Just completed the ls1 brake swap

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Sep 23, 2004 | 08:13 PM
  #1  
Hey all, started this morning and just got it aligned an hour or so ago. We had a ton of tools to use so if youve got plenty of tools this swap is easy as pie. Hardest part was getting the lt1 spindle off the lower ball joint which just took persistant whacking a tad of penetrating oil. I used PBR front pads and hawk HPS rear pads with stainless braided lines all around with DOT4 fluid, talk about an upgrade from stock lt1/autozone crap and 10 year old rubber lines and god knows what fluid. cost 200 for the ls1 parts and about 110 for the pads and 115 for the lines so a tad over 400 for immensly better brakes, very well worth it I think. Just though I would share the news. Oh and dont forget to get new copper gaskets...
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Sep 23, 2004 | 08:59 PM
  #2  
Re: Just completed the ls1 brake swap
so how long did it take start to finish? Any tips? I got my LS1 Calipers, and brackets hanging up in the basement with a coat of fresh red paint drying and new CAMARO decals on them. They will be going on saturday.
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Sep 24, 2004 | 11:54 AM
  #3  
Re: Just completed the ls1 brake swap
started about 10 or 11 am and finished about 6 or so but i had a friend with every tool on earth including air tools but we were going leasurely. I would say penetrating oil on lower ball joint area and very big hammer. everything else is a sinch really, its just taking stuff apart and putting it back together and there wasnt anything really complex. Also try to make sure you dont have to drive far to get it aligned start finding places in the area to do it now before your in the middle of the project.
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Sep 24, 2004 | 05:34 PM
  #4  
Re: Just completed the ls1 brake swap
Quote: started about 10 or 11 am and finished about 6 or so but i had a friend with every tool on earth including air tools but we were going leasurely. I would say penetrating oil on lower ball joint area and very big hammer. everything else is a sinch really, its just taking stuff apart and putting it back together and there wasnt anything really complex. Also try to make sure you dont have to drive far to get it aligned start finding places in the area to do it now before your in the middle of the project.
I'm not trying to make fun of you but i can't believe it took that long. I know i'm kind of over simplifying but its only 3 ball joints and 1 brake line (per side) to remove the old stuff and then just tightening it all back up. I wouldn't think that could take that long with 2 people. I do have an alignment appointment for monday.
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Sep 24, 2004 | 11:52 PM
  #5  
Re: Just completed the ls1 brake swap
Quote: I'm not trying to make fun of you but i can't believe it took that long. I know i'm kind of over simplifying but its only 3 ball joints and 1 brake line (per side) to remove the old stuff and then just tightening it all back up. I wouldn't think that could take that long with 2 people. I do have an alignment appointment for monday.
You also have to bleed the system. It ended up take me damn near a whole day to do this and the rear brake pads. Plus driving around for 15 mins to bed in the new pads properly.
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Sep 24, 2004 | 11:54 PM
  #6  
Re: Just completed the ls1 brake swap
i was hoping bleeding the system would only take like 15-30 mins tops with my vaccum pump.
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Sep 25, 2004 | 05:17 PM
  #7  
Re: Just completed the ls1 brake swap
I just finished up my LS1 swap. I paid $165 shipped for mine and when they got here the pads and rotors where in perfect shape. So i just went a head and installed them like they came and reused the LS1 brake lines. I probably have about 200 in this setup now with paint, brake fluid, CAMARO caliper decals, new ball joint boots. The cars alignment is almost perfect it runs and drives fine, but its getting realigned monday anyways. I would say this is the best mod i've done for bang for your buck plus it really wasn't to bad to install. It only took 4hrs by myself start to finish including a run to the parts house. I test drove it and the car will nose dive hard now. I love it.
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Sep 25, 2004 | 06:53 PM
  #8  
Re: Just completed the ls1 brake swap
Yeah, by leasurely I mean with a lunch break and just fiddling around mostly or just taking our time at what we are doing. Its really nice in the end though.
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Sep 25, 2004 | 07:19 PM
  #9  
Re: Just completed the ls1 brake swap
Quote: Yeah, by leasurely I mean with a lunch break and just fiddling around mostly or just taking our time at what we are doing. Its really nice in the end though.
I enjoy taking my time when i can. This car is my daily driver so i wanted to get it together and on the ground so i could find out if my knuckles where bent or not. If they were i was gonna have to yank it all back off until i could get a back up knuckle. I was just letting people know it can be done in only a few hrs. I didn't want people to be discouraged to do the mod thinking it takes 2 people half a day. So i wasn't trying to one up you. I love my car now. It only has one more problem now and that is traction.
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Sep 25, 2004 | 09:20 PM
  #10  
Re: Just completed the ls1 brake swap
Quote: Hey all, started this morning and just got it aligned an hour or so ago. We had a ton of tools to use so if youve got plenty of tools this swap is easy as pie. Hardest part was getting the lt1 spindle off the lower ball joint which just took persistant whacking a tad of penetrating oil. I used PBR front pads and hawk HPS rear pads with stainless braided lines all around with DOT4 fluid, talk about an upgrade from stock lt1/autozone crap and 10 year old rubber lines and god knows what fluid. cost 200 for the ls1 parts and about 110 for the pads and 115 for the lines so a tad over 400 for immensly better brakes, very well worth it I think. Just though I would share the news. Oh and dont forget to get new copper gaskets...
did you get the earls ls1 brake line kit? cause they dont sell just the fronts for LS1's at thunder and i dont even know if i can use the rears with my lt1 rear calipers.
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Sep 27, 2004 | 09:15 AM
  #11  
Re: Just completed the ls1 brake swap
Quote: I just finished up my LS1 swap. I paid $165 shipped for mine
Where did you buy it for that cheap?
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Sep 27, 2004 | 12:24 PM
  #12  
Re: Just completed the ls1 brake swap
Quote: Where did you buy it for that cheap?
I got mine for the same $$ (it was 125 + 40 shipping) on ebay. Most go for around the 150+shipping mark on there usually. Jus got to be careful about bent knuckles
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Sep 27, 2004 | 01:58 PM
  #13  
Re: Just completed the ls1 brake swap
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...spagename=WDVW

I didn't win this auction rlax31 did, but i emailed him and asked if he had any other sets and if he would sell them at that price. He said yes and it came up to $165 shipped.
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Sep 27, 2004 | 03:54 PM
  #14  
Re: Just completed the ls1 brake swap
Awesome. Did this still let you keep your ABS?
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Sep 27, 2004 | 10:51 PM
  #15  
Re: Just completed the ls1 brake swap
yes you can keep the ABS. The stock LT1 ABS harness plugs right into the LS1 ABS sensors.
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