Thirdgen 1LE's, C4HD's, LS1's, LT1's, and C5's/C6's all have their own unique front brakes, but how do they all compare to each other?

In performance and price? The C5/C6's seem to be the most expensive, and it seems like all of them require turning down the stock rotors into hubs and then modifying the spindles and making new brackets, so none are really any easier to do.

So then... since Im thinking the vette setup is quite a ways out of my price range, how do the LS1 brakes compare to the C4HD and thirdgen 1LE brakes? anyone know? 1LE brake parts seem to be quite expensive, and I would bet the C4HD's are even worse. So I was going to do the LS1 thing. Seems like I can cobble an LS1 setup together fairly easily and cheaply, but I worry they wont work as well as the older "performance" brake systems.

 

1LE is probably the cheapest bang for the buck, you dont need turned down hubs, parts are still mostly available. HUGE improvement over stock.

 

That's interesting, I had thought the 1LE's required a turned down hub also... but I guess it makes sense that they don't.

Either way, for me having a rotor turned into a hub won't cost much, the bigger concern is modifying the spindles as that seems to be a pretty intense job, and all of them require that.

Also getting the brackets made... Im not sure how much a machine shop would charge to make something like that. but doing it myself isn't an option. However the 1LE brackets exist, which is a point in their favor.

LS1 spindles/brackets/hubs cost $315 from bigbrakeupggrade.com , I will presume ebmiller has similar prices. 1LE Caliper brackets and adapter brackets are about the same price from the places I've checked, but they dont include the modified spindle.

I seem to be able to find pairs of LS1 calipers for about $50-$100. LS1 rotors are $60 a piece new.

1LE Rotors are hard to find it seems. I cant even find anything I can confirm to be 1LE rotors except for some that dont have a price listed. Not sure what to make of that.

I'm not sure the 1LE setup is any cheaper anymore. I have a feeling it probably was, but the LS1 parts are too common now I think.

LS1 calipers - $100 pair
1LE calipers - $80-$150 a pair

LS1 rotors - $60 per + old rotors turned down
1LE rotors - ???

LS1 adapter brackets - $60
1LE adapter bracket - $120 (This seems like a hell of a ripoff if you ask me)

LS1 Caliper carrier - comes with caliper usually
1LE Caliper carrier - $200 pair

LS1 kit excluding calipers/rotors - $315 and done, $205 if you modify your own spindles
1LE kit excluding calipers/rotors - $325 + modifiying spindle

Not really sure what to make of it until I find out how much the 1LE rotors cost... but Im guessing it's a good bit more than the LS1 rotors.

 

1LE's don't require a turned-down hub.

Modifying the spindles is straightforward and certainly not difficult. Check the following link for a how-to:

http://web.archive.org/web/200605221.../1LEbrake.html

I purchased my last set of 1LE rotors and bearings from Advance Auto, IIRC. They were ordered in, but certainly weren't difficult to come across. I don't recall price offhand.

JamesC

 

I can get a sawzall or a grinder to cut off the horns. But I dont have the equipment to mount the spindles in a drill press and get the holes lined up perfectly. Not sure I have the tap either, but I might.

 

I didn't use a press. The existing holes pretty much act as a guide. The tap, if you don't have one, is inexpensive. While I drilled and tapped with the spindle off-car, some members performed the operation on-car, as I recall.

JamesC