24 July 2023

Stopping The Beast

You might notice a bright red Brembo 4-piston brake caliper in a previous post.

The previous owner did what's known to the PPV crowd as the "Big Brake" mod.

It's a bit Frankenstein's Monster, but it's not too hard.

Front calipers are from a 2017-2024 Camaro SS 1LE package.

Front rotors are the factory 345mm size, replaced here with aftermarket Raybestos.

Front pads are from a 2004-2007 Cadillac CTS-V or 2008-2008 Pontiac G8 GXP.

Rear calipers are from a 2007-2009 Cadillac CTS-V.

Rear rotors are 360mm off a 2015-2017 Chevrolet SS.  Factory size is 324mm.

Rear pads are from a 2004-2007 Cadillac CTS-V.

Posted by Angus McThag at 00:57
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10 comments:

  1. Software Janitor24 July, 2023 11:23

    Sounds like probably a pretty significant upgrade over stock, and there weren't really a lot of complaints about how those cars stopped from the factory. In particular a lot of the period reviews gave it really good marks against its main rival in the Police market, the Crown Victoria. And Chrysler products were always known for bad brakes, at least they didn't usually last long. I worked for a few places that had fleet vehicles that were Mopar and some of them would eat front brake pads in 20-30k miles on a regular basis, which is ridiculous. Especially given those cars/trucks/vans weren't exactly being used for high speed chases.

    Another thing I get out of that, which I've known and loved for years is how much interchangeability there is in the GM parts catalog. I'm not sure you could ever mix parts from so many different models like that in the Ford or Mopar world.
    -swj

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sendarius25 July, 2023 01:45

    I have been watching Youtube videos put out by several US-based mechanics, and I've been stunned that ALL the US-built cars they work on have sliding calipers with only one or two pistons - even the larger SUVs.

    When you add the salt and/or de-icing crud poured onto (northern) US roads, that is a recipe for deteriorating brake performance from a not very high-performance start. It's refreshing to learn that there are better calipers available on some vehicles.

    I am a little confused by the front caliper upgrade.
    The info I have says that the 2017+ Camaro SS 1LE front calipers are six piston and run on a 14.6" rotor, yet you are running a 13.6" rotor. Something isn't right somewhere.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Angus McThag25 July, 2023 02:56

      V6 1LE front calipers is what Wikipedia says they must be. Not an SS 1LE, I was misled or mistaken.
      Those calipers bolt right to the existing bracket, so they are at the stock location for my rotors, so I can keep using the stock diameter.

      Delete
    2. Angus McThag25 July, 2023 02:58

      The V6 1LE package also uses a 345mm rotor.

      Delete
    3. Sendarius25 July, 2023 08:44

      Ah, that makes sense.

      My dad, the mechanic, always said "make it whoa, before you make it go".

      From the carnage I have seen at various track days, too many people ignore the brakes when adding performance.

      Delete
    4. Software Janitor25 July, 2023 22:32

      I've been guilty of that. I had one Chevelle back in the day that I put a 383 crate motor in... but never upgraded the stock non-powered 4 wheel drum brakes. Of course it was a drag car, not a track car... It wasn't very happy being asked to turn corners. On a long stretch of interstate I could get it up well over 120 miles an hour even with gears not suited for top end... but getting it slowed down from that was an adventure. I once had to stop from the speedo being buried and by the time I got it down to normal highway speeds I could smell the brakes... and when I stopped (with basically no brakes left) and got out the drums were glowing... and I had to replace all four drums, the shoes, cylinders, flush the brake fluid and re-pack the bearings. Basically replaced all the wear items except the master cylinder... The Corvettes I've had since those days will handle that kind of abuse easily even with the stock brakes which are 4 wheel powered discs even on my C3. Although I have worn out rotors and pads on my C4 after track days at places like NOLA and NCM.
      -swj

      Delete
    5. Angus McThag25 July, 2023 23:05

      Was that the Mean Green Machine?

      Delete
    6. Anonymous26 July, 2023 08:42

      No, it was one I had later than that. The green one had the same awful brakes though. Plus non-power steering which the later one at least was power. I had 3 different Chevelles in those years. The last one you probably remember when it had the original 350 in it. I didn't put the 383 in until I broke the original motor.

      Delete
    7. Software Janitor26 July, 2023 08:43

      Argh.... I gotta send a complaint to blogspot... this not caching the info is getting annoying.
      -swj

      Delete
    8. Angus McThag26 July, 2023 10:36

      If you're using a script blocker, you have to whitelist a couple things for it to remember you.

      Delete

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