OK, I've done the LS1 rear disc brake swap and I've seen people doing the C4 and C5 front brakes, but how about LS1 F-body front brakes? Has anyone out there done this? Can it be done relatively easy? I know you probably think that I should just go ahead with the C4 or C5 swap, but if I'm going to do this, I'd like to have the fronts match the rears. Thanks for any help.

 

Talk to Ed Miller. He can fill you in on all the pros and cons on using LS1 brakes up front. I'm pretty sure using GTA wheels will be a problem though.

 

Try this link for more info.

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=183169

I have the LS1s on the front and rear.

Jerry

 

It all depends on your wheel size and style. Give us more info on what wheels you plan on using.

 

As for wheels, currently I'm running the 16x8 WS6 style crosslace wheels. In the future, I plan to upgrade to Corvette Grand Sport 17x9 fronts and 17x11 rears using Skulte spacers. Am I correct in assuming the LS1 F-Body brakes will fit in my 16x8 wheels? Thanks again for the help.

 

Without using a 3/16" or so thin spacer between your GTA mesh wheel and the rotor, they won't fit...there's interference between the back side of the wheel and the outer edge of the caliper. I'm currently working on another LS1 setup that will go on a car with GTA wheels and I'll post pics of it later this week. If you go to the different set of wheels that you mentioned, you'll be fine. As for spacers, I'd go with a 2" only spacer up front and not the 2.25" thick that guys usually run with 4th gen or C5 wheels.

Pics of the interference I found is on Page 7 of the big LS1 brake thread:


https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...0&pagenumber=7

Ed

 

Thanks for the help with the wheel clearance issue. I skimmed over those seven pages and gathered some good information. I also discovered a problem...

I don't know/trust any local machine shops to perform the hub mods or make the caliper brackets. The one shop I trust is terribly overpriced and a month behind on their work (my short block is sitting there now).

Do any of the people that have done the LS1 conversion offer kits? If not, can they get me just the hubs and brackets? Thanks for the help.

 

I would recommend waiting to upgrade the brakes till you get the GS wheels. That way to can run the larger C5 brakes.

And as far as you wanting to match the front brakes with the rears, C5 rears are the same as LS1 rears.

 

PM ED

 

This comment started the gears spinning in my brain, so the other day while I wasn't busy at work (Wyatt-Johnson Buick, Pontiac, GMC), I had one of our parts guys look up part numbers for C5 rear brakes and LS1 rear brakes (we looked up calipers, rotors, and pads to keep things simple). Nothing matched. I was surprised to find out that the rotors for the C5 rear brakes are left and right specific. Am I looking up the wrong stuff or are the C5 rears not really the same as the LS1 rear brakes?

 

Here's a pair of Vette rear calipers from Ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...sPageName=WDVW

Now here's the LS1 calipers from the tech article on the home page:

http://members.fbody.com/86firebird/ls1/ls1brakes.htm

They look like the same damn thing to me. Both single piston, both have the same casting marks and "PBR" in the same spot. It would be worth it to me to try and find out.


Ed

 

First link:

 

Second link:

 

The differences are most likely do to the vettes having IRS and the fbodys having a 10 bolt. The design is the same, yet mount differently, hence the different p/ns.

Its like the 3rd gen 1LE calipers and the C4HD calipers. Same thing, just a different spot where the banjo bolt goes in, so different p/ns.

But from a braking stand point, they are the same. And just looking at them, they are the same. How they bolt on is different. And I guess they have directional rotors too.

 

Back to the front brakes....

A lot of guys have asked if the LS1 brakes fit into stock 16" Formula wheels. Yes they do, and with no interference as there is with the GTA mesh wheels. They fit great. Here's a pic of the wheel on a LS1 kit I sent out this afternoon. I also made this similar post in the huge LS1 thread over in FAQ:

 

You know i got looking at work and i can get LS1 front calipers for 26 dollars unloaded tho only way i can getem. Would it be too much of an exspence to change from my 1Le's. I know the rotors will cost me more but man 26 for the calipers isnt bad. Where could i get a bracket and hub?? and how much. Also would they brake much better then 1Le's u think. Ahh **** wait it would be a lil more cause i dont have a core.

 

The caliper is a little better but its still just a 12" rotor.