Apeiron

You can get new parking brake actuators for cheaper than you can get new rear calipers, if you don't mind rebuilding your calipers.

[This message has been edited by Apeiron (edited June 09, 2001).]

pvknight

2 not-at-fault accidents, both when I was not speeding and the other BLIND oncoming driver made a left across my lane. The first incident left decent (front tire only) locked up streaks and I unsuccessfully dodged left ('89 2.8l Firebird, RIP), the second incident was yet another unsuccessful dodge, to the right, in my current '91 TA, this time I got 4 streaks (whoop dee do ) So, IMHO, I'd bet on our handling and reaction time over our brakes to avoid accidents.

My brakes have, however, served quite nicely on some highway blind-corner-traffic-jam panic stops. As for the swerving Volvo wagon behind me who I could tell wasn't paying attention even before the jam, well... let's just say she ended up next to me on the shoulder left of the fast-lane.

+ watchout for brake fade, 1 hour 95-100deg weather highway stop-go did wonders with 3 passengers. I had to literally stand up to stop the car.

vette9190

iTrader: (2)

First off I live near Chicago and anyone can tell you our expressways have a tendincy to go from 60 MPH to standstill quicker then a woman can turn into a b****. That said I have had four Thirdgens, all have had rear drum all were stock. My first a 92 Fbird could lock up all four at the drop of a hat. Second an 87 Cam the rear drums bearly work eave after a full rebuild, we found this out will testing the rear after a gear swap, but the front would lock. I wont get into the 83 z28(not nice in any aspect). Fourth my current car(91 RS) which is why I,m here. After doggin my buddy who thought his ranger was hot s@#&, I had to get on the brakes hard(90 MPH) because the road was ending. I was standing on the brakes and they never locked up i almost hit the trees at the end of the road. From the Road sign were i started braking to the point were i stopped was over 400 feet. I read a lot of mags and most cars stop in just over 200 from that speed. So i say they definetly suck. Thats why I,m looking for cheap upgrades.

texasgt

I drive a 2000 Mustang GT daily. When I jump in my IROC for a weekend outing I am not really excited about my Baer setup. Dont get me wrong, they are great brakes, its just shows how technology and quality have advanced in 17 years. I cant imagine having the stock setup on the Camaro. I would think that they do suck, especially if you drive a newer vehicle.

88Roc350TPI

I'm trying to make sense of everything written here and I can't come up with anything. AndyZ28 keeps saying that his 1LE brakes are the bomb and the greatest thing to come along since sliced bread and that the regular brakes don't have enough clamping force and bla bla bla, but how much better can you get beyond locking the wheels? Once you lock the wheels it's the tires stopping the car, not the brakes. I suppose they need to come out with 1LE tires?? Or maybe throw a boat anchor out the back? Now....there are several here that can't lock their fronts up? Well.....I couldn't on mine either, UNTIL I REPLACED THE BRAKE HOSES. As far as brake fade goes, get some GOOD pads and they won't fade. Not stopping fast enough but your fronts do lock? It's the backs not working, you could put 50 1LE calipers on the front of it and it's not going to help. Get TOO much braking force on the front of it and even if the backs were working they arent going to do anything because inertia is going to take the traction away from the back wheels. In a perfect world, you are going to get exactly the same brake force from side to side, and you want your fronts to lock just before the backs do, and if it will do all of that for you then there is no way to make the braking better unless you improve TRACTION. Lets all think of our 10 year old + hydralic system before condemning the front brakes. And do the updates on the rear calipers if you have pre-89 4 wheel disc. End of soapbox rant.