After reading the post on the C4 brake upgrade, it really inspired me to see if I can convert my poor v6 front rotors and rear drums to 1LE brakes. Anyone have the part numbers for the Calipers, rotors, and all the other items i'll need? THanks.

 

Just found them all over at 1le.net. How much more of an improvement is the 1LE brakes over the Stock 11.7" LT1 brakes? Im thinking of either going LT1 brakes or 1LE. I know how the rear conversion will go but which of the two (lt1/1LE) front conversion will be more difficult? Thanks.

 

Most everything is here:

http://www.ws6transam.org/1LEbrake.html


Ed

 

Thanks.

 

So are you doing the C4 or 1LE upgrade? Big difference in money with them...

Ed

 

I thinking im going to do the LT1 rear conversion. That seems like a pretty straight forward swap as I can re-use just about everything on my rear with the modification of putting disks on drums. As far as the front im not sure if I should use the 1LE or LT1 either, the 1LE writeup you linked wasn't very specific on what to cut because im not sure what he did. I don't think i'll go with the c4, I dont need super performance stopping power, but I need to upgrade my v6 rotors to something a lot bigger with the lt1 now.

 

Anyone know if the LS1 front brake conversion is the exact same as the 1LE conversion as far as modifying the spindles?

EDIT: Also, if I just purchased the LS1 front brakes and spindles, would these be a bolt up?

 

It's VERY close but not exactly. The LS1s are a tighter fit due to the larger piston bores and castings and require a bit more clearancing on the lower bracket mount area. Other than that, it is the same. I use smaller bolts on that area on the LS1s than on the C4s since it's not a concern with them (C4s).

If you are referring to buying the spindles from an LS1 car, then no they won't just bolt up. 3rd and 4th gen front suspensions are two totally different designs. 4th gens use hubs, not spindles as we know them. Also, LS1 hubs must be 5.9" or smaller and the C4s can be just a bit bigger, almost 6" even in diameter. There's lots of small quirks to them both.


Ed

 

Thanks miller, I may just end up doing 1LE front and LS1 rear in that case.

 

Personally, I'd look into the 12" or now 13" C4s and 12" LT1 rear brakes and here's why:

The C4s will give you at least 1LE performance and a hub/rotor combo and the 1LEs give you a one piece rotor, which = messing with brearings every time you swap rotors;

LT1 rears: More of a bolt on swap than the LS1s since you don't have to mess with a different style of e-brake cable mountings, and the LS1s, from feedback I've heard from guys installing them, have the trend to drag on the inner brake drums if it's not lined up just right on the axle tubes. They say it goes away after a while but that means your brake pads are wearing away at the same time and that's not right. When considering how "little" the rears do, the LT1s are plenty, and will be cheaper to install overall.


Ed, just my opinions

 

Thanks for the advice, I really don't feel like messing with wheel bearings so I may just do that. I mean, I don't need super performance, I just need something that can stop this v8 incase of an accident instead of the puny v6 brakes it has on it right now. Let me read up some more on your thread, I can get a LT1 rear conversion for just $150. I'll have to check out what you did with the c4.

EDIT: Was your advice to go with a LT1 rear? I was just thinking of doing what the tech article did and modify the axle to accept a rear disc setup. I really don't want to replace my rear, just swapped in a SLP take off and if I buy a lt1 rear (since there are none around here) i'd have to pay freight =/.

 

FYI, all '82-92cars got the same 10.5" single piston, iron caliper brakes regardless of whether they had a V6 or V8 UNLESS the car was a 1LE, then it got the good brakes.

I was talking about the LT1 rear brakes only, not the whole rear. Keep your rear, especially since you've done those mods to it.


Ed

 

Thanks again miller, you have any experience in going from drums to disks yourself?

 

Pasky,

You really need to do a search on 1LE and C4 brakes in this forum...it will answer a lot of your questions, including Ed's experience. As you will find out, Ed was one of the pioneering members (along with a few others) in making these swaps possible.


Quote: Thanks for the advice, I really don't feel like messing with wheel bearings so I may just do that. I mean, I don't need super performance, I just need something that can stop this v8 incase of an accident instead of the puny v6 brakes it has on it right now."


The V6 vs V8 brake question shows that you haven't even researched this yet. You aren't driving a Mustang after all



Also, do you realize that the way the stock setup is now, the rotor and hub are integrated and changing the rotor DOES mean messing with the wheel bearings...that is a benefit to the C4 vs 1LE. Also, check out the cost of the C4 upgrade kit. I think you will find that it roughly half the cost of the 1LE kit and not much more than rebuilding your stock brakes completely.

I am not trying to lecture you here...but you need to either actually look at the brakes on your car (take the wheel off) or use the "SEARCH" button in this section.

HTH,

 

I have taken the brakes off and I was unaware the v8's came with a different brake setup until miller mentioned it, thier aren't a lot of third gens around here and the ones that are here there are very few 8's. I know the rotor is one piece which is why I agreed that I would try the c4 setup for the front, I understand what your trying to say however I have been researching it and know exactly what parts I need to get now, I was just curious on the last part if he had any advice in switching over to rear disks when modifying drums.

 

There are two different ways to do it with the rear brakes...understand that the LT1 brakes are the same as the 89 and up PBR rear brakes (aluminum, not iron like 82-88)

You can swap a complete rear end with the brakes intact or swap the components. In a nutshell, the only real downside to swapping in a 4th gen rear is that it is about 1-2" wider.

Searching on "4th Gen axle swap" and "PBR brakes" and "drum to disk" in the Suspension forum will give you all the threads you need...

HTH,

 

Wait here dude...there is no different brake setup for V8 vs V6!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The front brakes are ALL THE SAME unless you had 1LE brakes (almost negligible). You could get a V8 with iron 10.5" fronts and drums...or the same fronts and 10.5" iron caliper disks, or starting in 89, the larger 11.65" rotors (in the rear) with aluminum PBR calipers. Simply put, that is it.

 

Yes, I've done rear brakes too. I did the front LS1 and rear PBR brake systems on this member's car:

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=231926

For pics of those brakes, look here:

http://www.team3rdgen.com/modules.ph...view_album.php

For a how to on drum to disc swaps, look at what you'd be getting into here. I know it's an article on LS1s but you'd have to do the same steps for a drum flange rear:

https://www.thirdgen.org/newdesign/t...reardisc.shtml

Ed

 

Read that a long time ago and already know what to do about the rear, was just wondering from you experience if anything on thier wasn't covered, thanks again.

 

Sigh I already know all this, and already stated I don't want to swap the rear, and your last post was redundant, miller took care of the v6 v8 brake misunderstanding I had.

 

Nope, that will cover it...it's fairly straightforward when you get into it. Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions.

Ed

 

Who ever thought that educating you in stereo would be a bad thing?

Most people who don't search usually have a hard time accepting info from just one source...I am not picking on you specifically...just want to make sure you have the info.