98+ CAMARO “LS1” Brakes: Bigger & Better Period

[lock]

Did some one call? Im game Ed. Give me a PM if you want. I need brakes and have pretty much ditched the C5 idea due to the lower cost of LS1.

[BMmonteSS]

Just out of curiosity how much did you guys pay for your calipers out of the junk yard?

I was able to trick the guys at the local late model yard into charging me less for a set of "camaro SS" calipers. Around here if it's a performance car everything is performance down to the windshield wipers and cost more. I found out the exchange number and just asked for it instead of giving them an application and they quoted me 30 bucks a caliper, there normal price for non "performance" parts. Once the yard found out how much the guys at the front desk charged for the "performance" parts they had a cow and litteraly refused to pull them off the car. Since I had already paid they had to give me my calipers.

Now for the technical info, when the guy at the front desk relized what I had asked for he went and looked up what the part was for and found out that some newer midsize cars also came with the same calipers. I'm not sure if the mounting bracket that came with them is the same or not but the caliper is the same. You might want to look into that. I'm sorry but I lost the exchange number so i'll have to figure out what it is again.

[MrDude_1]

Originally posted by BMmonteSS
Just out of curiosity how much did you guys pay for your calipers out of the junk yard?

I was able to trick the guys at the local late model yard into charging me less for a set of "camaro SS" calipers. Around here if it's a performance car everything is performance down to the windshield wipers and cost more. I found out the exchange number and just asked for it instead of giving them an application and they quoted me 30 bucks a caliper, there normal price for non "performance" parts. Once the yard found out how much the guys at the front desk charged for the "performance" parts they had a cow and litteraly refused to pull them off the car. Since I had already paid they had to give me my calipers.

Now for the technical info, when the guy at the front desk relized what I had asked for he went and looked up what the part was for and found out that some newer midsize cars also came with the same calipers. I'm not sure if the mounting bracket that came with them is the same or not but the caliper is the same. You might want to look into that. I'm sorry but I lost the exchange number so i'll have to figure out what it is again.

knowing GM, i have no doubt in my mind that at least one other non Fbody car has these calipers.

[novass]

well, I am about to get started on my conversion, Still need to locate two old set of rotors to turn down. Starting to get the itch. Where would you recommend to get cheap rotors?

Advanced auto has them for $26 bucks new. A possibility would be to get the 2 from advanced and use my originals for the project.

Here is a pic of some of the parts I have collected. (you can also see the t-5 rebuild happen in the background. So many projects, so little time)

[z28cdoyle]

novass,
That work bench looks like mine at any given time; parts all over from some project. Have fun with the upgrade. If I remember correctly you're also located in the frozen tundra that is the Northeast. How many days till we can get our cars out of the garage?

BMmontess,
I paid $31 for both calipers, the carriers and a set of street pads that were in the calipers. I called the yard to ask the price and they told me about $30. I walked in prepared to pay $30 per caliper since I was getting the carriers and all the associated hardware. When they charged me $31 for the entire setup I practically ran out the door before they could change their mind and charge me more.

Chuck

[z28cdoyle]

Oh yeah, the latest update on my progress.
I bolted an extension to my steering stops to prevent the banjo bolts from hitting the A arm at full lock.

I "gravity bled" the front brakes (I ordered a Phoenix Injector system after reading about it here on the board, but it hadn't arrived yet). I pressed the brake pedal a few times and did not have any trouble moving all 4 pistons into contact with the pads. I have the stock master cylinder (J65 4 wheel disc). I was wondering whether this master would move enough fluid to activate 4 pistons on the front instead of 2. Now I don't expect any trouble or any need to change the master cylinder.

I also installed the recall kit in my J65 rear calipers...wow...why didn't I do this years ago? I will actually be able to run at the track all day without having to pull the rear wheels to adjust those stupid rear calipers.

Chuck
(reporting from frozen Pennsylvania, waiting for spring)

[slayer2000]

Hey Chuck, Those shims work all right? Sorry they looked kinda crappy but they were just so thin it was hard to work with them.

[ebmiller88]

$31 for BOTH calipers???? Holy crap!! To answer questions, I've paid @ $125 for the front calipers and rotors (Ebay).

Monte, please find that exchange number!!!


I wasn't able to get them installed as I had thought. No parts store carries the rebuild kits as of yet, so I called Dal: GM caliper rebuild kits, not that they'd really need them yet, are @ $8 per piston for a total of @ $40 per set after shipping, so if you want them rebuilt, add $40 to your cost. New rotors can be had from Rock Auto for a nice price, too.

Chuck, got any pics of that mod you did?

Ed

[z28cdoyle]

Ed,
I don't have any pics of the steering stop mod yet. I don't have a digital camera so I have to borrow one from work to take photos. I will get some to post in the next few days.

Andy,
I sent you an e-mail message about the spacers. One of the post office machines destroyed the envelope and the spacers were gone when what was left of the envelope arrived.

[ebmiller88]

Where would you recommend to get cheap rotors?

www.rockauto.com

About the best prices I've seen for parts and lightning fast shipping. I get my rotors from them.

Ed

[novass]

Originally posted by ebmiller88
www.rockauto.com

About the best prices I've seen for parts and lightning fast shipping. I get my rotors from them.

Ed

thanks ed!

[slayer2000]

chuck, I got your email but I've been out of town. I'm sorry to hear about the spacers being lost and I can make some more no problem. The only thing is I probably can't get to them until tuesday or so. Is that okay? We're just so backed up right now I don't have access to a free lathe right now.

[BMmonteSS]

I'm about done with my LS-1 brake swap, I just finished up the fab work last night. My setup is basically just like what you guys are doing only my adapter bracket is different to accept the g-body spindle. Here is a shot of the setup in my RS wheels, and a link to my photo's page.

http://photos.yahoo.com/bmmontess

[ebmiller88]

NICE! Those look like new calipers and carriers. Just curious, where did you get them and where? You can PM me if you want to keep it private. I got a quote from Dal on new calipers for $88 each new, but I don't think they will come with the carriers.

Ed

[BMmonteSS]

LOL They do look new don't they. Actually they are used but I painted them with aluminum high heat engine paint. I wasn't going to paint the calipers because I had them half pollished up and they looked pretty good. But after I painted the carrier I had to paint the calipers it just looked way too good. I got my used calipers from a place called Jordons auto parts, any one in PA might have heard of them, fairly large wrecked auto company, I paid 60 bucks for these calipers, but I can get as many sets as I want for about 100 bucks a pair. Read my other post above for the reasoning behind the price change. I would be willing to get a few sets and ship them out if you guys don't mind paying for the shipping and say a 5 doller handling fee, for the packaging.

I checked on new calipers, they were going to be about 90 bucks a piece with the core charge, and I checked with GM and the carrier is 90 bucks a piece as well.

[z28cdoyle]

Andy,
Next week is fine on the spacers. Actually, I'll be out of town on business for a few days next week myself.

Here are some pics of the steering stop mod I did to prevent the banjo bolts from hitting the A arm at full steering lock.

[z28cdoyle]

Another view of the steering stop mod.

[ebmiller88]

Ah...now I see. I'll have to see what mine does when we get around to installing it.

I just got off the phone with TA Creations in Florida (http://www.tacreationsusa.com/) and they charge $100/pr for the LS1 calipers with carriers if anyone wanted another source for them.


Ed

[ebmiller88]

Hey Chuck...here's a pic I posted back on page 4 of some calipers some of us saw on Ebay a while back. Note where the brake line comes off. These style calipers would take care of the banjo bolt problem. Also note the difference in bolt pattern of the carrier, much closer together than ours are. I think these are Holden calipers as the seller was in Australia:

[BMmonteSS]

These could be the same calipers that are on the bonevilles that my wrecking yard told me cross referenced to the camaro calipers. They would be worth looking into. Any one want to go to their GM dealer and see if the carrier is the same part number as the camaro piece?

[z28cdoyle]

Ed,
These calipers may eliminate some issues. I'll stick with what I have though. If I turn my steering wheel to full lock in the driveway or in a spinout at the race track (oh yeah, I forgot, that never happens to me), my tires crush my brake ducts. I can use the steering stop extensions to prevent this.

[ebmiller88]

I'm gonna get with Dal and see what he thinks. Chuck, I'm sticking with what I have too, if it ain't broke....

Nice mods there, too. 1/4" plate cut to fit?

Ed

[ebmiller88]

Good news!! Just got my hands on a GTA front crosslace wheel to test the LS1s and C4s in. I'll post results by this weekend, with pics.

Ed

[Redbird87]

Ed, Would you like to get rid of that front GTA wheel when you are done with it?? I need one for my 87 redbird. I went the route and bought most of everything for the 1le set-up before you fellows worked out using the new calipers. Wish I had waited!!! Dave.

[ebmiller88]

Sorry, Dave. First off it's bent, but fixable. Second, it's borrowed. I just got it to test my brakes.

Ed

[Redbird87]

Thanks for the reply, Ed. Dave

[z28cdoyle]

If I remember correctly Ed the steering stop extensions are 3/16" steel I had in my shed. There's nothing like looking around the garage or backyard shed and finding something you can use.

[luke j]

hey all, i just started looking into doing this swap about a week ago. i also just got the ok to do it 2 days ago from the wife, aka whip-cracker. i have the gta wheels and i am glad i saw this before i bought all of the stuff. i guess i will wait until i know if they clear everything. i am getting new rotors and loaded calipers through my work, new car dealership, for about $200. i am also bidding on a set on e-bay. i want to make sure it all fits before i do it because i am doing the swap at work and i only have about 4 hrs to do it in per day. i will try to do only 1 side at a time. i am not driving it everyday since there is all of that darn white stuff on the ground. i am a technician so all of my tools and stuff are at work, but then again so are the lifts. i'll keep my eyes glued to this.

p.s.
this web site rules, it is my homepage

[ebmiller88]

"Whip-cracker"...that's funny. Hope she never reads this. Anyhoo, welcome aboard.

OK, got pics and fitment info. I have good news and bad news. Good news is: C4s clear GTA crosslace wheels no problem. Bad news is LS1s won't clear without a 3/16" spacer. Good news is that w