Brake pads for Pontiac Trans Am GTA 5.7? - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

shone190 · 11-18-2009, 07:59 AM

Is it possible that brake pads for Pontiac Firebird GTA 5.7 1988 are the same for front and rear disks?

I saw on SummitRacing this model of brake pads: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SU...%7cLiter%7c5.7

As you can see, the sam pads fit on rear axle and front axle!?!

I need to order brake pads for both axle, but I don't want to make a mistake

Does anybody knows is this a right choice for my GTA?

I didn't change brake rotors on both axles, so it's as they put in factory

Thank you all in advance.

Best regards!

madmax · 11-18-2009, 08:39 AM

Its possible to use the front pads in the back, but they do make specific ones for the rear. The backing plate is slightly different, only makes installing the caliper a little easier. I would not use the same material in the back as the front though, stick to an organic for the rear or your braking power will change from not much from the back to almost nothing from the back.

shone190 · 11-18-2009, 09:12 AM

I will order complete package (rotors, calipers, pads...) for front and rear brakes at the end of next year, but until that I need to buy any kind of brake pads if I want to drive GTA

At the moment, brake pads are some "home made"

, because last owner didn't want to buy a new one

So, I won't make a mistake if order the same pads for both axles?

madmax · 11-18-2009, 09:32 AM

They will fit, but it would be better to use a softer compound on the rear. Otherwise they are never going to run hot enough to work very well.

The difference in the pad itself is this:
http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/at...t-come-pad.jpg

Cut at the red line, its suddenly a rear pad. Its just an ease of installation thing, but will not prevent installation if you dont cut it.

shone190 · 11-18-2009, 09:55 AM

Thank you very much, I will consider your advice next time when I'll buy complete brake system, for now, this is quite enough

Stephen · 11-18-2009, 10:35 AM

Sometimes I think I have the ONLY iron rear caliper brake system in the world that works (stock 87 4-wheel discs).

A couple of years ago I had a deer run out ahead of me, while doing 65mph. I locked up all 4 tires, so obviously the rears were doing their job, in clamping.