The Big Bad Brake Thread
- Thread starter MrPoopyButthole
- Start date
40th GP
New member
Did my swap over the holiday weekend. Nothing to it really. I used stock calipers/pads, Impala brackets, and Camaro rotors. I think I did it start to finish in about 2 hours, including cleaning the brackets and calipers. Was going to paint them but I thought they came out nice with just a good cleaning.
It seems they start slowing me down as soon as I hit the pedal, where before it seemed like I would press it slightly more before I would feel any stopping. I have not given it a hard stop test yet as I want to really bed the pads in good, but so far I think I can feel a difference and for the minimal cost of basically the brackets it was totally worth the swap.
I am trying to post pictures but it says I am exceeding my quota. Do I need to host them elsewhere, or how to I insert pictures like I have seen in previous posts on this thread?
It seems they start slowing me down as soon as I hit the pedal, where before it seemed like I would press it slightly more before I would feel any stopping. I have not given it a hard stop test yet as I want to really bed the pads in good, but so far I think I can feel a difference and for the minimal cost of basically the brackets it was totally worth the swap.
I am trying to post pictures but it says I am exceeding my quota. Do I need to host them elsewhere, or how to I insert pictures like I have seen in previous posts on this thread?
40th GP
New member
Ok, so apparently Flickr is full of themselves and will not give you code to just post the image(s), the image must link back to the Flickr page itself. I don't want to link it back to the full page with all of my other photos, I would like it to appear like jerZcavy4120's images on page 21. So, here goes my attempt to hack the code to get that result.
Old/stock setup:
Old and new rotor comparison:
New setup:
Old/stock setup:
Old and new rotor comparison:
New setup:
Kilroy
New member
Are you saying you put on 12 inch rotors, and used the original stock Caliper, except put it on an Impala bracket? I thought one of the main reasons for the 12" upgrade, was to get the dual piston calipers?
40th GP
New member
All true. The dual pistons would certainly be a step above what I did, but my car is almost exclusively a highway-driven daily driver and I didn't really see the point for me. I needed new rotors anyway so the cost to upgrade for me was very minimal (a few bucks extra for larger rotors and a few bucks at the bone yard for brackets). I didn't want to go through the hassle of changing calipers and bleeding and dealing with lines and all that, but I would curious how much of a difference just the caliper change would be from where I am now.
91parkave
New member
Night and day.
Kilroy
New member
Is it really that big of a difference, JUST with the 1" bigger rotors? Must really be a difference with the dual piston calipers then.
91parkave
New member
I did the same thing with my 97 gtp and then went full gxp but those pitiful 10.9 inch factory crap sucked the 12' from the Monte supplied the bracket and rotor I got on the cheap and that was really nice but still single piston caliper. Then of course Gxp brakes with braided lines really put the whoa factor in the brake pedal.
Kilroy
New member
So, I could start with 12" rotors and the Monte bracket (what year Monte by the way?) Then later on get a set of f body or even corvette calipers. Would make switching over not as much of a pay all at once deal. Think I might be hitting the wrecker's tomorrow! Thanks for the idea.
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231FUN
New member
You can get a complete"semi loaded" reman f-body calipers with bracket for $80 a side from NAPA in Canada Eh!So, I could start with 12" rotors and the Monte bracket (what year Monte by the way?) Then later on get a set of f body or even corvette calipers. Would make switching over not as much of a pay all at once deal. Think I might be hitting the wrecker's tomorrow! Thanks for the idea.
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Then buy your pads and 12" rotors and your all set.
japslpr
New member
So, I could start with 12" rotors and the Monte bracket (what year Monte by the way?) Then later on get a set of f body or even corvette calipers. Would make switching over not as much of a pay all at once deal. Think I might be hitting the wrecker's tomorrow! Thanks for the idea.
Sent from my GT-N8010 using Tapatalk 2
No, the F-body calipers will not fit in the Monte brackets. Even though they are the same size the thread size for the bracket and location may be different.
Here is my .02 on brakes as I have had pretty much all of them:
Stock: 10.9" rotors/Cast iron single piston calipers/small pad surface/heavy/ = bad!
12" upgrade from stock: 12" rotors/stock cast iron single piston calipers/same small pad surface area/still heavy = slightly better than stock because the rotor will dissapate more heat by being larger
F-Body 12" upgrade: 12" rotors/aluminum dual piston calipers/larger pads and surface area/light weight = much better improvement over stock or 12" upgrade from stock.
Baer upgrade: Front 13" rotors/dual piston calipers aluminum/larger pads and surface area/light weight ; 12" rear rotors/dual piston aluminum calipers/larger pads and surface area/still light weight = amazing stopping power
Note: SS lines will make the brakes feel A LOT better by eliminating the spongy feel in the pedal. SS lines will not expand from the pressure so the pedal is always firm. The rubber lines will expand due to the back pressure in the caliper which makes the pedal feel spongy.
So in conclusion, if you are going to due a break upgrade, my suggestions are F-body/GXP/or Baer. I'm sure the CTS-V Brembo upgrade is awesome too. However the ones i listed above are the ones I have used. IF you plan on doing just the 12" upgrade from stock, meaning all you are buying is brackets and rotors and using the stock calipers and stock size pads, I highy suggest getting SS brake lines ( I recommend this for any brake upgrade)
I will take some pics of my Baer setup and the F-body kits so you can see the difference. BTW...I have both for sale in my thread.
Kilroy
New member
What does "semi loaded" mean? Now, the calipers and brackets, are these the brackets that would need drilling and retapping (to use the stock GP bolts), OR a bushing and the F body bolt?
$80.00, might be better to do this, than chance a used set?? Hmmmmm
Kilroy
New member
Question, :th_scratchhead: if one can use the '02 corvette calipers, can it then be concluded that one could use the rotor, caliper bracket, and pads from an'02 corvette as well? Would it then be the same deal, drill and tap for stock GP caliper bolt, or bushing and the corvette caliper bolt?
231FUN
New member
Semi loaded means they're ready to use and come with all hardware but no pads.
Yes they're f body brackets that come with the calipers, just ask for calipers for a 98-02 Firebird/Camaro. You will need to use the bushing or have the brackets drilled and tapped for the bigger Gp bolts.
The Corvette calipers are the same deal, need to use an f body bracket and use the bushing or have them drilled and tapped for Gp bolts.
BoostenGTP
Resident ZZP Leg Humper
Can I play?!
Question, :th_scratchhead: if one can use the '02 corvette calipers, can it then be concluded that one could use the rotor, caliper bracket, and pads from an'02 corvette as well? Would it then be the same deal, drill and tap for stock GP caliper bolt, or bushing and the corvette caliper bolt?
Can't use the C5/6 bracket. I tried.