Thread: Best brake job ever.

Originally Posted by matt5112

Ask to take a look at the front rotors from a 98-02 camaro at your local parts store.

Should answer your question.

And I'm running the EBC red pads as well, much better than the **** that was on there. So much so that I don't really care about modding my brakes much further since I'm still at stock GT power levels.

The next time I have to replace my brakes, if I need new rotors, I will upgrade but I agree with you that if these Reds stop this well on the 11" rotor then I can't imagine how they would be on a 12". When I hit the brakes now I have to look behind me to see who will hit me instead of me hitting the car in front. I am amazed every day. Just when I think I've gotten used to them they surprise me. Because I also have them on the rear I can actually feel the rear "squat" a little.

Are your struts and springs shot? I've driven many cars with more nose dive than the Grand Prix. I've got 110K miles and the struts still feel firm and responsive.

Originally Posted by matt5112

yes, they are very shot. 81 K miles on 'em.

I was a GM tech for 10 years and never saw a factory strut fail in 81K miles. That was one thing about GM, their struts lasted forever. I had a Grand am Se and a GT that had over 140K miles on their struts and rode fine.

Originally Posted by matt5112

Rear end slides around when hitting bumps around corners, body roll is excessive etc... And I do have GMPP trailing arms.

I just have learned to accept these cars are horribly designed boats.

Why don't you just get new struts if it's such a pig to drive?

Originally Posted by MBruneaux

If you use the original caliper with the larger rotors won't there be a gap between the bottom of the caliper and the edge of the contact patch of the rotor??

If you use the original caliper bracket, you will not be able to get the caliper to bolt on over the larger rotor. Other GM platforms used the same front knuckle and caliper, but used a 12" rotor with a different caliper bracket to make up for the added size. The 12" rotors cost about the same as the 11's and the caliper brackets are about $50 for 2 brackets with the hardware kit. I did this and definitely thought it was worth the extra $50 for the improved braking.

Another option is F-body or Impala calipers, but will cost you more money to do since you will need calipers, brackets and rotors.

Originally Posted by Silver GTP

If you use the original caliper bracket, you will not be able to get the caliper to bolt on over the larger rotor. Other GM platforms used the same front knuckle and caliper, but used a 12" rotor with a different caliper bracket to make up for the added size. The 12" rotors cost about the same as the 11's and the caliper brackets are about $50 for 2 brackets with the hardware kit. I did this and definitely thought it was worth the extra $50 for the improved braking.

Another option is F-body or Impala calipers, but will cost you more money to do since you will need calipers, brackets and rotors.

Thanks for the explanation, I understand that I would need the brackets and bigger rotors but wondered if there would be wasted space between the caliper and the inside edge of the rotor, therefor the bigger caliper is beneficial.

the inside of the rotor isnt what helps to stop the car though, so whats the point?

Originally Posted by Bio248

the inside of the rotor isnt what helps to stop the car though, so whats the point?

I guess my point is if the caliper doesn't reach as far down the rotor, the stock GP caliper wouldn't have the same contact patch as if the impala/f-body caliper would. That would mean swapping calipers would make it better than not.

I'll stop worrying about it, thanks for your input.

I think I understand your question. The 12" rotors are not made larger by increasing just the braking surface width. The center area of the rotor is increased in size as well so the actual braking surface is the same width, just a larger diameter. The caliper, brake pads, brackets and rotors that I run now are all standard parts from GM installed together on certain GM models other than the Grand Prix.