I'm currently converting to LS1 brakes.

I would like opinions on caliper placement and why, I don't like the staggered positions of the stock placement of the rear calipers.

Since there are many combinations, I'd rather just hear what those interested, or already have LS1s have done.

 

Early rear discs are clocked differently, but 89-97 brakes are positioned to the rear, LS1's to the front.

JamesC

 

so I can't clock the fronts, don't even no why I thought I could, but would have liked them outboard.
Now the rear I can, so I'd still like some opinions on that.
I am leaning to clocking them in board above center line (mirror image to fronts.)

 

LS rear calipers are already in front of the axle.

 

True.

Does anyone have pictures of an'88 with stock '98 brackets and placed to the front of the axle?

 

This is on my 89, left rear with 98-02 LS1 discs. I also have the pictures leading up to this during my swap if you'd like to see them.

 

Please

 

Here you go...

Axle removed ready to install backing plate


Backing late with parking brake shoe


Axle reinstalled


Rotor installed


Caliper bracket installed over rotor


Finished view through wheel

 

I have around 70 of the exact same images from my swap except I was converting from drum brakes so I had to cut/drill.

 

Mine actually started out with drums and a 3.08 posi rear gear. I found a posi disc rear with 3.23 gears at the junk yard from an 83 Trans Am and did the swap, the brakes never worked that great though. I have since upgraded the posi carrier to an Eaton unit and changed the gears to 3.73 along with the current LS1 brake setup.

I love these brakes, they're the perfect match to the C5 front brakes on the car.

 

Ok, while the fronts are cooking, rears are now a priority.
I posted with a picture about axle bearings. You can see the huge difference in how the bearing is retained between a Posi and Open diff. The stock bracket is twice as thick as the '88 backing plate and would make it difficult to center the caliper carrier if not impossible.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tran...part-rear.html
Any suggestions? buying a custom bracket it not an option, I need the parking brake.

 

Ok for now I'm opting out on the P-Brake.
I modified the 9-Bolt bearing retaining flange by rounding the corners as close as possible to the nut and circular.
I machine an area center to the LS1 Bracket to the thickness of the 9-Bolt caliper plate and to a diameter wide enough to allow the bearing flange to recess to the proper depth. I also had to bore the mounting holes in the LS1 bracket to match the 9-Bolt bearing flange which has a larger bolt circle. I bought a 5 brake hose & hardware kit from Kore3, replaced the fittings on the inner hard lines to mate with the new hoses.
The back of the LS1 bracket also needed to be widen to allow the 9-Bolt axle tube flange to sit flush without rounding the flange corners.
When I tear it down to powder coat I'll install the P-Brake system.






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