Bottom line, my brakes suck. I've got the stock single piston fronts, and the PBR aluminum rears. Pretty sure the master is going bad, and everything else short of pads and rotors are original with 150k plus miles.

I have Earl's front and rear lines, new rotors, new calipers and a new master, ready for install. Should I hold out for the LS1 swap, or do the OE replacement? I know I know, I already bought the parts, but it's still a lot of work to have so-so brakes. I don't race, but I like a nice firm pedal, and I like feeling like I'm SAFE!!!

 

If you remember Chickenman35 he said he ran the stock brakes but with better pads for years and he ran the shet out of his car. [Just do a search]

He turned me on to the Bendix Titanium pads and they have been great so far. I was complaining about the Carbon Metallic's that I first installed with the 1LE upgrade I did. They did not stop for shet until very hot. I am fixing to install something similar to stock on the wifes 84Z. Earls lines and better pad's.

EDIT: after reading this today it sounded as if I meant the stockers are ok. They weren't to me or I would not have changed them to the 1LE's. To me it depends on how fast you drive at times.

 

You sound like me: questioning yourself after the fact (and spending more money in the process than you would've if planning had been better). Got PBR's all around. I'm happy with them.

JamesC

 

Yeah, but I don't have the PBR's. They're the stock single pistons. Cost was minimal really, so it's not about the money. If it was, I wouldn't have TWO CARS!!!!!

 

Then what are you waiting for?

JamesC

 

Unless you are going to take them back put them on.
Mine kinda suck too, but I know one of the rear drums was not doing anything, and I turned them both in a week ago to race it. But it's parked now.

If you think your MC is going it's not going to matter what pads, calipers, or lines you have, your brakes will suck.

 

Get the LS1 fronts.

My brakes SUCK---they won't lock up at 30mph and barely stop. Rather then wasting money on the factory junk...I am going with ebmillers LS1 front brake kit.


I don't road race I just want great stopping power--without losing my 16" rims

Install first week of June---I can't wait!

 

I can lock my front brakes and I think they suck.
So in my opinon you realy need to look at the whole system.
The stock brakes aren't that bad.

 

Stock brakes are bad, even when they're working good. C'mon Chris, upgrade that car man. Trust me, you'll be glad you did. The larger pad area of the LS1 and C5 pads is a world of difference over the stock stuff. You'll be thankful after your first panic stop and it feels like you threw out an anchor.

Do it...you know you want to.... LOL

Ed

 

 

My 2900lbs Cobalt has bigger brakes then my 3400lbs Firebird--food for thought. (yes the Firebird blows the Cobalt away)

 

....yeah, this is true!

....the issue is that a brake overhaul is needed ASAP, and I really have a lot of other areas that need attention. So much time and money doing "fun" things over the years, and now I have a lot of maintenance and repair and "not so fun" things that are needed.

 

Maintenance is just another word for upgrade. Always worked with the Mrs.

 

 

Stock brakes are real BAD. I didn't realize just how bad until I got LS1 front brakes.

Get the LS1s, you won't be Sorry!

 

Are the LS1's expensive? how much usually?

 

If I go with the LS1 front brakes can I still use my orginial 16 inch rims?

 

Yes. With Camaro wheels, no issues. With the crosslace wheels, you hafta use the OEM aluminum drum rear brake spacer, or do some grinding on the calipers. I've got my spacers hanging up & waiting! I picked them up BRAND NEW, so they aren't even used parts.
----------
Depends on if you buy everything as a bolt-on kit, or if you buy the parts used locally, and only order is the pieces you need, or can't make & modify yourself.

 

hehe...Mine woulda told me "If your gonna replace, spend a litle extra to upgrade, not go with 20 yr old technology!"

 

You're a lucky man.

 

Indeed, I don't think I would have got the same response..

more like this one

Ed

 

I would have gotten something along the lines of

 

I'd just upgrade to better brakes. I love my C5s, never come close to getting in an accident since those went on.

 

I want to do the LS1 brake swap, but I just cant afford that now (plus, what is the point of giant LS1 front brakes with rear drums ). I got a set of cross dilled and slotted stocker fronts with pad for a steal (cuz my fronts were warped REALLY REALLY bad, as in would shake the entire car and the steering wheel bounced probably 5 or 6 inches back and forth...)

The increase in stopping power was like night and day... so if stockers (D&S) work that well, I am almost scared to see how well the LS1s work...

Mine would say the same thing, the only problem is that we cant afford to spend the little extra right now... (living in southern cali sucks)

 

The front brakes do around 75-80% of the brake work so upgrading the fronts, even with rear drums, will do you a world of good. The increase of pad area on the LS1 and C5 brakes are a world of change over the stockers, I think you'd be pleasantly suprised.

Ed

 

This is probably a dumb question, but what is the difference between the LS1 Camaro and the C5 (LS1) Corvette brakes?

 

LS1 brakes only require a 16" wheel and the C5 brakes require a 17" wheel. The LS1s have a 12" rotor I believe and the C5 brakes have a 13" rotor. Basically the C5s stop better and look plain bad *** if you have 17" wheels.

 

Except in the case of the TT2 wheels, even with 17s you are still limited to the 12" rotor due to the shape/design of the spokes. And even then it's still tight.

 

Will the C5s will work with 17'' SLP ZR1s? (ones made specifically for 3rd gens)

 

Ed may be able to answer that, I only know about the issues with the TT2s as I was looking for an upgrade from my C4s to either C5s or LS1s up front and they wouldn't clear with anything larger than a 12" rotor.