S197 Non Brembo to GT500-S550 Brake Project

[Toplait]

Hey folks, After putting 20" SVE rims from LMR on my 11' GT the brake rotors just looked to small. So I started looking at brake kits online and then I decided to go a different route. So after looking at projects that others have done I figured I'd go ahead and start mine. My 2011 mustang GT Premium that I purchased used a year ago did not come with the Brembo brake package.

-Total cost $1,473.85 after taxes and shipping as of 5/21/2018

REAR:

Blowfish Racing 2005-2014 Mustang GT500 Rear Brake Caliper Mounting Plate Kit:
POWER STOP AR85152XPR -2014 Mustang GT500 14" Drilled and Slotted Rear Rotors x2

FRONT:

MOTORCRAFT BRCF312 - 2015 Mustang GT S550 6 piston Brembo Caliper
MOTORCRAFT BRCF313 - 2015 Mustang GT S550 6 piston Brembo Caliper
RUS-693380 stainless steel braided Brake Lines - Kit includes all 4 brake lines
CENTRIC 12761106L (127.61106L) 2014 GT500 15" Drilled and Slotted Front Rotor
CENTRIC 12761106R (127.61106R) 2014 GT500 15" Drilled and slotted Front Rotor
MOF-BKCF20 CLIP - Optional I ordered x2 of these kits.
Front 2013-2014 GT500 Dust shields - Optional I did not order at this time.
PWR-Z26-1792 S550 Brake pads of your choosing.

-For more information articles can be found by looking up S197 to S550 Brake conversion.

I just recently ordered the parts so I have not actually began the swap. To put the mounting plates on, "the axles will have to be removed from the rear end housing." For those that do not want to remove the axles from the rear end there are adapter plates on ebay that bolt to the factory flanges. I did not want to go that route.

-The factory Brake Calipers can be reused on the rear with the new 2013-2014 GT500 14" rear rotors.

For the front all you need by what I have read are the 15" rotors from 2013-2014 GT500 and brake calipers from 2015+ 6 piston Brembo equipped Mustangs. Also new brake lines from 2013-2014 GT500 or universal kits. The one that I have posted on there says it does not work for Brembo Brakes but it has been confirmed that it does by what I have read. I'm going to give it a try. Ill try and post pictures as I go. Here is a before picture.

 

[Coz]

You may want to look at whether your master cylinder and brake booster are big enough to deal with the larger pistons in the S550 Brembos. Especially if you take this on a road course.

Vorshlag recently upgraded one of their base S550 Mustang GTs with the Ford 4-piston calipers. When they upgraded to the PP Brembos, they had some poor results until they upgraded to the PP Master Cylinder and booster.

 

[Toplait]

Excellent videos thanks.

No, I have not tracked or raced the car yet. I just use it for daily driving the back curvy roads of Missouri to and from work every other day. The rate of pay here is not the greatest so I try not to abuse it and break it prematurely. Just trying to keep it in some what mint condition. Only thing I have to worry about around here is pot holes, deer and other drivers.

 

[2012 Boss 302]

I just did the S550 6 piston swap on my 2012 Boss. I am using G-loc R12 pads front and rear. I also did the 2013-2014 GT500 rear brakes as well.

All I can say is awesome.....

The more I drive it, I'm getting used to the brake pedal. I'd say it drops a 1/4-3/8" closer to the floor than it did with the stock 4 piston.

I'd recommend maybe a Boss/TP master cylinder at the least seeing as how you are starting with base brakes.

After my next track day I may see about adapting a S550 PP master cylinder. If I recall, the brake lines exit the master cylinder on the opposite side from the S197 master cylinder

 

[Toplait]

Glad to hear. Just cut and splice a new section in.

 

[Toplait]

Is that the part number???
FR3Z-2140-A

 

[chris_302]

I just did the S550 6 piston swap on my 2012 Boss. I am using G-loc R12 pads front and rear. I also did the 2013-2014 GT500 rear brakes as well.

All I can say is awesome.....

The more I drive it, I'm getting used to the brake pedal. I'd say it drops a 1/4-3/8" closer to the floor than it did with the stock 4 piston.

I'd recommend maybe a Boss/TP master cylinder at the least seeing as how you are starting with base brakes.

After my next track day I may see about adapting a S550 PP master cylinder. If I recall, the brake lines exit the master cylinder on the opposite side from the S197 master cylinder

Any reports of caliper knock? I'll possibly go down this route in a couple months but with 2-piece floating rotors.
Pedal throw and bore is different on the s197 and the s550,Honestly i don't think us with a boss can retrofit a s550 MC onto our cars.
Also i'd recommend a MC brace just to eliminate the flex.

 

[2012 Boss 302]

Chris_302 , I have not done a track day yet with the new setup so I can't comment on knock back. I've only had the setup on the car for a little over a week....

As for pedal throw, I don't think it will be an issue at the track. The more I street drive it I don't feel that it's much lower than the 4 piston Brembo

 

[OX1]

I just did the S550 6 piston swap on my 2012 Boss. I am using G-loc R12 pads front and rear. I also did the 2013-2014 GT500 rear brakes as well.

All I can say is awesome.....

The more I drive it, I'm getting used to the brake pedal. I'd say it drops a 1/4-3/8" closer to the floor than it did with the stock 4 piston.

I'd recommend maybe a Boss/TP master cylinder at the least seeing as how you are starting with base brakes.

After my next track day I may see about adapting a S550 PP master cylinder. If I recall, the brake lines exit the master cylinder on the opposite side from the S197 master cylinder

Isn't the Boss/GT500 booster actually smaller (or provides less "assist") due to touchiness conncers with 4 piston S197 Brembos?
Did MC change from S197, 2 to 4 pistons?

 

[Toplait]

Update: 5/24/2018

-Rear brakes complete: WOW!

I finished converting the rear 12" rotors to the 14" GT500 using the Blowfish brackets. I can say the process took all day long.

-Required pulling the axles to swap the axle tube brake brackets to the larger GT500 brackets. To do this I had to remove the passenger side Whiteline sway bar end link to remove the JM Pan-hard bar to remove the GT500 finned Differential cover to be able to remove the C-clips to pull the axles.

-The factory caliper brackets that hold the caliper had to be ground down to accommodate the new larger rotors from rubbing a at the very outer edges. This was the time consuming process of trial and error. Putting every thing back together and then taking every thing back off till it was right. The Blowsifh GT500 brackets comes with instructions on how to do so. A die grinder and a Dremel tool will be required using the factory Caliper brackets.

-The U-bolt style support bracket for the caliper brackets that bolt around the rear end axle tubes can not be reused. The factory ones are not long enough to bolt up to the new GT500 brackets. Are they needed? No, they are not needed but will help with support.

Front Brakes:

Still waiting on some parts: I received the RUS-693380 stainless steel braided Brake Lines and after looking at them, "I'm going to send them back." I don't like how they are bent. Ill be going with these instead do to the shape of the bends. I think they will fit the 6 piston Brembo calipers better.

StopTech Stainless Steel Braided Brake Lines 950.61003

 

[Coz]

These worked well for me:

J&M Mustang Stainless Steel Teflon Brake Hoses - Front & Rear 22530 (05-14 All w/ABS, Excluding 13-14 GT500) - Free Shipping

 

[2012 Boss 302]

Isn't the Boss/GT500 booster actually smaller (or provides less "assist") due to touchiness conncers with 4 piston S197 Brembos?

Sorry, according to Rockauto, the part number is the same for a GT and GT500 master cylinder.

 

[Coz]

Power booster is different between a non-Track Pack and Track Pack GT/GT500

 

[Toplait]

Parts on back order till June 24th for the front.

The rear is done. Replaced axle seals. If you look for 2011 and up axle seals you will have difficulty finding them at your local parts store. Any way I took an old one with me and had it measured at napa. 1974 and up axle seals will work for 8.8 with 31 spline axles. Universal fit GM Ford ect... So if you have difficulty at auto zone or were ever you go. Just get some seals for let's say a 92 f150 with 8.8 and 31 spline axles.

 

[Toplait]

So I canceled the order for MOF-BKCF20 Expected delivery June 24th.

So I ordered from Rock Auto the most likely Chinese made equivalent with next day air for a cheaper price. So hopefully Ill have these brakes on sometime next week

RAYBESTOS H18225A

The only thing I need in the kit is the Guide Pins. The spring clip came with the brake pads.

 

[Coz]

Ford Performance Axle Bearing & Seal kit
M-1225-B1 fits 05-14 V8's

 

[Toplait]

Got the final parts I needed today. The total to convert a 2011 mustang GT Non-Brembo car to a 15" 6 piston Brembo setup = $974.19 Not including the cost of 2 bottles of brake fluid.

-Your right about pedal travel. Have to press down a little further to get it stopping.

- I may still have some air in the system. I noticed that one of the driver side caliper bleed screws was still leaking around the threads a bit so I cranked it down some more and sprayed it with some cleaner. Ill keep an eye on it because it was tight. Other then that I love it!

RAYBESTOS H18225A Disc Brake Hardware Kit = $ 17.63
MOTORCRAFT BRCF312 - 2015 Mustang GT S550 6 piston Brembo Caliper = $252.79
MOTORCRAFT BRCF313 - 2015 Mustang GT S550 6 piston Brembo Caliper = $252.79
StopTech Stainless Steel Braided Brake Lines 950.61003 = $81.41
PWR-Z26-1792 S550 Brake pads = $69.99
CENTRIC 12761106L (127.61106L) = $149.79
CENTRIC 12761106R (127.61106R) = $149.79

----------------------------------------------------------------------
REAR: Cost to convert the rear 12" rotors to 14" rotors.

Power Stop AR85152XPR = $125.99
Blowfish Racing 2005-2014 Mustang GT500 = $199.99
axle seals about 5 bucks a piece at NAPA or .49 cents at rockauto
Amsoil 75W140 gear oil = Expensive but wow less gear whine
Black RTV Sealant about $5.00

===========================================

The whole point of all this is that upgrading the brakes on a 2011 mustang you don't have to spend a fortune. I started off looking at Big Brake Kits online and was just stunned at the prices.

 

[Evojayfi21]

I alway see people complaining that the 6 piston is heavy and didn't Vorshlag also say in those brake videos the the 4 piston is perfect for 90% or the track cars out there.

 

[Toplait]

I never drove a Brembo four piston Mustang so I'm not sure.

What I can say is that I still catch my self braking to soon. After driving and breaking in the rotors and pads the pedal feels about the same as factory. The pedal travel increase is not noticeable once you get use to it.

Yes I agree on the weight increase. Most likely doubled from factory brakes.

 

[Doberman5.0]

Looks good. I've got a 4p brembo car, and want to do the exact setup you did. This will be a good guide. Thanks