Ford Parts books may be recommending the wrong pad for 94/95 SHO's

NOTE: this problem may have been corrected in Ford Parts computers.  If you order brake pads and find out that the number is still wrong or has been corrected, let us know so we can update this page.  One report from California indicated that the part number has been corrected. (Update posted 6-3-02)

By member Joe Hatcher

Over the past month now, I've been pulling my hair out trying to figure out what the problem was with my front brakes on the Crimson '95 I drove to the Tulsa convention this year. I FOUND it !!! Ford has been recommending the incorrect front brake pads on ALL 1995 model SHO's ! There is apparently a misprint in their cross-reference and they recommend pads that fit '96-'99 SHO's instead of the proper pad.

Feel free to pass this along to others in the club - - so maybe they will know what to ask for when it comes time to replace the front (stock) pads.

Attached are some photos of the culprits and one that shows the result of the brake drag onto the rotor assembly. The pad contacts the rotor on an angle and never really releases resulting in undue heating and REDUCED SPEED ! The pad that Ford recommended is too tall for the caliper housing but fits into the "cradle" just fine and will fit tightly so it is possible for one to think the correct pad is installed.

The pad on the LEFT in the first photo is the correct pad for the '94-'95 SHO (Auto & 5spd). Is part number is: YF1Z-2001-AA. The one Ford recommends that is INCORRECT is: XF3Z-2001-CB (this pad fits the V-8 SHO '96-'99.

If you look at the incorrect pad on the right, you can see how the top of the pad surface has a "ridge" that was cut out by the pad being too tall for the rotor !
I've asked a few mechanics around this area if this was normal for the pad to protrude above the rotor like that and I received several "Sures" ! I think that should be grounds for entry into the Mechanics Hall of Shame !!!

Below you can see where the incorrect pad was contacting the brake rotor.

Below is a close-up of the ridge created by the pad being too tall for the disk.

Maybe this will help the frustration factor out in our club. Ford should reissue or update their books since my dealer was kind enough to report the misprint AND give me new rotors as well to replace the damaged ones. In the meantime, this should serve as a reference for the proper front brake pad specification.

Joe Hatcher

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