So i thought i would just give everyone a heads up that is looking to convert to LS1 brakes using there existing hubs.

I started my LS1 front brake swap last week by cutting my existing rotors off with a hacksaw and smoothening them out with a grinder. i then brought them down to my local machine shop to get the diameter shaved down enough on a lathe to fit inside the LS1 rotor.

Last night i started pressing the new longer studs in place and when i did, every stud was cracking the hub.

THIS HAPPENED ON BOTH OF THEM!

My only conclusion is that they were cheap chinese junk rotors from what i researched on the tag on the hub.

I dont want to see someone else go through all the work of doing thhis to have it be ruined. This morning i ended up purchasing a set from bigbrakeupgrade.com that are ready to go but that set me back another $153...

 

This is one reason why many of us always recommend purpose built hubs. The reality is all factory replacement rotors are made from low grade iron. Low grade iron has poor mechanical properties but some properties that make them an ideal choice for friction surfaces. Remember these were never designed to be cut down in the first place.

Another thing to consider is the size of the hole in the rotor vs the size required by the studs. Did yours match? Pressing a stud into an undersized hole will cause what you are seeing.

 

Wow, sorry that happened to you but thanks for posting pictures.

 

the first thing i checked was to make sure the studs matched the size of the hub holes and they did. apparantly they were just made of low grade iron. Its unfortunate but oh well. My Brother did the same thing to his and didnt have any problems, guess i just had junk.

 

I have heard of people putting there studs in the freezer and the hubs in the oven then pressing the studs in and not having any trouble, they do the same thing with the axles and axle bearings on a ford 9 inch.

just a thought.

Thanks for the info, sorry this happened to you.

 

Its also a good idea to install the new studs b4 you mod the rotor.
And when pressing in the new studs, try to line up the new stud splines with the old splines in the rotor.

 

The question then is though. If all of this is necessary just so the hub doesn't crack when installing new studs, is it really a suitable hub to begin with? I know my answer.

 

Nope. Even factory hubs can fail during the mod process. B
I run aluminum hubs on mine..

 

9014josh- The rotors that you had issues with, are they parts store replacement, eBay specials or GM parts?

 

Scott over at Bigbrakeupgrade.com is a sound guy, great craftsmanship, and has being doing it for I think 10 yrs this yr actually. Great prices and products.

 

i did recieve the hubs from scott and they are great, good Quality piece.

Tibo- I wasnt the last person to do front brakes so i do not know where they came from but the markings on them lead back to china when i look them up on the internet so they are def not GM to answer your question.