The Big Bad Brake Thread

[matt5112]

I've looked into that.

Malibu calipers seem to be single pot.

Impala ones are duals though.

[matt5112]

I'd like to point out once again the better rotor is the F body 12" not the 04+ due to it being lighter.

[Silver GTP]

Don't forget the cheapest and easiest 12" option for the 97-03 guys. I kept my stock calipers, but swapped the brackets out from an 02 Monte Carlo. The Monte and GP use the same caliper, but different brackets and rotors. The Monte gets an 11.9" rotor (not 11.7 like the 04+GP) with the bigger bracket. Going this approach when doing a regular brake job only adds about $40 to the cost if you get the parts from rockauto. It is a very noticeable upgrade over stock and is a good upgrade for people who don't feel comfortable swapping and bleeding calipers.

[Durk Diggler]

06+ Monte brakes might be worth discussing. From what I understand you get the 12" rotors and dual piston calipers of the LSJuan Fbody upgrade, but with a better pedal...they also can use stock bolts.

All you do is bend the brake line a little to clear the bleeder.
I should have taken a picture, but the 06+DP brake pads are larger than the stock Prix ones. The 06+ rotors are 11.9 vs the 11.7 stock. Because the 06+ pads sit lower in the bracket there is actually more clearance with a stock 16" wheel.

[Corona99GT]

Ok so looking to upgrade brakes on my 99 gt, so by what i've read I can just go to a junkyard and buy a set of front calippers and rotors of any 04+ gp or of a 98+ firebird of camaro and they will just bolt on to my car right? and as for the rear brakes just leave them stock correct?

[matt5112]

the F body brakes require spacers for the caliper bracket.

the other option is find a 00-05 impala or monte carlo and just swap caliper brackets and rotors.

This last option is better than the 04+ GP brakes IMO due to the size of the rotor and the weight. (bigger yet lighter)

[Corona99GT]

the other option is find a 00-05 impala or monte carlo and just swap caliper brackets and rotors.

So these are a direct bolt on then right if so I'll get a set of those.

Thanx.

[tcman49]

I was told by a brake part dealer that ceramic pads can't handle the heat properly on my Grand Prix GTP and to get semi-metallic pads, is this true?

Thanks
TC

[matt5112]

Its the rotor that can't handle the heat, not the pad.

If you're concerned or had issues do the 12" upgrade as well.

[ExLimey]

Just finished upgrading to F-body brakes. The ZZP kit uses the 14mm bolts from the stock brackets so no sleeves needed in the spindles. I got F body rotors (Power Stop) from Summit and they fit perfectly. They stop way better than stock. I painted them and they look the part as well.

If anyone is afraid of bleeding the brakes and you have access to an air compressor, get the one person bleeder tool from Harbor Freight (Pneumatic Brake Fluid Bleeder, Item #92924). It works so well. I used it to completely flush the system with new Dot 4 fluid.

I still have the stainless brake lines to install but that's for another day. Looking for the best product to get through the corrosion so that I don't twist them off and have to replace the hard lines.

Looking for a GXP rear setup now. Car-Part.com lists 2 different rear calipers for the GXP, 1 with and 1 without traction control (option NW7). Anyone know which is the right one?

[MrPoopyButthole]

Just finished upgrading to F-body brakes. The ZZP kit uses the 14mm bolts from the stock brackets so no sleeves needed in the spindles. I got F body rotors (Power Stop) from Summit and they fit perfectly. They stop way better than stock. I painted them and they look the part as well.

If anyone is afraid of bleeding the brakes and you have access to an air compressor, get the one person bleeder tool from Harbor Freight (Pneumatic Brake Fluid Bleeder, Item #92924). It works so well. I used it to completely flush the system with new Dot 4 fluid.

I still have the stainless brake lines to install but that's for another day. Looking for the best product to get through the corrosion so that I don't twist them off and have to replace the hard lines.

Looking for a GXP rear setup now. Car-Part.com lists 2 different rear calipers for the GXP, 1 with and 1 without traction control (option NW7). Anyone know which is the right one?

Check out my post in my CTS-V brake thread, I talk about what to do with those rusty old lines. Vice Grips and PB Blaster, Drivers side is tricky since the bracket bends when you try to get it loose, so jam a flat head screw driver between the bracket and strut tower.

[ExLimey]

Thanks for the tip. Will head out to see if I can find the PB Blaster.

[MBruneaux]

Don't forget the cheapest and easiest 12" option for the 97-03 guys. I kept my stock calipers, but swapped the brackets out from an 02 Monte Carlo. The Monte and GP use the same caliper, but different brackets and rotors. The Monte gets an 11.9" rotor (not 11.7 like the 04+GP) with the bigger bracket. Going this approach when doing a regular brake job only adds about $40 to the cost if you get the parts from rockauto. It is a very noticeable upgrade over stock and is a good upgrade for people who don't feel comfortable swapping and bleeding calipers.

I just bought the calipers and brackets off an '05 Monte Carlo SS so I should buy the Monte Carlo rotors, correct? Also, i was looking at rotors on Anytihngauto.com and for the Mont's they have a VIN break for the rotors. Did you come accross this?

Beautiful car by the way, those rims are perfect.

[SnowDrift]

Don't forget the cheapest and easiest 12" option for the 97-03 guys. I kept my stock calipers, but swapped the brackets out from an 02 Monte Carlo. The Monte and GP use the same caliper, but different brackets and rotors. The Monte gets an 11.9" rotor (not 11.7 like the 04+GP) with the bigger bracket. Going this approach when doing a regular brake job only adds about $40 to the cost if you get the parts from rockauto. It is a very noticeable upgrade over stock and is a good upgrade for people who don't feel comfortable swapping and bleeding calipers.

Did you find the brackets at a bone yard?

Your car is sharp with those wheels on it!

[Silver GTP]

I just bought the calipers and brackets off an '05 Monte Carlo SS so I should buy the Monte Carlo rotors, correct? Also, i was looking at rotors on Anytihngauto.com and for the Mont's they have a VIN break for the rotors. Did you come accross this?

Beautiful car by the way, those rims are perfect.

I looked up the brackets on rockauto and they show two different ones for the 05 Monte. The ones I got were the Cardone part # 141134. There are pictures of both on their site to check so you can compare and see which ones you got. They also show two different front rotors there so I referenced what I got from the 02 Monte parts list and it was Centric part # 12062055. That is one of the two choices shown for the 05 Monte. Just look up the rotors for an 02 and you'll get the ones you need.

Did you find the brackets at a bone yard?

Your car is sharp with those wheels on it!

I bought them from rockauto when I ordered the rotors. You also need to get the hardware kit since the brackets don't come with the little rubber boots for the bolts if you buy them there. I don't have much around here for junkyards and they want ridiculous money for used parts.

Thanks for the comments on the wheels from both of you.

[SnowDrift]

I see there are different part numbers between '02 and '05. For the A1Cardone #141166 is for the '05 Monte SS and the #141134 is for the '02. I suppose I'll go with the 141134 for the '02 since that's what you did and it worked. Is the boot kit all I'll need? You mentioned the hardware kit, though - Is that the Dorman #HW5632?

Rotors from Raybestos would be 56641R in the Daily Driver line, right? 11.92" diameter.

[DoubleBlown]

I have a 99 monte carlo and i was thinking about doing a bigger brake upgrade its it possible for me to use 06+ monte calipers and rotors?

[Silver GTP]

I see there are different part numbers between '02 and '05. For the A1Cardone #141166 is for the '05 Monte SS and the #141134 is for the '02. I suppose I'll go with the 141134 for the '02 since that's what you did and it worked. Is the boot kit all I'll need? You mentioned the hardware kit, though - Is that the Dorman #HW5632?

Rotors from Raybestos would be 56641R in the Daily Driver line, right? 11.92" diameter.

I looked at it again and you're right. The brackets on an 02 and an 05 are different. I don't know if the 05 brackets will work or not. I know for sure that the 02 Monte brackets work with the calipers from the 02 GTP and the 02 Monte rotors.

I bought the hardware kit because that was what the local parts store had in stock. You can buy just the boots under the caliper bushing section. Those rotors should work fine.

[MBruneaux]

Well, tonight I installed the 2005 Monte Carlo SS Brackets and calipers (Single Piston) with rotors and pads I bought from advanced auto parts, Wagner. I noticed when we looked up the pads that there were several pads that mentioned the VIN breakdown and others that didn't (I forgot to bring a caliper with me). I installed everything and there looks to be at least 1/2 inch machined on the inside of the rotor that the pad will not touch. I wonder if the pads that were separated by the VINs might contact the entire rotor? This is going to bug me. I had to get it done today because the pulsation was killing me. The EBC Reds I put on last year (25,000 miles) were phenomenal but they ate up my Brembo rotors and got too thin. Still worth every Penny!!!

If I end up going on a track day in the fall or next year I will have to investigate the VIN breakdown when I order my slotted rotors and EBC Reds.

[matt5112]

the pads are the same as your stock ones.

the "front" part of the pad will be the hottest so a chamfer there is probably a good idea.