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Will 13" Caliper Fit in 17" Wheel?

Mr D

Mr D

New member
03 GTP, 130k

I got suspension ALMOST done, and now starting to shop for wheels. I have stock 16" torque 5-star now, & a tranny that tries real hard, but is going to need some serious attention sooner or later. I am more concerned with wheel weight than getting a low profile bada$$ look. So I have written off idea of 20s, even though I've seen some great looking GPs w/ them. I think 19s are the correct wheel size for our cars, but tires are way too $. I found 17s & 18s I like, the 17s are $300+ cheaper than 18s for wheel/tire set.

Half the reason for new wheels is so I can upgrade to a 13" front brake when my 12" rotors wear out. Looking into putting together a CTSV set or WBS 13" dual piston (GXP?) kit. So 2 questions.

1) For those 2 choices, does one have smaller caliper than the other for easier fitment with wheel clearence?

2) Does anyone have eithre of these fronts brakes w/ 17" wheels, or KNOW DEFINATIVELY that they fit in a specific wheel?

Thanks for the input!
 


90% of the time if you go bigger than the 12" F-Body brakes you have to have 18s. I know for the CTS-Vs (Drunkie has a whole thread on it) you have to have 18s and not all 18s will even clear.

Personally I think 18s are the best looking. 19s have to run low pros to stay in spec on the speedo and that low really roughens the ride, you can't tell the difference on my 18s with 245/45s over the stock 16s. But 17s tend to just get smaller and smaller the more you look at them, I mean its only 1/2" expanded all the way around, the 1" doesn't really make them look bigger and some 17s look like 16s just on design alone.

All in all its up to you and what you like.
Suggested reading material -
http://www.grandprixforums.net/big-bad-brake-thread-39174.html

http://www.grandprixforums.net/official-what-you-need-how-cts-v-brakes-46217.html
 
Thanks, I read the threads, but 1st time missed the "must have 13"' FOR CTSV. It would be great to save the $ & # on 17s, but seems that if I want the 13" brake I should go with 18s.
 
You'd need to source different brackets for a 13" rotor anyways IF they fit under the 17s. Yea 18s for the 14" rotors.

And I'm really liking my 17s now
 
14" are more than I need, & brembos tend to be out of my price range, lol. Just comparing F-body, GXP, CTSV, & WBS 13" dual piston (?). The savings from a set of 17" over 18" wheel/tires would almost pay for a front brake upgrade, plus the weight savings of 17".

And I agree that 17 look about same as 16s. I like the bigger wheels, but I know I'm better off w/ a more stock (sleeper) look and I'm really trying to get most performance/drivability/durability from my dd.

Thanks again.
 


there is no 13" caliper.

If there is, its probably an eight pot or larger, requires four brake pads per caliper.

Yeah, I went there.




But serious time: You can run GXP front brakes under the right 17" wheel and GXP rears under the right 16" wheel.

GXP rotors are 12.7" front and 12.01" rear.

If you need to go any larger, (more like want), then 18s would be required.

If you want light wheels, then why is anything larger than 17" on the table?

15" would be the lightest and fit over stock brakes.
 
matt5112 said:
there is no 13" caliper.

If there is, its probably an eight pot or larger, requires four brake pads per caliper.

Yeah, I went there.




But serious time: You can run GXP front brakes under the right 17" wheel and GXP rears under the right 16" wheel.

GXP rotors are 12.7" front and 12.01" rear.

If you need to go any larger, (more like want), then 18s would be required.

If you want light wheels, then why is anything larger than 17" on the table?

15" would be the lightest and fit over stock brakes.
Click to expand...

Assuming bigger brakes to go with better handling so anything that gives you a shorter sidewall is needed, 18s are the best trade off between weight and tire profile. There are some lighter weight 18s out there to consider.
 
matt5112 said:
there is no 13" caliper.

If there is, its probably an eight pot or larger, requires four brake pads per caliper.

Yeah, I went there.




But serious time: You can run GXP front brakes under the right 17" wheel and GXP rears under the right 16" wheel.

GXP rotors are 12.7" front and 12.01" rear.

If you need to go any larger, (more like want), then 18s would be required.

If you want light wheels, then why is anything larger than 17" on the table?

15" would be the lightest and fit over stock brakes.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the info. Can you explain what 13" brake WBS is selling?

13 inch Dual Piston Front Brake Kit

For wheels, I found an 18x8 et+40 at 19lbs ea, but they are little more than I want to spend.

I can get 17x7.5 for $60 cheaper ea. And the 17" tires are about $30 cheaper ea. x 4, adds up.
 
Most likely its the same as the 04+ GXPs, I think they run a 13" rotor. Since it doesn't say and its not some big name brand stamped on the front that would be my guess.
 
That's actually not a bad price for all of that.

And 19lbs for a 18" wheel is pretty light. My 17s are ~23 a piece
 


TLSheff said:
Most likely its the same as the 04+ GXPs, I think they run a 13" rotor. Since it doesn't say and its not some big name brand stamped on the front that would be my guess.
Click to expand...

TLSheff, do you think the "13"' is actually the 12.7" GXP?

& Sandman, I agree, 19lbs is not the lightest, but its pretty light for a 18x8. I am willing to let wheel specs trump my taste/preference. I'm at a point that I won't even look twice at a wheel if weight is not listed. But I still have a budget, so I still have to look for bargains.
 
Considering they advertised the GXP as having 13" rotors for better stopping power, Ya I would imagine if you ordered that kit in and measured the rotors would be 12.7" (+/-). I could be wrong tho, nobody I know of on this forum has actually ordered and used them, but several have used the GXPs as an upgrade.
 
99pgpgt said:
uhhh dude.....what in the world do you think ctsv calipers are?


THEY ARE BREMBOS lol
Click to expand...

lol, I thought they were GM. I never noticed a label on them, & brembo likes to label-up their products... I did not know GM/Cad subcontracted out CTSV to brembos. But, like I said, tend to be more than can I afford. The only reason I would spend the $ on CTSV (most expensive of options I listed), would be if they were somehow compact enough to fit in a 17" wheel.
 


Mr D said:
TLSheff, do you think the "13"' is actually the 12.7" GXP?

& Sandman, I agree, 19lbs is not the lightest, but its pretty light for a 18x8. I am willing to let wheel specs trump my taste/preference. I'm at a point that I won't even look twice at a wheel if weight is not listed. But I still have a budget, so I still have to look for bargains.
Click to expand...

They are 12.7", just like the 12" F-body rotors are actually 11.75". People just round up.

19lbs is pretty light for a 18" rim, yes there is lighter but its $$. Most aftermarket 18s are around 22-25lbs

I think the best upgrade for a street car is GXPs all around if you can find them cheap.
Otherwise C5s front and GXPs rear is more than enough to stop these cars.

The Brembo's are baller no doubt, just the price and having to find the perfect 18s is to much for most of us.
 
the CTSV calipers actually go for a pretty decent price. you just have to run big wheels with them all the time.
 
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