2G Cobra big brake kit

[Xarzor]

I've been shopping for a front brake upgrade on my GST for awhile. While I'd love to get the Cadilac CTS or FIBA upgrade the cost is outside of my budget.

I was looking on the RTM website and saw the Ford Cobra upgrade kit. I can get it shipped to my door for under $800.

I'm asking if anyone has experience with this kit and if you had any fitment issues or issues in general?

 

[SixBolt_16G]

Not sure if your goals are more track oriented, but if youre just looking for an upgrade for the streets, the Outlander upgrade can be had for cheaper than the Cobra.

https://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/05-06-outlander-bigger-brake-upgrade.428973/

Just throwing it out there, if you hadnt remember or known that its also a cheaper option for bigger brakes.

 

[Xarzor]

It's a street car I drive occasionally in the summer months. It's a two fold approach for me. Wanting better braking and also the esthetics. The GST brakes are tiny, I think the rotors are around 250mm. People comment all the time how small the brakes look with the 18" wheels on the car. The cobra rotors are 330mm and I believe that's as big as you can go before having to get the Galant knuckles to fit even bigger brakes.

 

[2gjlc]

I'd consider the CTS V upgrade. You can always paint the calipers to get rid of the V but its probably the cheapest way to get into Brembos. I did it for under $800. Calipers can be had for $300 or less. Leaves some room for everything else you need for the install.

 

[Xarzor]

I'd consider the CTS V upgrade. You can always paint the calipers to get rid of the V but its probably the cheapest way to get into Brembos. I did it for under $800. Calipers can be had for $300 or less. Leaves some room for everything else you need for the install.

Don't you need the larger knuckles to accommodate the calipers?

 

[jdxnc]

I've had the Cobra brakes on my car for about 13 years, they've been wonderful, zero complaints, but I'm actually looking to part with them, in order to install light weight drag brakes. I have the 13" rotors, some years has 12" .

On the topic though, pads are relatively cheap, replacement rotors are easy to get, pads take all of 5 minutes to change with a pair of needle nose pliers, couldn't be happier with them. As you can see they'll fit on a 16" wheel if the conditions are right.

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[IHeartMyHonda]

I'm using Brembo calipers from a Cobalt SS turbo and outlander rotors. With a small amount of grinding, they bolt up to stock knuckles without an adapter and can fit under a 16" wheel.

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[Budget90GST]

I'm using Brembo calipers from a Cobalt SS turbo and outlander rotors. With a small amount of grinding, they bolt up to stock knuckles without an adapter and can fit under a 16" wheel.

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What was modified to make this fit? I like that it fits under a small rim.

 

[IHeartMyHonda]

What was modified to make this fit? I like that it fits under a small rim.

The mounting holes on the caliper are spaced just a bit wider on the caliper than on the knuckle, so I had to elongate the lower hole on the knuckle.

Then I had to thin down the mounting rear on the caliper a few millimeters to make the rotor sit centered in the caliper.

If you want to run 17"+ wheels, that's all you need to do. If you want to run 16s, you'll need to take some material off the radius of the caliper so it doesn't run the barrel of the wheel. I did this with a flap disc on a grinder. Again, only a few millimeters of grinding.

Add some cobalt pads, outlander rotors, and a 3g booster/master and you're good to go!

Calipers can be had from rockauto.com for $200 each for brand new ones.

 

[SixBolt_16G]

The mounting holes on the caliper are spaced just a bit wider on the caliper than on the knuckle, so I had to elongate the lower hole on the knuckle.

Then I had to thin down the mounting rear on the caliper a few millimeters to make the rotor sit centered in the caliper.

If you want to run 17"+ wheels, that's all you need to do. If you want to run 16s, you'll need to take some material off the radius of the caliper so it doesn't run the barrel of the wheel. I did this with a flap disc on a grinder. Again, only a few millimeters of grinding.

Add some cobalt pads, outlander rotors, and a 3g booster/master and you're good to go!

Calipers can be had from rockauto.com for $200 each for brand new ones.

Interesting... its not a standard swap, so just curious as to the story behind why you even thought to try cobalt SS calibers?

 

[IHeartMyHonda]

Interesting... its not a standard swap, so just curious as to the story behind why you even thought to try cobalt SS calibers?

I read here that someone did the swap but there wasn't much info. I looked at dimensions and measurements of the calipers and figured it was worth a try. Then I scoured Facebook marketplace for a couple of months until a pair popped up for sale locally. Popped some new seals and pistons in them, and I was good to go.

I wanted something bigger and was planning on doing the outlander swap anyway, so it all just kinda fell into place.

For reference, heres the size difference between my stock GST rotors and the outlander rotors.

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[2gjlc]

Don't you need the larger knuckles to accommodate the calipers?

Sorry for the late reply. The calipers bolt right up. You just need to account for the offset by machinging the caliper mounting points or using a spacer for the rotor. I machined the calipers. There is still plenty of material left and its been on the car for years without issue.