Rich92 RS

iTrader: (16)

Anyone looking to upgrade to ls1 or C5/6 front brakes should definitely hit up Scott @ bigbrakeupgrade.com

Every email was returned promptly. Most were replied within hours and even when sent during the evening. He received my spindles on Friday, and I had them back the very next Friday painted and fully assembled.

The bottom line is: If you want outstanding customer service, a quality product, and a fast turn around time; then you need to talk to Scott @ bigbrakeupgrade.com

I couldn't resist bolting up my Kore3 caliper and C6 rotor.

zenish

im glad someone is selling a lower cost kit for big brakes but his website could be clearer.he will sell just the bracket but it says the spindle must be modified but he gives no details on that.the pontiac magazine article was useless because they just show before and after pics and no before and after stopping distances.id like to have a better idea of what this involves and what the total cost will be.

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

The real advantage is that the newer style brakes dont overheat and fade like stock thirdgen brakes. Stopping distance isnt that big of a deal to me. When you're on a race track and your brakes can only last half the lap without being useless because they get so hot...

LS1 brakes dont overheat and fade the way our stock front brakes do - that's the biggest advantage probably.

Rich92 RS

iTrader: (16)

Send him an email, he'd be more than happy to help and tell you. Modifications involve removing the "ears" off the stock spindles, and drilling/tapping new holes for the brackets. There are plenty of sites/threads explaining it.

pearl_iroc

+1 on dealing with Scott, great guy and fast service, i got most of my C5 front brake set up from them.

ghettocruiser

iTrader: (4)

I dont think I ever made a thread about Scott...but I should have. Back when I did my first swap.

This is is NO WAY A BASH AGAINST ED!! Ed seems to do awesome work, and is definitely helping the community along with his products. I really wanted to do business with him. However, I couldnt get ahold of him to save my life when I needed to upgrade my brakes. I emailed, called, PM'ed, etc, and we just couldnt get together to discuss my needs. I waited about 2 weeks, until I was at a point where I really needed to get that phase of the project finished.

So I called scott, and had my entire set up in just a few days. I got the assembled kits. So, the whole thing came ready to bolt on. Just had to bolt it up, and slip the brakes on. He already had the bearings greased, installed, and tensioned. Yes you can get parts from him. And I know if you call him or email him he will help you out. But as was already stated, you can find the info for modifying the spindles on this forum and even just google searching.

I know you've all seen them. But here are the pics from when I got my parts from Scott...









I liked how they were priced right. Saved me a ton of work having the rotor machined down to a hub, and modifying the spindle. No fancy powdercoating or anything. A few years later, and they still look good.

Cant go wrong with either vendor!

J.

ZZ42Fast

iTrader: (2)

I want to chime in here too! Got the complete LS1 upgrade and it is fantastic!! Had mine powder coated and drilled and slotted rotors. Scott is a top guy to deal with on every level. Highly, highly recommended and possibly the best transaction I have made from the USA.

ghettocruiser

iTrader: (4)

Those look great!! I wanted to paint my own calipers...and I never got around to it. I should have just splurged and had them coated while I was at it.

J.

QUICKCHICKEN

iTrader: (12)

zz42fast, about what what the cost on your setup?

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

for anyone that has had these setups for a while now, have you taken your brakes off to inspect the hubs and found that the hubs are cracking along the outter edge of the hub where the studs go through? have you ever had a stud tear up, and have to service it, only to find that you cracked the hub while doing so? i've built several of these hubs, and i make the tolerances between the rotor and the hub really tight so to keep as much meat on the hub as possible, but still occassionally have problems. am i using bad rotor cores? i've made it a habbit to put the long wheel studs in them well before i cut them, to be sure they're seated, etc, and don't tear up the hub, but that doesn't answer the notion of servicing with new studs if one gets tore up.

ZZ42Fast

iTrader: (2)

$685 for the complete set-up
+ $110 for powdercoated calipers
+ $80 for upgraded rotors
+ $82 for Earls braided hoses
+ $100 core charge

So it adds up but then I didn't need all the 'gravy' I ordered with it

Recaro trans am

iTrader: (1)

I says that the LS1 upgrade wont work with the cross lace wheel, Is he talking about the GTA rim, or the old 15" crosslace that kind of looks like a GTA rim ?

BlackenedBird

iTrader: (5)

He is referring to the 16" due to the design/shape of the inner loop. But I'm betting the LS1 discs won't fit under any 15" wheel due to the size of the disc plus caliper.

85 ZXX

iTrader: (1)

Got a set of the LS1's from Scott last month and I'm very pleased with the workmanship and quality. I just have to get the cores sent back to him.

The pics are on my album link below.

ghettocruiser

iTrader: (4)

Ive had mine on since...2006. Actually...I got them mid July 06 and was using them soon after. Lots of miles, no issues so far. I checked them last time I had the car apart, and everything looked fine.

To be honest...I dont think I have ever taken the nuts off the hub since they were installed. Mainly because Im running 1.7" spacers for my 4th gen wheels. So, the adapters got bolted to the hubs, and have never been messed with aside from checking the torque every so often.

I can see how having to replace a stud would be sketchy though...

J.

BBU.COM

I wanted to state some well over due thank you`s here, typically this has not been my stomping ground and out of respect, I`ve kept my business out of thirdgen.org for that reason. The overwhelming and complimenting responses here and a few other threads have pushed me to create an account here. Please if you need anything, contact me thru the website or my normal email- Bigbrake@wowway.com It`s a one man show and I devote all the time I have to keep customers happy and supplied with what they need.

First I want to thank RICH92RS for starting this thread, glad to have customers this good and willingness to say good about a good experience, Thank you!

ZENISH...I know the site was tired, I just launched a new site and the directions are on it with a download, tried to make things clearer. There are some minor details or bugs I`m working on correcting on the new site, if something isnt correct or not working, pm me or email..I`m no web designer but I`m trying.

Pearl...Thank you..Im sending a PM to you

Ghettocruiser..Thank you! The longevity review is appreciated, seen your responses in a few threads now. Word of mouth is the best and only advertising I have ever done, I can say I have never been as busy or diverse as Ed but as only one person you only have so much time.

ZZ42FAST....it`s great to help out guys over the pond, problems arise and you do your best in the situation you are in, this is one stand up individual, thank you for your review and business, glad everything worked out and appreciate your input.


85ZXX Thankyou! and send your cores back!!!

MW66NOVA...when you make the hubs the distance from the stud hole to the edge decreases greatly, next time you make a set, increase the stud hole slightly, take a little press fit out of it...003-.004 will stop your cracking issues and still keep the studs locked in place.


Anyone wanting to submit some photos or allow me to drop these responses/reviews onto the new site for the gallery or customers reviews, please let me know, I`d love to highlight these...and if you would like to see your car on the websites main page PM me.....I know, its not a high traffic site but hey it`s something I can give back to good customers and gives the site a fresh look when you visit.

http://BigBrakeUpgrade.com

87zjeff

iTrader: (4)

i've been using Scott's kit for almost 5 years now. i've never even had to change the wheel bearings. only thing i have changed is the pads and rotors. i already had calipers. he also had all the steel braided lines i needed.

dwalt10

I received my kit from Scott a couple weeks ago. I can't review the product yet as it is still waiting to be put on, but he was great to work with. With the custom powder coating I still received the product in roughly 2 weeks, maybe a little less.

dixiebandit69

I've got a few things to say about the LS1 brake setup. I bought the spindles/hubs/calipers fully assembled.

First the good:

My car stops on a dime now. I've been driving with it for about 3 years/25,000 miles.

For the most part it's really good, but here are some problems I've had:

The new calipers hit the factory steering limiter/stop plate right where the hose bolt/banjo fitting is. I didn't notice this when I was installing it, but the problem made itself evident when one day my pedal went straight to the floor.
What happened was that when turning sharply, the bolt would hit the steering stop and that would gradually loosen it and create a leak. This action also beat the hell out of the aluminum threads on one caliper, and I had to replace it.

After that I just cut the steering stops off, but the calipers would still hit the lower control arm in sharp turns. When that would happen, the caliper pistons would be compressed a little bit, and your next application of the brakes would be less than satisfactory (the pedal would go down much further than usual). After a couple of pumps, the pedal would firm up, but it's something that shouldn't be happening to begin with.

What I ended up doing was making my own steering stops out of some 1/4" sheet metal that make contact lower than the factory pieces, hitting the spindle instead of the caliper. This has increased my turn radius some, but I guess I'll get used to it.

Another thing that happened was a few thousand miles after I first installed them, the caliper bolts loosened up and fell out on one side! The only thing keeping the caliper from coming off completely was the wheel! (I'm running 16" wheels from an RS Camaro)
I figured that all of the bolts would be tightened properly when I bought the kit, but I guess I should have checked them anyway.
I replaced the bolts and put them in with loctite and haven't had that problem since.

The caliper mount that is machined into the spindle was a little off on my brakes; the caliper was slightly cocked to the inside of the car.
I discovered this because the rotors were wearing on the outside edge first (as seen with the hub facing you), with rust in the center that gradually went away with time as the pads and rotors wore in. I first noticed it when the contact area was about an inch wide, and it gradually got wider until the rust was gone from the contact area.
(If anyone is having a hard time imagining what I'm talking about, I can post pictures.)
I don't know if anyone else has noticed this or if it was just me, but it was like that on both sides of the car; same wear pattern.

Otherwise I think it's a great kit and I'd buy it again, but I'd definitely make sure to double check all the bolts, make my own steering stops from the beginning, and that machining error needs to be addressed.

ringo234

I had the same kit installed a couple of years ago, other than a couple of minor leaks where to hose meets the calipers (fixed with a little tightening), have been a great upgrade, (the stock brakes suck). They were well worth the money. About a year ago I got a posi rear-end from a club member with 342 gears and LS1 brakes.
What a difference.

ZZ42Fast

iTrader: (2)

Scott is in da house! Brakes still going strong mate and they look absolutely amazing on the car. Hope the business carrys on well for you and nice to see you finally regsiter here at thirdgen Top, top guy.

ghettocruiser

iTrader: (4)

dixiebandit69: No offense meant at all here...but the interference between the stock steering stops and LS1 calipers has been documented on here. Im only mentioning that in case you havent seen others' solutions, and also for anyone else that might read it and wonder how to fix it.

Here's one thread on it with some good pics for an awesome solution. Its what I ended up doing.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/brak...s1-brakes.html

EDIT...Found a crappy pic of mine when I was fiddling around with it. I used a threaded coupler instead of threaded tube.



For your bolt loosening issue...I had a fear about the bracket bolts with my kit. They were tight when they arrived, and I cant remember if they had loctite. However...before I even installed them, I drilled the heads and installed safety wire. I kind of wish thats how they came.

Overkill? Maybe. Will they ever fall out? No way haha. Loctite will certainly do the trick also though.

Not sure about that alignement issue youre having... Can you see where the error was made? Im having trouble picturing how things could be shifted to the side. The bracket thickness is always the same, and the spindle mounting surfaces should be the same. So unless there is an issue with the hub machining, or the caliper, I dont know how it could wear like that. Post a pic if you want!!

J.

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

hey thanks BBU for the tip on the hubs! i'll do that on my next set. i think i'm going to transfer my stuff over to my little bro's 89 iroc since i'm looking to loose a little weight, and go with a drag oriented setup.

peterc005

I've got a a set of braided steel hose to fit the stock brakes.

Will these worh with the LS1 brake conversion or will I need new brake hoses too?

BBU.COM

Because of the clocking of the LS1 caliper normally a liitle extra length is required. The aftermarket lines may or may not have any extra length, best is to test fit them. If they are too short, you could always run them without the strut tab until replacements arrive, just secure the hose at another point temporarily.

WilliamSilver

iTrader: (6)

Just to chime in. I love my BBU from Scott and love it. No issues with the steering stop and I beat the hell out of mine with no issues

Manic Z

iTrader: (1)

So uh....I guess you love it? lol

WilliamSilver

iTrader: (6)

My DROID thinks it knows what I want to say. But yeah I do love it. I do braking drills from time to time and they've held up well to the abuse with these bosch brakes

BOTTLEDZ28

iTrader: (9)

I have searched and searched but I cannot seem to find the picture that shows what modifications are needed to get the C5 brakes on the spindle. Does anyone have the spindle mod diagram and the bracket diagram? id like to save myself a few dollars and do some of the work myself before I go and spend some money on the C5 brakes from BBU.

zenish

search 'luke'

BOTTLEDZ28

iTrader: (9)

I got it now. Thanks.

evo-offer

whats the difference between c5 brakes and ls1?

zenish

http://lukeskaff.com/?page_id=355

BlackenedBird

iTrader: (5)

A lot of the decision is usually dependent on the wheels on the car but C5.....

• Pressure cast calipers vs. the LS1 gravity cast (less chance of caliper bridge spread)
• Larger diameter rotors have more leverage vs smaller
• C5 rotors are left and right specific with curved vents that advance the airflow through the rotor more effectively
• Caliper clocking and abutment bolt spread allow the retention of the spindles stock steering stop
• Many bolt on options for the base setup including all C5 variants and all C6 variants 12.75, 13.4, 14 inch rotors and 2- 6 piston calipers plus CTS-V brembo`s bolt on.

The LS1 has it`s advantages as well..

• Fits under a typical 16 inch wheel
• Larger width rotor than other stock type 16 inch rim capable upgrades
• Expense to performance ratio
• Bolt on options of 2010+ Camaro brake parts (with minor modifications and wheel size increase)

Both base kits as you can see can be up-fitted if needed and both offer advantages the other cannot.

TallTim

iTrader: (2)

+1 for Scott at BBU. He's still in the groove. Ran my new LS1 upgrade at auto-x this weekend and made a huge improvement over stock.