Let's talk brake cooling

Hi everyone,

apologies to start another thread entirely, but wanted this to be easier to find for anyone searching vs. adding to my own thread or the Girodisc thread I started. Which ever way I go, I'll document here (and in my thread).

As some have seen in person or heard from me, I've been known to get the brakes pretty warm (as evident of a G-Loc pad falling off the backing plate at Buttonwillow during the private track day).

I'm on the search for some ways to make things more efficient or keep things a bit cooler (or both). Has anyone modded the OEM setup? I've seen the Cooltech brake "fins," but those seem to have pretty mixed reviews.


I found this online was wondering if anyone has experimented with it? Looks like maybe it's compatible?

http://shopcapaldiracing.com/fp350s-brake-duct-kit/

I haven’t used that product but would think anything that can concentrate and increase airflow over the calipers would help.. As long as they’re not a pain in the ass to install and maintain..

Check the Ti shims here (at least for keeping your fluid temps a bit lower)
https://www.knsbrakes.com/c/car-items/2578_2016+Ford+Mustang+Shelby+GT350

Stock pads shouldnt fade or fail when using a good fluid like Castrol SRF.

I know the feeling... My front G-LOC R18's got destroyed after 2 track days :doh: I'm modifying the OEM brakes with the below next week and taking them to the track in June. I HOPE they improve braking and wear and tear.

Ferodo GT350 Front Brake Pads - DSUNO
Cooltech Brake Ducts
Titanium Brake Pad Shims - Front
Caliperfexion front caliper stud & extension sleeve
Castrol React SRF Racing Brake Fluid

honeybadger said:

Hi everyone,

apologies to start another thread entirely, but wanted this to be easier to find for anyone searching vs. adding to my own thread or the Girodisc thread I started. Which ever way I go, I'll document here (and in my thread).

As some have seen in person or heard from me, I've been known to get the brakes pretty warm (as evident of a G-Loc pad falling off the backing plate at Buttonwillow during the private track day).

I'm on the search for some ways to make things more efficient or keep things a bit cooler (or both). Has anyone modded the OEM setup? I've seen the Cooltech brake "fins," but those seem to have pretty mixed reviews.


I found this online was wondering if anyone has experimented with it? Looks like maybe it's compatible?

http://shopcapaldiracing.com/fp350s-brake-duct-kit/

Click to expand...

In for comments!

Cooltech Fins:

A couple months ago there was a discussion about these in one of the fb groups (corner ponies/TMO). The engineer that designed these showed up and started explaining the design process (same guy in Vorschlag video). Long/short; they grab air from under the car and direct it towards the brakes (on the GT). The 350's front end is lower than the GT making these fins less useful.

Brake Duct Kit:

I did a quick search and found Summit has several kits that may work as well.

Are you monitoring your caliper & rotor temps? If so, how? (i.e. temp sticker/paint)

I've been thinking about using a stick on thermometers on the front calipers just to get an idea how hot the brakes are getting. This data would allow me to make an informed decision about brake fluids, pads, and ducting.

I came across this video on FB. Good info in here on S550 brakes in general from a Ford engineer.

[ame]

TheDeadCow said:

In for comments!

Cooltech Fins:

A couple months ago there was a discussion about these in one of the fb groups (corner ponies/TMO). The engineer that designed these showed up and started explaining the design process (same guy in Vorschlag video). Long/short; they grab air from under the car and direct it towards the brakes (on the GT). The 350's front end is lower than the GT making these fins less useful.

Brake Duct Kit:

I did a quick search and found Summit has several kits that may work as well.

Are you monitoring your caliper & rotor temps? If so, how? (i.e. temp sticker/paint)

I've been thinking about using a stick on thermometers on the front calipers just to get an idea how hot the brakes are getting. This data would allow me to make an informed decision about brake fluids, pads, and ducting.

Click to expand...

CSL said:

I came across this video on FB. Good info in here on S550 brakes in general from a Ford engineer.

Click to expand...

This

I have read on the track shelby FB page that aftermarket cooling ducts etc.. are not good on the GT350 and can have the opposite effect , YMMV though.

I wish the engineer responsible for the GT350's brakes could open up like that. Great guy that worked on systems dating back to the Fox chassis. The M-2300-K kit was his baby as well. We had a few interesting conversations regarding why Ford ended up with an SHW rotor (as opposed to Brembo), why the GT350's caliper uses a fixed bridge, where the GT350 wheel hub/bearing came from, and why caliper studs are such a great idea (). I know he was working on the GT500 calipers well over a year ago and they look to be a larger variant of the GT350 caliper.

We sure have come a long way from drum/drum or disc/drum systems, thank God.

Tank said:

I haven’t used that product but would think anything that can concentrate and increase airflow over the calipers would help.. As long as they’re not a pain in the ass to install and maintain..

Check the Ti shims here (at least for keeping your fluid temps a bit lower)
https://www.knsbrakes.com/c/car-items/2578_2016+Ford+Mustang+Shelby+GT350

Click to expand...

I'm hoping to find something that is removable, but just starting my research - so still a long way to go. I do currently use Ti shims and they seem to be helping keep my dust boots a live a bit longer, but they're not a miracle product (at least for me).

Stuntman said:

Stock pads shouldnt fade or fail when using a good fluid like Castrol SRF.

Click to expand...

I've had the opposite experience. If you're running smooth laps and being nice on things, the stock pads and fluid work great. They're very capable. However, start pushing the car hard and both start to show weakness (pads will last 1-2 days and fluid will boil).

Arpa said:

I know the feeling... My front G-LOC R18's got destroyed after 2 track days :doh: I'm modifying the OEM brakes with the below next week and taking them to the track in June. I HOPE they improve braking and wear and tear.

Ferodo GT350 Front Brake Pads - DSUNO
Cooltech Brake Ducts
Titanium Brake Pad Shims - Front
Caliperfexion front caliper stud & extension sleeve
Castrol React SRF Racing Brake Fluid

Click to expand...

Nice! Keep us updated on how you like DSUNO pads compared the R18s. If you can, run a session or 2 without the cooltech brake fins and then some with to see if the temps lower.

TheDeadCow said:

In for comments!

Cooltech Fins:

A couple months ago there was a discussion about these in one of the fb groups (corner ponies/TMO). The engineer that designed these showed up and started explaining the design process (same guy in Vorschlag video). Long/short; they grab air from under the car and direct it towards the brakes (on the GT). The 350's front end is lower than the GT making these fins less useful.

Brake Duct Kit:

I did a quick search and found Summit has several kits that may work as well.

Are you monitoring your caliper & rotor temps? If so, how? (i.e. temp sticker/paint)

I've been thinking about using a stick on thermometers on the front calipers just to get an idea how hot the brakes are getting. This data would allow me to make an informed decision about brake fluids, pads, and ducting.

Click to expand...

I've heard the same about the fins. And it makes sense. I'm just starting to get scientific about it now that things are continuing to get hotter for me. Moving to Texas - heat will really become a problem. I have stick on thermometers in the mail, so I plan to run those at a local track in TX to get a baseline. Then on trying a few things to see what works.

CSL said:

I came across this video on FB. Good info in here on S550 brakes in general from a Ford engineer.

Click to expand...

Great info - especially for those running the inverted hats. I did get a feeling of "good enough" in regards to the brake cooling performance on the Performance Pack + GT350 (partly based on the fact that the Boss was their measurement goal and that has an entire aftermarket of brake ducting).

rushca01 said:

I have read on the track shelby FB page that aftermarket cooling ducts etc.. are not good on the GT350 and can have the opposite effect , YMMV though.

Click to expand...

I can definitely see that for the brake fins if they redirect airflow negatively. Can't imagine how dedicated brake ducting that dumps air directly onto the rotor could have the same ill-effect tho. But I am open to data points

I see Full Tilt Boogie has the rotor-side of the cooling duct for the S550

http://fulltiltboogieracing.com/2015_S550_Brake_parts.htm

Epiphany said:

I wish the engineer responsible for the GT350's brakes could open up like that. Great guy that worked on systems dating back to the Fox chassis. The M-2300-K kit was his baby as well. We had a few interesting conversations regarding why Ford ended up with an SHW rotor (as opposed to Brembo), why the GT350's caliper uses a fixed bridge, where the GT350 wheel hub/bearing came from, and why caliper studs are such a great idea (). I know he was working on the GT500 calipers well over a year ago and they look to be a larger variant of the GT350 caliper.

We sure have come a long way from drum/drum or disc/drum systems, thank God.

Click to expand...

It would be really, really great if he could/would interview with the racing/track community. Would be great to hear more context!

And yes, we've come a LONG way

honeybadger said:

I've heard the same about the fins. And it makes sense. I'm just starting to get scientific about it now that things are continuing to get hotter for me. Moving to Texas - heat will really become a problem. I have stick on thermometers in the mail, so I plan to run those at a local track in TX to get a baseline. Then on trying a few things to see what works.

Click to expand...

I live in Arizona, so heat in general is a concern of mine as well. Hope the move goes smoothly.

honeybadger said:

I found this online was wondering if anyone has experimented with it? Looks like maybe it's compatible?

http://shopcapaldiracing.com/fp350s-brake-duct-kit/

Click to expand...

FWIW, I used a kit like this on my 04 Z06 with fabulous results. It's a bitch to install, but with air directed onto the back of the caliper, it works very well. Those brakes are not nearly as good as the stock GT350 brakes and can get hot quickly, esp on a track like AMP. Have only tracked my R at AMP for a day and noted that the brakes do hold up very well, but toward the end of a warm (not hot) day, they did start to get a little soft. I concluded that a little help would be good and I have bought the little wings, but have not yet installed them. Was hoping for a model specific duct kit, like the one in your link, for the Shelby. Not sure if anyone does that yet. Good luck and pls share your results.

:ford: :cheers:

First FP350S I've seen delivered. Note the diverter plates they rivet to the fascia to direct airflow into the brake cooling ducts. I didn't see these at Capaldi's site...