Originally Posted in NYThirgen http://s9.zetaboards.com/nythirdgen/topic/9012235/1/

Hey everyone.

A few guys from the club asked me last night what it had costed me to complete the C5 Front Brake Upgrade for my 84 Camaro and what steps I took to complete it.

The whole reason for me doing this swap is that I wanted to make my car safe to drive. My family is expanding with a baby on the way, and I knew my car could use a complete overhaul in the braking / front suspension department. I had started researching this upgrade towards the end of last year and had been collecting parts over the winter.

The list that I am attaching with this post reflects what parts & part numbers were used to completing the swap. The pricing list is based mostly from Summit Racing, as well as Bigbrakeupgrade & Amazon. Most of the parts I used can also be ordered at any auto parts store. I'm sure everyone has their own source to find parts, I chose Summit Racing as my reference because their website is easy to look up information on parts and part numbers. The pricing list is not the cheapest route to obtain these parts, but more of a ballpark of what to expect to pay. I did NOT pay the total amount listed below. I shopped around and found deals on most of the larger parts. I listed what I paid towards the bottom of this write up.

***Something to think about when looking for parts***

Be aware that none of these prices listed below include shipping, which is why I used Summit Racing for most of my purchases. After you spend $99.00 at Summit, they automatically give you two day free shipping on most parts. You may find a better deal on another website, but shipping is usually the deal breaker.

Some of the things you must know prior to starting this project:
*You will need a minimum of a 17” wheel to fit the C5 front rotor and caliper on your car
*2” spacers are required in the front and rear, depending on if you have a 4th gen rear or not
*The price for the Hub and Brackets from Bigbrakeupgrade.com shown did NOT include the modification to the spindles. I modified my own to save $$$. Check the footnote below for more info.
*I replaced the entire front end suspension, it is not necessary, it is up to you
*You can reuse your factory brake lines if they are in good condition, (I strongly suggest replacing them though)
*You may or may not have to change your proportioning valve out (Depends on what setup you are running)
*Make sure to Torque everything to proper specs when reinstalling components
*If you have an aftermarket Sway Bar, you may have to file down any rough edges close to the strut
*If you replace front end components, you should get an alignment
*You will need to bleed your braking system

The points listed above is just a basic guideline I stuck to when preparing myself for this upgrade.

There are other options as well. Scott over at Bigbrakeupgrade.com sells a complete C5 Brake setup for $899.00 and a partial conversion setup that includes the spindles, hubs, bracket and hardware for $485.00. Both kits charge $100 core charge until you return your spindles. You can upgrade these options for additional. If you have any questions, he responds back within a day or so.

I pieced this setup together myself swapping in/out to parts of my choosing. I found deals on new unused parts and used specific parts based on my wants. There are plenty of other options and substitutes for parts, you can use Rockauto.com to cross reference numbers to help you with this.
The total based on my list adds up to $1,844.25 not including shipping and machine work. By shopping around and finding deals on parts, I spent a total of about $1040.00. That is total cost for me to do everything that I listed. I also modified my own spindles, and pressed in my own ball joints / bushing. I saved over $800.00 total based on the list.

I'm shooting to complete the swap in the next few weeks depending on my schedule. I will post up some more progress pictures and will add more info that I come across.

That covers the C5 Brake Upgrade.


There is another option that I recently completed with my father on his 86 Camaro. He wanted to stay on a stricter budget for his car and I am attaching another list of parts & pricing for everyone. Keep in mind, we are rebuilding his car on a budget, so some of the items he needed regardless of the upgrade.

Wilwood Dual Piston Caliper Setup.

Some of the things you must know prior to starting this project:
*Based on Wilwood, you should be able to keep the factory 15” wheels and have proper clearance
*We replaced the entire front end suspension on his car because everything was 20+ years old
*We replaced the brake lines, his old ones were shot.
*Make sure to Torque everything to proper specs when reinstalling components
*If you replace front end components, you should get an alignment
*You will need to bleed your braking system

The points listed above is just a basic guideline we stuck to when preparing ourselves for his upgrade.

Again, I based most of the pricing from Summit Racing & Amazon. Unlike the C5 parts list, we did try to make the most cost effective list for this swap by mixing some good quality parts and performance parts. I am sure you can find different prices cheaper if you search long enough, hopefully these lists help with that.

I hope this write-up answers any questions that you may have. If you have any questions, please feel free to comment below.

Thanks,
-Scott

 

How did the Wilwood setup work for you? I called Wilwood and they said this part number wont work for a third gen...

 

I think you just talked with a dunce

 

I was surprised when he told me that. I'm interested in doing a front brake upgrade and this looks like a nice potential option. I've heard of this kit being used and so I was confused after he told me it won't work on a third gen.

 

The overall size / body / and mounting is exactly the same. Its a dual piston over a single piston is the only difference.

 

How much of a difference in braking can you feel with these Calipers vs a C5 setup from bigbrakeupgrade.com?

 

I didn't use the complete setup from bigbrakeupgrade.com. I pieced my kit together myself. I couldn't compare fairly from my setup to the kit because I never drove a car with the complete kit on it.

The C5 caliper overall size and clamping power is more and also a larger rotor size. Driving both cars, there is definitely a noticeable difference when you hit the brakes hard over the Wilwood dual calipers.

It comes down to what you would like to do and how much you would like to spend.

 

I like the idea of not needing to modify my spindles actually more than the cost savings. So with the Wilwood setup, are they a direct bolt on replacement, and did you use the same rotors and braided Russell brake lines as you did with your C5 upgrade?

 

They are a direct bolt in replacement. The pads come with the calipers and the rotors are different from the C5 rotors. The Brake lines however are the same