Knock Off GT500 Brembos

eighty6gt

forum member
Joined
May 9, 2011
Posts
4,292
Reaction score
403
Rotors are $35 each at RockAuto and pads are $30 for a full set front and back. Again RockAuto Calipers all the way around was $225 on Amazon no core. For sure the backs were Power Stop by Callahan and the front Brembos knockoff were Callahan. Adaptors are about $100 and the spacers were $50. Thats a little under $600 for all the parts.
 

theRedStorm

forum member
Joined
Aug 30, 2015
Posts
149
Reaction score
21
Base is 18x8 and 44 offset. The Brembo wheels 19x9 and 42 offset. Then 20mm spacer=8.5mm clearance which is a lot. 17mm Spacer = 5.5mm clearance which is just right and 15mm spacer is 3.5mm clearance which = absolute minimum.
Thank you for your help.
I successfully got em mounted and working with a 10mm spacer. I may increase it to a 11 or 12mm for peace of mind as there's only about 1-1.5mm of clearance with the current spacer.
I'll attach photos as well20210206_172847.jpg

20210206_172839.jpg
 

theRedStorm

forum member
Joined
Aug 30, 2015
Posts
149
Reaction score
21
In terms of bite force, Yea theres DEFINITELY a noticeable difference. The weight shifts much more forward under hard breaking (when bedding brakes, all my stuff went flying when I slammed the brakes)

20210130_121253.jpg
 

LarryJM

Resident Fuktard
Joined
Jul 15, 2018
Posts
1,008
Reaction score
151
Remember I did all four wheels. I am using 13.8's GT500s in the back which might offset the weight shift a little. Yes, 1.5 mm is not enough with a 10mm spacer. A 1/2 inch spacer would work perfect. Interesting that you need a 1/2 inch or 12.5mm spacer with second gen PP wheels. With me it's 17mm spacer with first gen base wheels.
 

LarryJM

Resident Fuktard
Joined
Jul 15, 2018
Posts
1,008
Reaction score
151
Because of the spoke design. They’re more concave.
I was thinking all along that those PP wheels of a second and third gen cars would fit over the Brembo brakes of the Gen 1 cars. I guess not. Using Second Gen PP wheels, you need a 1/2 inch spacer for the fronts vis 17 mm for the Base Wheels. For me I ordered 2009 GT 500 front brakes and 2014 GT 500 back brakes. Then one of those aluminum Ebay adaptors from a guy in NC. Nothing fancy. Just Raybestos stock street parts from RockAuto and the Calipers with no core charge from Amazon.

brake9.jpg

DSC_0330.JPG
 

xeninworx

Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2020
Posts
211
Reaction score
101
Ford designed the S550 to have the hub stick out further like by a 1/2” so the wheels can stick out further and away from the calipers. Pretty much like using spacers. They also don’t have to design wheels with a lower offset or design the spokes to be concave. This is why S550 wheels require spacers when using them on S197 cars.
 

LarryJM

Resident Fuktard
Joined
Jul 15, 2018
Posts
1,008
Reaction score
151
Ford designed the S550 to have the hub stick out further like by a 1/2” so the wheels can stick out further and away from the calipers. Pretty much like using spacers. They also don’t have to design wheels with a lower offset or design the spokes to be concave. This is why S550 wheels require spacers when using them on S197 cars.

and a false report that S550 wheels do not fit S197 cars. True to a point for only Brembo to Brembo. S550 wheels well fit fine on a Base Non-Brembo S197 using S197 lug nuts. You also can NOT use S550 rotors on a S197. Then there are spacers with S550 lugs that will fit S197s using a combo of S197/S550 lug nuts. The Poke look is all the rage with the S550 set and you get that with 1/2 inch additional spacers on top of the standard Ford Thinking.
 

Bullitt2954

Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2013
Posts
211
Reaction score
123
Location
Southwest MO
Okay, 2018 Brembo 6-pot calipers @ Rock Auto, pn BRCF 430 and BRCF 431, any Opinions on use in an S197? (Aside from usual wheel-fitment issues)

DA4F39BC-09DF-4C27-A7BF-268A04B8FA79.png 13DEDF59-B9AD-435B-B46B-DF3A15464D56.png

Correct me if I’m wrong - the difference between these and the earlier 6-piston is a decreasing piston diameter vs. early had all 6 same diameter, yes? (or have I misread something again?)
 

LarryJM

Resident Fuktard
Joined
Jul 15, 2018
Posts
1,008
Reaction score
151
These are kind of big and heavy with the big 15 inch rotors. You will need 19 inch wheels and spacers of some sort with S197 15 inch 41 lbs rotor. Although this system might get above 1g stopping. You really must work all four wheels to get the ABS right. Brembo brakes for a 2014 have s special ABS system. I think it's to balance out the small back brakes. I decided to use 2009 GT500 fronts with 2014 GT500 backs with the standard ABS system. Amazon for the calibers and Rockauto for the rotors and pads. Works perfect after 3 bleeds.
 

Bullitt2954

Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2013
Posts
211
Reaction score
123
Location
Southwest MO
Oh, I intend on putting the larger rear rotors on as well. I just saw these on sale, thought it might be a good start for a Brembo 6-piston retrofit.

S197’s are Big Girls, and brakes Ford put on them up-‘til the end were marginally adequate, to put it mildly.

I’m also a Cheap Bastich. $240 apiece (eating the core) is a price I feel like I can stomach.

I’ve given this a bit of thought, just wanted a gut-check to see if there was something I grossly over-looked in the ‘15-‘18 S550 Brembo fitment.
 
Last edited:

MECH

Junior Member
Joined
Jun 13, 2009
Posts
13
Reaction score
0
those are “remanufactured” from Nugeon. Who knows if they’re real or not with that price.
I bought and installed a pair from O'Reilly, the ones I got were definitely cheap copies. I needed to have one replaced as it was leaking by the piston seal, and the replacement had different hardware as well as the bleeders took a different wrench size. They are working well now, but I would not recommend.
 

Latest posts

Support us!

Support Us - Become A Supporting Member Today!

Click Here For Details

Sponsor Links

Banner image
Back
Top