Ford Mustang GT 1996-2014: Brake Modifications

This article applies to the Ford Mustang GT (1996-2014).

The brakes are the hardest working components in your Ford Mustang GT. Since the GT is a performance car, you most likely drive it as such, and the harder your drive it, the harder you make it on your brakes. Even though the factory did a great job on the Mustang GT's brakes, there is always room for modification. Whether you race your car or not, it's always a good investment when it comes to brakes. Read on to learn what the best modification is for your budget and needs, starting with simple aftermarket brake pads all the way to full performance brake kits that are guaranteed to make you feel safer in your beast of a car.

Brake Pads

DIY Cost – $50-125

Professional Cost – $150-250

Skill Level – Moderate; this job requires the removal of various brake components.

The brake pads are what grab on to the brake rotors to make the car stop. So you can imagine how hard they have to work to get your Mustang GT to stop when you step on the brake pedals.

There are many different aftermarket options out there. You can purchase performance brake pads if you want to stop quicker, you can get quiet pads if you don't want any noise, and you can get dust-free pads if you don't want any dust on your wheels. The options are countless, and depending on your driving style as well as preference, you are guaranteed to get a better braking experience than the OEM pads. Some pads like Hawk along with other popular brands have been known to improve the stopping power by 30%.

Learn what you want from the brake pads, then purchase the right ones for you. Recommended for its various options.

Brake Lines

DIY Cost – $110-180

Professional Cost – $250-400

Skill Level – Moderate; this job requires working in tight areas with corrosive brake fluid.

The rubber brake lines tend to wear and crack overtime due to heat and other various weather elements. It's a wise decision to replace them with steel lines. Steel lines not only improve the feel of the brake pedal, they also prevent any debris from getting into your brake system, thus altering its performance. If you have no cracks or wears, you will get nothing unwanted inside your brake system.

Steel lines are a great investment if you don't want to worry about this part of your brakes for years to come. When it comes to brakes, the little investment goes a long way. Recommended for its lifespan.

Rotors and Calipers Kit

DIY Cost – $264-2,000

Professional Cost – $700-3,500

Skill Level – Moderate; this procedure requires the removal of various components and working with corrosive brake fluid.

A full brake kit is not for the faint of heart. This kit is the ultimate modification you can do for the Mustang GT. Of course, this is recommended for anyone who likes to take their GT to the track. However, a lot of people just want to feel completely safe, so they purchase a whole brake kit.

These kit can come with everything you need to upgrade most of your brake system. They include performance brake pads, performance brake calipers, heavy duty brake rotors, and steel brake lines to replace all of your rubber ones.

Like we've mentioned above, the aftermarket brake pads can help you stop quicker. They can also help you achieve quiet braking, dust-free braking, or even a mix of both.

The aftermarket brake calipers accomplish stronger clamping, which means quicker stoppage and a more effective one. With strong calipers and pads, you need strong, heavy duty rotors for all of these to clamp on. Some rotors come with holes drilled in them to improve air flow and cool rotors, thus improving brake power.

You will be pleased to learn that these brake kits come in a variety of colors and shapes, so even though it's a brake modification, you can consider it a visual modification as well. Recommended for better stopping power.

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