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Old 10-16-2004, 12:54 PM   #17 (permalink)
Todd TCE
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Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Tempe, AZ
Posts: 754
Default Re: Big Brake Kits: the options spelled out- Expanded version

You mean what to do about it?
Not too many options really. This swap may in fact add rear bias, but let's give Ford some credit and assume they have some data to show that the rears are at or near the same % be them disc or drum. On the other hand I think all the discs may be ABS....

I give you that I have no idea the rear bias % while using the drums. We know the OD, and maybe the Cf but I'm not sure how to calculate pressure or effective piston area of the mechanical levers. I'm sure that there's a way but it's not something I put into my excel programs.

So...what can you do IF you have too much rear brake? A few things really. I'll put them in order.

1. Buy a BBK, thus shifting bias back to the front.
2. Buy better, sticky front pads for the same reason.
3. Put crappy pads in the rear, thus reducing effectiveness.
4. Put 200lbs in the cargo hold to allow rears to work more.
5. Brake earlier, thus reducing dynamic effects.

You'll note my use of the larger kits on the front when combined with the 11.75 rear and the factory caliper do a good job of shifing these numbers around nicely.

The bottom line is that there's really little to be gained in performance by installing the discs out back. For track guys it's more about heat then rotor torque. For street guys it's all about the look. Real world braking won't be too effected by this change.
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