Installing ATS Brembos on the Cobra.

Mustang5L5

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I just so happened to take a picture because they forgot to send hardware and this is what I received. Just the caliper/piston part but no bracket. I think I paid $50 for the set at the time so I figured it was worth a shot. I'll pull a wheel on lunch and see if they are centered on the rotor. Everything going straight was fine but only when turning did I hear the weird rubbing/grinding noise. I thought it could be the diff but it only happened after the brake install so I wanted to ask others. I was thinking about changing the brakes back to stock to diagnose but hurt the motor and don't know how to diagnose further without the car able to move.


That’s all I swapped on when I did my test fitting, and what others have swapped. If you think about it, the caliper doesn’t actually touch the rotor. It’s completely floating and only squeezes the pads.

Any grinding is likely to be rotor interference with the pad support bracket. Yank a wheel off, then used washers tighten the lugs against the rotor. Check out much gap you have with the bracket to the face of the rotor and see if it’s centered. If not, you might need to shim it, or slightly clearance the slot.


I had the same issue years ago on my 03GT where one rear brake would make noise and the caliper would stick. Ended up replacing that entire pad bracket as the pads sat tight on it. Problem solved.


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Blkkbgt

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I just so happened to take a picture because they forgot to send hardware and this is what I received. Just the caliper/piston part but no bracket. I think I paid $50 for the set at the time so I figured it was worth a shot. I'll pull a wheel on lunch and see if they are centered on the rotor. Everything going straight was fine but only when turning did I hear the weird rubbing/grinding noise. I thought it could be the diff but it only happened after the brake install so I wanted to ask others. I was thinking about changing the brakes back to stock to diagnose but hurt the motor and don't know how to diagnose further without the car able to move.

You're most likely getting the grinding noise when turning because of the slop in the axles. They have some axial play which is normal.

I am sure if you take the brakes off you'll find some witness marks on the rotor and you'll also be able to push the axle in and out slightly to see the axial play I am talking about.
 

Andy882

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I have all the parts for my swap currently except for rotors/pads. Can anyone confirm if theres a 2-piece rotor that will clear the ATS calipers? I know Eradispeed rotors dont clear but I am curious if theres another one out there that will. Thanks,
 

gilby959798

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My issue was the rotor was contacting the original caliper bracket. Once I spaced out the bracket to center to rotor, the rubbing noise went away. It had nothing to do with the caliper itself, I think it might be the terrible manufacturing of the rotors out there.
 

gilby959798

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How much did you space it? Thanks for the reply.
I only had to put like a washer between the mounting bracket and the axle. I think the slop in the axle was enough for it to contact it when not centered. Again, this is not a taurus caliper issue, I've had a few friends state they needed to center the rotor in the bracket. The rotors I use on track are $15 blanks from Rock Auto and while are Raybestos, are still only $15. I figure this way if I crack one, I just order a new set without throwing money down the drain. I swap the pads/rotors out for street use vs track use because I don't want to kill my track pads on the street.
 

Andy882

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Yes

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So it seems not only is spoke interference an issue but now barrel distance? I guess I assumed all ID of 17” wheels were “close enough” of each other if one worked all would. Looks like I’ll be ordering a single rim if I plan on sticking with 17’s and test fitting it. Good info.
 

gilby959798

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That's correct.
So it seems not only is spoke interference an issue but now barrel distance? I guess I assumed all ID of 17” wheels were “close enough” of each other if one worked all would. Looks like I’ll be ordering a single rim if I plan on sticking with 17’s and test fitting it. Good info.
You can see the barrel gets smaller in diameter at the spokes. The FR500s have miles of clearance at both the barrel and the spoke. Luckily I borrowed a wheel from a track buddy so it didn't cost me anything.
received_912656352800241.jpeg


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Mustang5L5

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With some of the SN95 17x8, even with a spacer I question if wheel weights can be applied to the barrel in that location. It’s tighter on some than others.


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Nukem1040

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Can we get together a list of wheels that are known to work with the ATS calipers? I have stock 03-34 cobra wheels, but I'm looking to change up my wheels and don't want to purchase something that won't fit. I'm looking at getting some FR500 reps(can't afford CCW or Weld this season). LMR sales tech said he thought their 17x9 FR500s would fit. Anyone who has done the swap feel free to chime in with their set ups.

I'm on page 15 of 41. Hopefully someone has set up a master list of the wheels that fit these calipers. Thee is a lot of back and forth, but really needs to be consolidated.
 

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