I just got this month's issue of Car Craft and there's an article on SSBC's new Force 10 (FX2) series brakes for GM cars, including Camaros/Firebirds. They go as far as to say you can get them with slotted 12" rotors and the calipers bolt up to standard front spindles. They look sweet, come with EBC pads, and the package goes for about $350. I'm curious as to how they'd compare to the 1LEs performance wise. With no modifications necessary, it sound real sweet.

Along the same lines, maybe these calipers can bolt onto '88 and earlier rear disc systems...Hmmm. Aren't the calipers on these rears VERY close to the front iron calipers? I got rid of my '88 rear so I can't compare them.

Here's the link to the site and the info on them:

http://www.ssbrakes.com/products/#FX...20Brake%20Kits

I'll give them a call next week and post what I hear back from them.

Ed

 

I read the same article with great interest. I'll be interested in what the company's response is. Please post.

JamesC

By the way, many thanks for the pics of your 1LE upgrade.

 

I think your price of $350 is a little off..........all their kits approach $850-1250.

 

According to the article, the "Super Twin calipers retail for $395 with pads and hardward, or for a total of $550 you can add a set of plated and slotted 11-inch rotors. Powdercoating is also available for an additional charge."

JamesC

 

$350 is a damn good price but hard to believe. if they're that cheap i'd go otu and but them quick

 

John, that price is what they charge for their brake conversions and swap kits. The $350-550 price is what they quoted in the article for calipers/pads and rotors, that's all I know so far.

But if they can put 11" rotors in there, that's ALMOST an instant 1LE setup without the need to convert with all those brackets and such.

Again, my big question for them is the possibility of putting the calipers on the '88 and older disc rears that have the screw in style piston iron calipers. This would be a sweet setup to have on all 4 corners, IMO.

JamesC, thank you

Ed

 

Check this thread for more info about the kit. http://www.stainlesssteelbrakes.com/products/

Go to Quick Change Caliper Upgrade Kits.

JamesC

 

I did go there, I didn't see any pricing infor or fit information. It would be nice if it's that cheap.

 

Yeah, they don't list any pricing (which sucks). They also offer an emergency brake kit so I still think these should fit on the rear. It is described in the Force 10 FX4 kits.

Ed

BTW: The kits we should be interested in are the Quick Change Caliper Upgrade Kits.

 

i e-mailed them and i hope to a get a reply back tomorrow(monday)
i asked them what the price is, and will i need to modify the spindle any?

 

doesnt that use the stock 10in rotor

 

There is no mention of a spindle mod either in the Car Craft article or on the web site, but who knows. Any info is appreciated.

JamesC

 

Per the article, I understand that the kit uses the standard rotor unless you opt to upgrade to a 12" rotor. If they say you can upgrade the rotor, I don't see why you couldn't use a 1LE rotor and these calipers on the stock spindle with no mods necessary.

BUT...maybe the 1LE rotor would be too thick.

Guess we'll be asking a lot of questions for the tech guy, huh??

Ed

 

I Just spoke with them, it fits the stock rotor ONLY! he said its improves the braking by 10%. Their rotor upgrade is for the stock size, and if you want the cailper powder coated its additional 100.00 plus and it doesnt come with new brake hoses, so you have to use your old one, which defeats the purpose, IMO.

Its a nice option to have but I would upgrade to 1LE

 

When I read the website it didnt even mention 82-92 Camaro's. Do our cars really use the same setup as 1st gens?!

 

Doesn't SSBC sell a 1le brake kit for $1000?? Why would they sell a kit just as good for a third of the expensive kit??

 

Pretty much..single piston iron calipers. They're practically the same on all standard Gm cars and trucks. I think the iron calipers on my '93 4x4 would even bolt right up.

Zerstörer, that $1000 1LE kit comes with a lot of other stuff, including spindles, brackets, rotors, and other stuff. This kit (Quick Change Caliper Upgrade Kits) is just calipers and maybe pads.

Ed

 

You will never be able to go to 12" rotors (or likely 11 ones either) on the stock brake system spindles without having to at least cut the caliper mounting ears off...... Not that cutting them off is all that difficult, but just thought I would point that out. Those caliper only upgrades are nice and all, but I am interested in a seperate hub setup so rotor replacement becomes much easier (and cheaper). I had looked at the C5 option but am now talking with a friend of mine that does Wilwood kits for 4th gens about making a setup for 3rd gens......

 

Hey what month CarCraft did you see this in??? I look in Dec

 

December, page 78.

JamesC

 

Anybody getting some of these or does anyone think they it would be worth it?

 

I might but not for a while, I just replaced all hoses and front calipers on my RS a month ago. I didn't know about these or I probably would have.

Ed

 

Has this company been around for a while? Or are they pretty new? Do you guys think their brakes are comparable to Baer or other high performance kits (1LE, etc). I might be upgrading my brakes pretty soon and since I'm gonna be running 18" wheels I'm thinking about huge rotors front and back with dual piston calipers. Just wondering what you guys think about the quality of these kits. Thanks!!

 

Yes and yes. They have a good rep and their full upgrade kits would be comparable to Baer and 1LE, just a bit more $$ than the 1LE kit from Spohn and probably less $$ than a comparable Baer system.

Ed

 

thanks for the help Ed!!

 

I just got off the phone with them and got the same info as SLP_GTA did, so that's all I know. Looks like a great caliper upgrade but that's it. If you want/need bigger rotors and better braking power, looks like you're still looking at 1LE, Baer, or a complete SSBC upgrade.

Also, these won't replace the iron rear calipers which is what I was looking for. I think there would be HUGE market for good quality bolt-on replacement calipers for the pre-PBR calipers. If that could be done, a lot of disc rears could come up to par with the PBR disc rears.


Ed

 

But the Iron disc ones used smaller rotors, so you'd again just get a better caliper on the small 10.xx rotors, and need a new backing plate for it

As far as the front goes, for that price you could just about buy the aerospace components front kit, 10.25" rotors drilled, 4 piston calipers, etc, its like $5xx from jegs.

 

I was hoping these calipers would replace the rear calipers and just bolt in using the same rotor. Since the fronts do the majority of the work anyway, a good quality working caliper is all you'd really need to make the rears function properly. And if they just bolted in, no backing plate work would be needed.

Ed

 

All you need to do is find an '89 to '92 disc rear and get the parts from it. The factory rear aluminum brakes are actually pretty good. It's the fronts that suck.