Brake upgrades

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Sal Lubrano

Active Member
Joined
Apr 26, 2002
Messages
1,235
What is the best bang for the buck when it comes to front brake upgrades. I am looking for bolt up parts and would also like to keep the stock GN rims. Are there any larger rotors and calipers which can be put on.
 
As I recall, the 11" 2nd gen Camaro front discs works pretty good and should clear the wheels. I'm sure others will pipe in. If you want the best, go with the 11" Baer setup. $$$$$
Conrad
 
95 and up 2wd s10 blazers (second generation). and the knuckle is the same as the buick and its a 2 piston caliper. $300 for a set from s10wherehouse on ebay. all you do is undo the tie rods and the balljoints and put the s10 in. easy install and it will work with the t-type rims also.
 
I use the Wilwood front brakes and tey work GREAT. They run $663 at Jeg's and you'll also need brake hoses. Here's what they look like:
Here's the link to Jegs: JEG'S High Performance - 950-140-2508-B
Wilwood Front Disc Brake Kits - JEGS
They require you to modify the stock spindle and you have to drill/tap a couple of existing holes. You have to cut a portion of the caliper mount off of the stock spindle. It's pretty easy if you have above average mechanical skills. The Baer brake kit is REAL easy to install, but it moves the wheels out about an 3/4 inch. (PN#4301036)
 

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95 and up 2wd s10 blazers (second generation). and the knuckle is the same as the buick and its a 2 piston caliper. $300 for a set from s10wherehouse on ebay. all you do is undo the tie rods and the balljoints and put the s10 in. easy install and it will work with the t-type rims also.

Will this push the wheels out at all? I'll probably be getting a set of GTA pretty soon so I would need to know how to space the GTA rears for the front.
 
11 in. Blazer brakes

I have done my car and a friends with the Blazer brakes. Both sets bought from the bone yard. Be sure to get the frame bracket (L and R). This is the braket where the brake hoses join. You will need to hand bend your original brake line to fit up to the Blazer bracket ( simple to do). I took all the pieces and cleaned and painted them. Had the original rortors trued. Went to my local GM dealer and bought 2 rebuild kits for the calipers ($25). Autozone cermatic pads. VERY IMPORTANT--when rebuilding the pistons be sure to use NO LUBE--INSTALL DRY. They do not change the location of the wheels. They sure do stop much better.
 
Just did the Blazer brake conversion last weekend. It is very simple and the brakes work much better. Probably the least expensive upgrade I have done so far.
 
Has anyone done a weight comparison between the Blazer set up and stock?
 
I am sold on this Blazer brake upgrade but I don't know if I need the 3/16 to 1/4 adapter? Some say yes and some say no. Do I need it?
 
adapter

I am sold on this Blazer brake upgrade but I don't know if I need the 3/16 to 1/4 adapter? Some say yes and some say no. Do I need it?

If you use your old lines or buy new braided lines (the line from the caliper to junction bracket)---NO--If you use Blazer lines--YES
BTW, it is best to get the L bracket from the Blazer (the bracket that bolts to the frame where the 2 lines connect) as they are bent @ a different angle.
 
I use the Wilwood front brakes and tey work GREAT. They run $663 at Jeg's and you'll also need brake hoses. Here's what they look like:
Here's the link to Jegs: JEG'S High Performance - 950-140-2508-B
Wilwood Front Disc Brake Kits - JEGS
They require you to modify the stock spindle and you have to drill/tap a couple of existing holes. You have to cut a portion of the caliper mount off of the stock spindle. It's pretty easy if you have above average mechanical skills. The Baer brake kit is REAL easy to install, but it moves the wheels out about an 3/4 inch. (PN#4301036)


I was thinking on going with the same brake set-up and have some questions.

The wilwood rotors not drilled out?

Wilwood says it might affect wheel offset. I worry about this because my 8" wide wheel is pretty close to the fender.

The spindle has to be replace also?

Anything else I need for this kit?
 
Any brake kit that uses a larger rotor and caliper is going to be heavier.

Not unless the rotor hat/caliper is aluminum.:biggrin: The Wilwoods are much lighter, even though they are the same size. BUT they have FOUR pistons. They DO need a fair amount of modifications to make work. You have to cut off the caliper mounting tabs, on the spindle, with a hack-saw or cut-off wheel, and you need to drill and tap the dust shield mounting holes larger. It's all pretty easy work if you have average or better mechanical skills.
I like the idea of using the S-10 brake upgrade, though. Factory engineering is never bad. Sometimes it is inadaquate, but never bad.:biggrin: (except the dang heater box.............THAT is BAD!!)

I didn't notice a wheel off-set issue with the Wilwood rotors, but I am using 5" Drag-Lites. The only additional parts you will need is a roll of .032" stainless safety wire (jegs has it) and brake hoses and adaptor fittings. The calipers have 1/8" pipe threads for hose connection. I used 45* -3x1/8npt fittings on the caliper. You can have the hose shop install the correct frame mounting end on the other end. You'll just have to bring your stock hoses into them and tell them how long and what you need on each end. If you can't find a local hydraulic shop that makes brake hoses, PM me and I can get you a REAL nice set made here. I think they cost me about $70 or so. They are braided steel, DOT certified, and they pressure test them right in front of me at 3,000 psi. Most hydraulic shops carry the U-Make-it stuff. (not the real name) Call around. There are three shops with-in 5 miles that make brake hoses. Probably ALOT more, though. If you PM me I can pull a front wheel and measure the rotor/wheel flange to frame dimension, if you are really concerned about width.
 
Not unless the rotor hat/caliper is aluminum.:biggrin: The Wilwoods are much lighter, even though they are the same size. BUT they have FOUR pistons. They DO need a fair amount of modifications to make work. You have to cut off the caliper mounting tabs, on the spindle, with a hack-saw or cut-off wheel, and you need to drill and tap the dust shield mounting holes larger. It's all pretty easy work if you have average or better mechanical skills.
I like the idea of using the S-10 brake upgrade, though. Factory engineering is never bad. Sometimes it is inadaquate, but never bad.:biggrin: (except the dang heater box.............THAT is BAD!!)

I didn't notice a wheel off-set issue with the Wilwood rotors, but I am using 5" Drag-Lites. The only additional parts you will need is a roll of .032" stainless safety wire (jegs has it) and brake hoses and adaptor fittings. The calipers have 1/8" pipe threads for hose connection. I used 45* -3x1/8npt fittings on the caliper. You can have the hose shop install the correct frame mounting end on the other end. You'll just have to bring your stock hoses into them and tell them how long and what you need on each end. If you can't find a local hydraulic shop that makes brake hoses, PM me and I can get you a REAL nice set made here. I think they cost me about $70 or so. They are braided steel, DOT certified, and they pressure test them right in front of me at 3,000 psi. Most hydraulic shops carry the U-Make-it stuff. (not the real name) Call around. There are three shops with-in 5 miles that make brake hoses. Probably ALOT more, though. If you PM me I can pull a front wheel and measure the rotor/wheel flange to frame dimension, if you are really concerned about width.

Did you happen to weigh the set-up before you installed it? I have weighed a fully assembled stock set-up, LS1 brake set-up, and S10 set-up. The S10 brakes are just as heavy as the LS1 brakes even though the rotor is smaller. The Wilwood kit installation looks like an LS1 kit installation, basically.
 
No I didn't. But, by just the "arm" scales, I would say that they are about 10 lbs lighter per wheel, easy.
 
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