Wow, I posted a while back about installing/replacing Cobra brakes on a mustang. Well anyway, I finally got around to installing them this past weekend on my 03 Cobra, and all I can say is "Wow!" I installed Hawk HPS pads on Brembo Rotors and it made a DRAMATIC improvement all the way around! The pedal feels much more firm and you have much more positive feedback and control over the brakes. Before (with as-delivered Cobra brakes) the pedal feel felt pretty linear, and when you really mashed on them, you didn't get much feedback until the ABS kicked in (which was pretty hard to do.) With the new Hawk pads, they are noticeably more "grabby" and when you have the pedal mashed at the bottom of its travel, it will lock them up. No more mashing them, sitting there for a sec and then maybe locking them up, maybe not. As I said, they are much more predictable.
While I don't have the equipment (nor inclination) to do official 60 or 70-0 pulls to quantify my results, I do have an interesting driving scenario I have to hit every day on my way to work that works as a pretty good gauge of braking effectiveness. I have to merge onto a 4 lane highway approaching the crest of a long hill, quickly get over into the left lane, and then duck off into a short turn lane on the left at the bottom of this hill. So in the span of about a quarter mile, I have to accelerate to highway speed, merge, and then dive on the brakes in a small turn lane on a steep downhill. Anyway, before, it was a hairy ride if I was going a little too fast. There was noticeable "fade" and the brakes felt pretty vague. Now, it is hauled down much faster and there is no drama whatsoever.
Easily one of the best mods I've done!
