Other GM caliper options/uprades?
 

While I was looking around one of my local junk yards today I noticed that the early 90's Cutlass Supremes and the 2000 or so Chevy Malibus have some pretty massive calipers compared to the front stockers on my Bird. Those cars also have the same bolt pattern as an F-body. I pulled a rotor off of a 4th gen and it fit perfectly onto the studs of both of the previously mentioned cars.

My question is, has anyone considered these braking options? The rotors are about 1/4" bigger diameter than the 4th gen and the same thickness. The calipers are a good bit bigger than the stock 4th gen calipers also.

I also noticed that the spindles on a Sunfire GT where pretty much the same as 3rd gen spindles, but turned around backwards on the car so the tie rods could connect behind the wheel since they're front wheel drive. They mount to the strut the same way as our cars. They also have a pretty good sized caliper.

I'm wondering if there would be a way to mount a Malibu or Cutlass caliper to a Sunfire spindle and if it would be a direct bolt on for our cars.

Re: Other GM caliper options/uprades?
 

Direct bolt on? No. Do you have any pics of what you saw?

We can do a lot of things to our braking systems but not everything will work or be cost effective. What are your needs for the car?

Ed

Re: Other GM caliper options/uprades?
 

I don't have any pics, it was kind of a last minute decision to stop by and I didn't have my camera with me.

My needs for the car? It's just a daily driver, but I have to drive to Austin, TX everyday for work. That city has the highest number of idiots driving per capita of any major U.S. city. When people cut me off 40' from a stoplight and slam on their brakes I really don't want to add a hood ornament to the front of my Bird. I'm also trying to avoid dropping several hundred $$$ on a fancy racing brake setup since this car will never see a track.

Re: Other GM caliper options/uprades?
 

dose this work for 3gen :hmmm:
Malibu Spindles
Attachment 431318

maybe 94 95 96 97 Chevy S10 New Front Hub S-10 Wheel Bearing 52 teeth the trans am 47 (52-5 teeth=47)
http://ebay-img.1aauto.com/SHF/1ASHF00009.jpg
or
Corvette C5 Z06 Cadillac XLR Front Wheel Hub Bearing
http://www.ioffer.com/img/item/308/798/41/513139.jpg

Re: Other GM caliper options/uprades?
 

I was also looking at this. The knuckles from an Uplander look similar as well.

Re: Other GM caliper options/uprades?
 

The 2000 Malibu rotors are only 278mm, about 11", by 26 mm, about the same thickness as ours, no big improvement there. The calipers are 60 mm, ours are 63.5mm, no improvement there.

Re: Other GM caliper options/uprades?
 

This setup with an aggressive set of "semi-metallic" pads from "Hawks" will help. =
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/brak...brake-job.html

Re: Other GM caliper options/uprades?
 

I was thinking of usuing some other calipers with corvette hubs (Corvette or brembo) and 14 inch rotors. Also they knuckles are aluminium. Save some unsprung weight.

Re: Other GM caliper options/uprades?
 

You can get '12 'vette J56 14" new front rotors for under $60 each, non-drilled / slotted.

Re: Other GM caliper options/uprades?
 

Yes, I went with my setup because I love my 15in wheels.
I later found out this will also fit 15in wheels.
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800...924/4NMIHO.jpg

Re: Other GM caliper options/uprades?
 

On that '83 RX-7 I started 2 years ago and finished a year ago, I managed 11.75" rotors with Brembo 4-piston calipers inside cast-aluminum 15" wheels. Same diameter rotors as the '70s 'vettes had inside their cast aluminum 15" wheels, but I used better calipers. '70s police Caprices also used 12" rotors inside steel 15" wheels, so there's no need to stick with anything less than 11.75" unless you want to run 14" wheels. In which case, '70s Camaros did so with their 11" rotors, so no need to stick with our 10.5s

Re: Other GM caliper options/uprades?
 

you can upgrade to the wilwood 6 piston set up. 12" rotors vented better then stock.. and fits 15" wheels..it also drops 38lbs off the car...
Attachment 318641

Re: Other GM caliper options/uprades?
 

ArticWhiteZ, Does that same setup apply to 16" wheels. I am thinking the same as FYRCHKN...just want a little more capable brakes.

Re: Other GM caliper options/uprades?
 

Those look great. I almost got a set but I think they are more drag race oriented.

Re: Other GM caliper options/uprades?
 

Where can you buy those rotors?

Re: Other GM caliper options/uprades?
 

What is your opinion of these caliper? I have been thinking of these or the SSBC twin piston calipers but haven't heard any reviews on them.

Re: Other GM caliper options/uprades?
 

I have the 4 piston Wilwood Forged Super Lites (FSL) with a set of the Corvette HD rotors. It's the same setup but a little cheaper and heavier for those that are interested in a less pricey set up. Fits 17" wheels no problem and I have read that they fit 16" wheels.

Re: Other GM caliper options/uprades?
 

neib, that Wilwood strip-only setup looks like about 9" rotors... even smaller than stock. I would NOT put that on a street-driven car.

Drillng rotors is nothing but eye candy for the uninformed. A leftover from days gone by, when with the technology they had back then, it DID accomplish something. However, the issue that drilling is designed to overcome (outgassing from the binder material in the pad lining), hasn't existed for decades now. Drilling is no longer valid from a functional standpoint therefore. Avoid that if possible. Slotted is good; drilled is ... not.

Re: Other GM caliper options/uprades?
 

How do you like the performance of this setup?

Re: Other GM caliper options/uprades?
 

the rotors are stock size..the wildwood calipers are bolt on.. in place of the stock GM parts..

Re: Other GM caliper options/uprades?
 

this is the upgrade 6 piston caliper and rotor (vented for street driving)
and for drag racing..this set up with my aluminum coil over struts dropped 54lbs of the front end of the car.. wildwood sold me the 6 piston upgrade brake set up for $780.
it was a new kit they came out with last year..
https://s25.postimg.org/ae4znpyxr/20160515_093745.jpg

https://s25.postimg.org/y9u35cppr/20160226_145446.jpg
you can order them drilled or not...that's up to you...go see any $180.000+ sports car. and see what they run...but what do they know...:)..all that stuff is just for looks anyway..
the other pic with the wildwood and weld aluma start 2.0 above.. is my car. bolt on set up..
back wheel of my car..setting it up..
https://s25.postimg.org/q25xpxhhr/20160730_165925.jpg
even if you cant see most of the chrome...I know its there..
https://s25.postimg.org/5al491jbz/20150724_185311.jpg


parts are for looks only...a selling point..if you will...?
https://s25.postimg.org/3lomyfpkv/430-brakes-01.jpg
don't think they did this for just looks in the last 3 years...but I could be wrong....don't know why they keep doing it..even on the carbon fiber stuff
https://s25.postimg.org/p83nfjvvz/20...s-1280x782.jpg
https://s25.postimg.org/rco0gkscv/fer3601.jpg
but then maybe it only works for Italian cars.. :)

Re: Other GM caliper options/uprades?
 

Anyone think of running 6th Gen Camaro front calipers?