitted with a brake booster, due to the 4.6 taking up so much space. I am going to invest in the new hard lines, as a reflare isn't really the best option, having to rebend the pipes. Tried Maximum Motorsports, but am awaiting an answer for them. Does anyone know where else I can get the hardlines from or adapters? Thanks for the help :icon_salut:

Rob

teestang66 · Jan 25, 2010

Put cobra front brakes on a 94 gt v8 car with no master cylinder change. Car works great at whatever
speed. Don't know bout v6 cars.

atlanticblue98 · Jan 25, 2010

teestang66 said:
Put cobra front brakes on a 94 gt v8 car with no master cylinder change. Car works great at whatever
speed. Don't know bout v6 cars.

the master cylinder of 94-95 GT's should be the same as 94-04 V6

MufflerBearings69 · Feb 15, 2010

I wondered if the proportioning valve wasnt different...

94-95 cars have cast iron single piston front calipers, while later cars have twin piston aluminum. Anyways, the surface area of the single and of the twin may be different, and having same rear brakes would mean different proportioning valve to remain, well, proportioned. lol

I will find out first hand soon- I had a 95 GT, and had Cobra brakes on the nose. They stayed when the car left, so I will be a 02 V6 coupe with Cobra brakes up front.

I do personally recall a stiffer pedal feel in the 95 GT with the Cobra swap- I didnt mind, my 68 Galaxie was 4 wheel manual drums I have the calves for panic stops hahaha... I am hoping for flawless conversion onto my 02 v6 though.

atlanticblue98 · Feb 15, 2010

MufflerBearings69 said:
I wondered if the proportioning valve wasnt different...

94-95 cars have cast iron single piston front calipers, while later cars have twin piston aluminum. Anyways, the surface area of the single and of the twin may be different, and having same rear brakes would mean different proportioning valve to remain, well, proportioned. lol

I will find out first hand soon- I had a 95 GT, and had Cobra brakes on the nose. They stayed when the car left, so I will be a 02 V6 coupe with Cobra brakes up front.

I do personally recall a stiffer pedal feel in the 95 GT with the Cobra swap- I didnt mind, my 68 Galaxie was 4 wheel manual drums I have the calves for panic stops hahaha... I am hoping for flawless conversion onto my 02 v6 though.

96-98 had the single piston front calipers too