F-body brake quandry...(CTS-V content)

Searching around for some brake options for my 00 Trans Am. I was going to order the ATE Brake Rotor/Hawk pad kit from Stranoparts but searching around for some "big brake" options I found this on LS1tech (a good site for info, with Nazi admins/mods) http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/suspension-brakes/575996-cts-v-brakes-something-different.html

I really only need rear pads on the T/A as I replaced the rear rotors about a year ago with autozone blanks and pads just for the time being.

I also just ordered some CCW Classics 18x9.5 up front and 18x11 in the rear. They aren't the best wheels to see brakes through, but I'm going for overall braking performance not looks.

What would be the benefit to fabbing up CTS-V four pot calipers to the front of my car versus just swapping out rotors and pads?

GMpartsdirect has the CTS-V calipers for like $121 a piece minus the pads + whatever rotors I would need + pads + brake lines + mounting hardware...which is supposed to come out around $600 from people who have done the swap.

What do you guys thing? It's a cheaper alternative to STOPTECH, Brembo, and Wilwood big brake kits, plus you are using "OEM" parts

1. do the math. see James Walker Jr's excellent "High Performance Brake Systems: Design, Selection, and Installation", or (my personal favorite ) "Think Globally, Stop Locally" from the June 2008 GRM.

2. if the math works out with the CTS-V components, then see if you can get one from a junkyard to work out the packaging issues.

3. ?

4. Profit!

AngryCorvair wrote: 1. do the math. see James Walker Jr's excellent "High Performance Brake Systems: Design, Selection, and Installation", or (my personal favorite ) "Think Globally, Stop Locally" from the June 2008 GRM. 2. if the math works out with the CTS-V components, then see if you can get one from a junkyard to work out the packaging issues. 3. ? 4. Profit!

OK Baxter, WTF? I typed 1, 2, 3, and 4, but they all show up as 1.

Stoptech.com has some great technical papers on brakes.

AngryCorvair wrote: OK Baxter, WTF? I typed 1, 2, 3, and 4, but they all show up as 1.

Efficiency improvements. Through the marvels of modern programming, Baxter has discovered how to shorten your four step process into just one step!

Bryce

I have a 99 Z28 and an 05 CTS-V. HPS pads in the stock Camaro calipers; HPS or HP+ (whatever is more aggressive, I forget) in the V. The Caddy is 350 pounds heavier but the brakes are waaaaaay better.

Whether it's worth the price of the swap, though, is your call.

AngryCorvair wrote: OK Baxter, WTF? I typed 1, 2, 3, and 4, but they all show up as 1.

Shows up fine for me. I think it has to do with your browser (coughInternetExplodercough).

Sorry? What?

I think I'm hypnotized by RexSeven's avatar.

Is there a C5 upgrade? I replaced the front brakes on my C4 with a C5 package, and it seemed to me when I was buying the adapter plates for the calipers to be mounted in a different location there were kits for F-bodies. C5 brake parts are cheap, too.

For what it's worth, the brakes in the CTS-V are Ridiculous, with a capital R. They haul that big, heavy car down with very, very little problem. Plus they're easy to modulate once you get used to them. Before you do, though, it feels like one little tap makes you eat the steering wheel haha.

Will wrote: I have a 99 Z28 and an 05 CTS-V.

nice!

I like the use of the CTS-V stuff. A little fabbin' and off you go, or stop you go as the case may be. Check the volume in the CTS vs. the F-body caliper. If they aren't very close, you may have to change the master cylinder.

Twin_Cam wrote: For what it's worth, the brakes in the CTS-V are Ridiculous, with a capital R. They haul that big, heavy car down with very, very little problem. Plus they're easy to modulate once you get used to them. Before you do, though, it feels like one little tap makes you eat the steering wheel haha.

Agreed. I've driven Vipers and Z06s that didn't whoa down like a V. However, most of the F-body conversions use smaller rotors than the V does.

AngryCorvair wrote:

Will wrote: I have a 99 Z28 and an 05 CTS-V.

nice!

Someday, when future generations only know a world with speed-governed electric cars, my kids will get to hear some awesome stories about the fast cars pop used to have.

There is a c5 conversion but really you are just getting a 1 inch bigger rotor and caliper. No more pistons, just more surface area, which is good and all but for the money...

I'm going to do a bit more research on this.

DirtyBird222 wrote: There is a c5 conversion but really you are just getting a 1 inch bigger rotor and caliper. No more pistons, just more surface area, which is good and all but for the money... I'm going to do a bit more research on this.

The rotor upgrade was one inch bigger, but the C5 is a much bigger heat sink than the 12 inch C4 rotor, or even the 13 inch C4 rotor:

Here's a pic contrasting the C4 pad:

http://www.superchevyperformance.com/v/misc/c4c5pads.jpg

And one comparing the rotors:

http://www.superchevyperformance.com/v/misc/c4c5rot.html

I didn't have ANY fade with that combo (and Hawk HP+) pads on three different tracks, whereas the old C4 12 inch combo was really only good for 10 to 15 minutes of track time before fade set in (at least with my driving style).

Someday, when future generations only know a world with speed-governed electric cars, my kids will get to hear some awesome stories about the fast cars pop used to have.

Can I just say I got chills thinking about that? Imagine describing barreling down a back road, or on your favorite track to kids who might never get to do the like again.

GI_Drewsifer wrote:

Someday, when future generations only know a world with speed-governed electric cars, my kids will get to hear some awesome stories about the fast cars pop used to have.

Can I just say I got chills thinking about that? Imagine describing barreling down a back road, or on your favorite track to kids who might never get to do the like again.

My uncle has a country place that no one knows about....

AngryCorvair wrote:

GI_Drewsifer wrote:

Someday, when future generations only know a world with speed-governed electric cars, my kids will get to hear some awesome stories about the fast cars pop used to have.

Can I just say I got chills thinking about that? Imagine describing barreling down a back road, or on your favorite track to kids who might never get to do the like again.

My uncle has a country place that no one knows about....

He says it used to be a farm before the motor law...