Whats the best/ real good brakes to get? $?

 

Uppin

 

What are you trying to do? Change all the rotors, pads and calipers or just the pads or pads and rotors. How much money do you have to spend?

 

IMHO the best brake for the buck is an upgrade to the late-4th gen ('98+) brakes. Dual piston PBR front and PBR aluminum rear calipers with 12" and 11" (I think) rotors for a LOT less than a Wilwood, Brembo, or Baer brake kit. Of course, the Wilwood, Brembo, and Baer high-end kits are better performers than GM brakes.....but for a street car I don't think it's worth the money.


FWIW I'll be putting 98+ brakes on my RS whenever I get the cash.

 

I just did an upgrade to Corvette C4 12" rotors/calipers on my '91 RS for under $300. Check my posts on TGO. It's pretty much the same kit as a Baer 12" Sport package for $700 less.


http://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/show...hreadid=194069


My '88 Iroc has 1LEs..

Ed

 

For improved Braking I did the following:

Front.... Stock 10.5 rotors & calipers with PF z-rated pads and stainless steel brake lines.

Rear....1989 11.655 rotors & PBR alum calipers with PF z-rated
pads and stainless steel brake lines. (rear is a BW 9-bolt)

Also the rear parking brake works on this system. This may not be as exotic as some ( expensive) upgrades, but this four wheel Disc Set-up works for me with improved braking on 1987 IROC-Z.

 

I'm running Baer 12" Sports front and their standard upgrade rears. The Sports are just a cut down 13" Track sytem. I like my 16" wheels and didn't feel the 13" rotors would clear the OE wheels. As far as the rears, if you already have factory PBRs, the Baer upgrade is almost not worth it. The rear rotor is maybe 1/4" larger in dia. and the inner vanes are only subtly different. The caliper suppied looks virtually identical to OE. I had over 150k miles on my rear PBRs so I used the upgrade kit to replace all the components.

Bottom line, I chose Baer because of the completeness of their package. They come pre-mounted on spindles and include the SS brake lines and brake pads of your choice. They even supply the clear tubing to do the bleeding. I will not entrust my life to cobbled brake parts on my car.

 

Is there a how-to for LS1 brakes in the front? Im running an LS1 rear so my rear discs are as large as my front disc and that's pretty stupid looking.

 

C5 brakes.

13" rotors, etc, etc. The best performing package available, for the money.

Eric

 

The only issue with C5 brakes is that they don't clear 16" wheels. Im thinking about using the C5 calipers on LS1 discs, to clear my 16s and have the better-made caliper.

Chuck....there are VERY extensive threads on TGO about C4 and LS1 brake swaps. There used to be one about swapping C5 brakes into a 3rd gen, but the mods over there torched it for some reason (censorship, anyone???)

 

Nice, over the winter Im re-doing the whole front suspension (part of my new build everything but the motor approach lol) and I minus well do brakes if Im doing 17" rims.

 

Suspension/brakes is gonna be my winter project as well. What do you have planned? I intend to upgrade to LS1 style brakes (with the slightly stronger 'Vette front calipers if I'm lucky) on all 4 with rod-end suspension components in the back and poly bushings out front. Alston SFC's will stiffen her up. 36/24 swaybars, KYB GR-2's, and probably a 1" drop will round out the project. The only thing I won't be changing is the torque arm, and if I mysteriously happen across an extra $500 I'll do that too. The idler and centerlink are both new Moog (less than 2 months on the car) and I'll be replacing the tie rods and balljoints with Moog parts as well.

I'm collecting parts now. The shocks, struts, and front sway are sitting in my closet. I have a good line on a set of rear brakes, and I'm watching some fronts on eBay. Balljoints are behind the seat of my truck. I'm even thinking about polishing the wheels while I have them off.

 

Im lazy so I gotta ask...Does anyone have a link to the LS1 4th gen brake swap? I ask this since I have a 3rd gen with an LS1 so it would be perfect, plus I have all the brakes already.
Thanks,
Brad

 

Here's for the rear, I don't know where the front how-to is:
http://www.thirdgen.org/newdesign/te...reardisc.shtml

-Rippin

 

I'll probably buy the energy suspension front rebuild kit (I think they make it). Already have the LS1 rear brakes, bmr sfc, phr, lca, reloc. brackets, and eibach sportlines. I wouldnt mind getting a bmr tq arm but I dont know if i'll be able to swing that.