Vorshlag Tech Tip: S197 & S550 Mustang Brake Weights, Comparison, & Experiences!

In this 12 minute video Terry from Vorshlag shows the various OEM calipers and rotors used in the S197 (2005-14) and S550 (2015-up) Mustangs. We weigh the stock bits, compare them to aftermarket parts, and give our first hand experiences with all of these components on these Mustang chassis and more. Thanks for watching!

[@TheUsmc0802]

Great video, I'm running the s550 6 piston 15" rotor on my 12 GT. I can not out drive these brakes. Running with Gloc pads, unbelievable!

[@saby8765]

Great technical video...we need more track oriented good tech stuff from you guys. The 2013-14 Mustang is the halo mustang and we need to keep it alive!

[@Vorshlag]

Look for a revival of our S197 Mustang development forum thread soon. We have been posting info on a 2010 GT we are upgrading to a Gen2 Coyote, aero, etc. Check out the Vorshlag Forum or Facebook page.

[@tonyankyfan]

AWESOME VIDEO!!!! Thanks

[@jayf429]

Baer eradispeed rotors are 2 piece rotors which vent from the back even on the base 14 inch rotors.

[@musclecar62]

Love the video, would you recommend to use the S550 base four piston caliber, with 14” rotor and nice pads on a S197?? i am slowly building it but i am afraid it might not work or more damage, if worse, car accident.

[@yellowjoe.2000]

very imformative video

[@saby8765]

I can't believe I bought another 2013 GT after selling the V6, I did full suspension with Whiteline and MCS coilovers from Vorshlag earlier, but I skipped out on 6 piston brembos. This time, stoptechs are going on my car with Forgestar f5s, gotta keep unsprung weight low.

[@lobbyrobby]

What the brembos on the 18+ pp1 cars? I'm going to track my car next summer for the first time and now this has me worried!

[@kerryjager6672]

Did you do any testing with a gt350r brake upgrade kit ?

[@jacobmcnamee]

so the 4 pot caliper is not the issue, it is the rotor. Baer sells two piece traditional rotor; wouldn't that work?

[@JoseReyes-ux9me]

Is it possible to add an s197 brembo brakes to a s550?

[@builtforspeed5274]

I've seen some pictures of the s197 models using the 2015 brembo using the 14 gt500 15inch rotors and some spacers would you do that as a topic in seriously considering those and my friends as well

[@saby8765]

I'm running 18" squared, I thought 15" rotors won'r clear for me in 2013 Mustang. Are you saying front spacers would solve that problem? Great news! I feel I'm overtaxing my breaks, especially when we're racing in wet conditions, under hard breaking the front tires almost jitters (because of ABS I think) and struggle for grip, I really need some 15" superlight rotors and a 6 piston caliper that can stop on a dime. But I've always been reluctant to run big break kit because that would mean upping the tires to a 19", which means more rotational mass and also more expensive!

[@TheUsmc0802]

@@saby8765 ...yes I'm running the s550 6 piston with 2014 GT500 15 rotors. 5mm spacers is all I need for my 19" brembos to fix.

[@TheUsmc0802]

You would have to have a full race spec aero car with a stripped interior, and say 700 hp to need any other brake in a S197.

[@Vorshlag]

@@TheUsmc0802 - well... we had 430 whp + aero and needed more brake. We have some Powerbrake S197 customers who were in the same boat. We are looking at the S550 PP1 brake upgrade for an S197 - might do that to a S197 race car we are building for a customer now.

[@MrGuardian1942]

@@TheUsmc0802 I'm piecing together this exact same setup. So all you did was shim the caliper on the spindle, and it bolted right up? Did you change your booster/master cylinder?

[@Archangel3083]

So how does the S550 calipers work with a different rotor that cools from the rear?

[@SirJamesTND]

They updated the rotors after 2021. They bent from the rear

[@heavymetalcreationz711]

I looked on your site for a PowerBrake kit, I didn’t see one for my 2005 Mustang. Did I miss it? I need to upgrade.

[@Deathtroll1499]

Feel like that’s working backwards my guy

[@heavymetalcreationz711]

@@Deathtroll1499 I don’t follow... I need new brakes that can repeatedly haul the car from high speeds. So these look great! Thanks!

[@mr.excitement689]

Are the rears pointless to upgrade on a 11-14? The standard brakes are atrocious, stopping power and brake fade especially. I am looking into a brake upgrade for my standard brake packages 2013gt. I’d prefer to not spend an arm and a leg but was a bit confused on which factory brembo package to go with. A aftermarket bbk is just crazy for how much you pay for it. The American muscle package which is just upgraded rotors and pads,( same factory size) seems pointless and a waste of money as I doubt it will make any difference. Thoughts?

[@Vorshlag]

The GT500 rear upgrade kit we sell is worthwhile - we were killing the 11" rear discs and even warping the rear calipers frequently on our 2011 GT track car. Rotors might last 3 weekends... but when we went tot he 14" rotor / GT500 caliper mount they lasted 3-4 times as long.

[@rmartin5285]

Some good info, but I'm not buying how lousy the stock 2015 GT brakes are. He said he literally got one lap out of them. I always get a bit suspicious when someone is selling something. I know guys that run them plenty and they easily match the performance of the Brembo 4 pistons. The only difference being that they are front vent as opposed to rear vent. Put the S550's on a 2011-2014 with rear vent ("14") Brembo style rotors (which you have to use anyways), and you have the exact Brembo setup for half the price. This more than most guys who start with base SN197 brakes will ever need. The GT 550 calipers and "14 rear vent rotor combo is not addressed, or tested in this video.

[@AnotherShortStory]

Looking to use the s550 6 piston Brembos on a 2014 s197. Can the s550 15" rotors be used on a s197? Or is the 15" GT500 rotor the only option to pair with the Brembos?

[@carlosgonz96]

13-14 GT500 15" rotors with s550 pads

[@MrJrFish]

Taylor, have you done this yet? How did it work out? Any posts anywhere that detail this set up I can read?

[@AnotherShortStory]

@@MrJrFish Yes, I did it on my old 2014 V6 and plan to do so again on my current 2014 V8. Here is a fourm that I used which has a lot of useful information. www.svtperformance.com/threads/s197-non-brembo-to-gt500-s550-brake-project.1159877/

[@carrollworiax290]

Why not just use the brake package from the GT350R?

[@Vorshlag]

It requires completely different uprights/spindles at both ends of the car. And the rear then requires a different lower shock mount. It is also "too big" up front with 15.5" rotors that barely fit under 19" wheels (can no longer use 18" dia wheels). Lastly, it is prohibitively expensive for all of these upgrades.

[@SDBDUB]

Is there a brake upgrade for the 14 inch rotors that makes them rear flow?

[@SDBDUB]

For example, can you use a 14 inch S197 Track Pack rotor with the 4-piston S550 GT brake calipers?

[@Vorshlag]

Ford finally figured out the reverse hat rotors for the 14" brake was a BAD idea and the later S550s (2022-23?) had a normal rotor, so you can source those instead.

[@theawesomeguy9999]

What about the OEM 6 Pistons with 15" rotors from the 2013-14 GT500? Could those be used on any 2005-14 s197 Mustang?

[@carlosgonz96]

Yes

[@redlinecustom580]

Lol instead of throwing a set away throw it my way i need some ill put in all the time to repair them for my mustang

[@douglasm3310]

I wouldn’t bother replacing the oem 6 piston caliper but just change to a 2 piece 15 in rotor.

[@Vorshlag]

Braking performance, feel and life... it is more than just the rotor. The caliper design plays a large part in all of this, too.

[@miguelangelriverarivera5031]

They fit just need innovation.

[@lethal5.041]

This cracks me up bwahahahaha people you really need to know body styles let me help you you have a fox body SN195 new edge SN197 and then that brings us to the S550 and now you know and knowing is half the battle G.I.Joe lol get it right people

[@Vorshlag]

Wait... what? You just posted a bunch of incorrect data. There is the Fox (1979-93), SN95 (1994-04), S197 (2005-14), then S550 (2015-26). "haha get it right GI Joe" ??

[@lethal5.041]

@@Vorshlag wait what boy you seriously need to read up cuz I know I'm right like I said for the moron her you have the foxbody the SN195 and new edge the SN197 and then S550 which I clearly stated and you rested what I said only thing is I've had a SN195 and SN197 so get your shit together lol idiot

[@lethal5.041]

So no my post prior wasn't incorrect moron

[@Vorshlag]

@@lethal5.041 - there is no SN195. There was an SN95. We didn't get anything wrong, but you keep telling us we did. Don't go changin - you be you!

[@lethal5.041]

@@Vorshlag your wrong yes there was a sn195 it ran from 94 -98 and yes I know this cuz I work for Ford so I know my body styles