I need new rubber brake hoses as mine are starting to crack. I looked up replacements and they list either "with performance package" or just front left or right.

How do I know if I have a performance package? Car is 1987 Camaro 5.0 TPI automatic, rear disk brakes.

 

If the calipers are cast iron, you don't.

There were like 50 87s that had it, so it's not likely.

 

Thanks. Is the performance package the parts store refers to the 1LE?

 

Yes. 1LE was the GM RPO for the race version of these cars, built for a series that raced basically showroom-stock sedans, but of course needed heavier-duty components in certain areas than for example those crappy old 60s Saginaw brakes these cars were stuck with at the time.

 

I want to add somethings here should someone search in the future.

If the parts store is asking if it has the performance package, that is the 1LE. Obvious way to tell is to look for RPO 1LE on the SPID if you car still has it in there.
The other is, if the front's have two pistons. You can see cups in the caliper casting from the outside.



Standard Equipment for the front on the Left, and 1LE with some dressed up rotor on the right.

 

Yup:

Cast iron calipers (Saginaw) on the left, aluminum ones (PBR) on the right.

I should note, the Saggy front calipers aren't "crappy" in and of themselves; they were A UNIVERSE AHEAD of what they replaced, AT THAT TIME; but by the 80s, they were SERIOUSLY obsolete. Even more obsolete was the idea of putting a tiny rotor like that on a "performance" car. Butt GM had their head so far up their kiester at that moment in history, it's no surprise they did something that lazy, no matter how stupid it was.

 

I am not going to defend the braking system as being great, but even in the 80s with the crappy brakes, Camaros were out doing the competition:
-Car and Driver head to Head test from 1986. I am sure the 1LEs did better.

I have upgraded mine without changing any major components. Remanufactured MC, Bias Spring Change, Stainless braided lines, Slotted rotors, better pad compound and all fresh fluid made my system very nice. Would is stand up to road racing or other extreme use, no; but for street it stops better than my new Jeep or the recent truck I had which makes me feel perfectly safe for it's purpose.