wildwood Front caliper upgrade

l1le rotors
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/we...ever_25989498-P_221_R|GRPDRUMAMS_989502693___


standard firebird rotors these mighe be 10.75 in diameter
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/we...ver_5671027-P_221_R|GRPDRUMAMS_1180530173___#

 

So, with stock rotors, you can use the bigger pads? What does it take to use the bigger rotors? I can't imagine it all fits together with such varying ranges of rotor sizes with a single caliper and pad swap.

I'm contemplating something different on my car but I can't find any info on what is involved short of trashing everything between the balljoints.

 

our stock calipers will accept the impala pads as they're the same thickness as our d52 pad...just has slightly more braking surface area

as for the 1le rotrs..they fit right on. Only possible downside is they come with different studs then our cars...so either get the correct lug nuts or machine he rotors to accept our studs/lugs

l1e rotor is basicly a b-body rotor with an a-body bolt pattern

the biggest diameter rotor that'll still clean majority of the 15in rims will be 12in rotors.

oh, another thing about the impala pads...they semi metali pads are only 18 dollars! thats only like 5 bucks more then the stock organic pads I already bought lol

if i opted for a semi metalicor ceramic pad for the skylark its cost in the 40s/50 range...big difference in price for the same oem pads for the corresponding model car

 

So the bearings are the same? They work on our stock spindles? The larger rotor works with the existing caliper without interference issues? Sounds like a win/win. Why don't more people talk about this?

 

you'd need b-body spindles for the firebird rotors along with the tie rod ends

so my fault on mis informing in previous post!

 

Call these guys below, they are the direct Dist. of Wilwood brakes they can advise you on all levels of braking..

http://www.hotrodsusa.com/store/brakes_index.html

 

I started this same thread over on lateral-g, I was looking to install these on my apollo for a cheap 12" rotor upgrade. I called wilwood and they advised that a 12" rotor would clear the caliper, I thought this would be a great set up and then I got this response:ou:

The problem is that the 1LE rotor uses a SET3 outer wheel bearing with a .844" inside diameter and your short-spindle uses a SET2 outer wheel bearing with a .750" ID. Aisde from sleeving the rotor (which I'm not too keen on), the only option I can think of involves swapping your spindles.

I was recently made aware of a stock height (6472SS12) and 2" drop spindle (6472DS12) that CPP offers to do exactly what you are looking to do. It uses the 1LE rotor and D52 caliper...done deal.

Hope that helps,
Tobin
KORE3

Can anyone confirm this?:beer I dont what to use a drop spindle as I already have 2" drop springs and have heard of clearence issues with larger wheels and drop spindles. I am currently looking for a bearing combo that would solve this issue. Does anyone have any other ideas for a possible 12" rotor?

 

I wish you luck and report back any elegant solution. I'm not ready for a wholesale Frankenstein front end. I plan on driving my car and would really like to be able to buy parts any place without having to a) grind on it and b) remember what particular thing it came off of.

And drop spindles are out of the question with M/T repro headers. I just want a bigger rotor/better brakes if I can get them. Sounds like the Wilwood Aluminum D52 caliper saves weight and produces a better experience but I'm not expecting anything earth shattering from just that. Plus, it seems like a lot money for such an incremental upgrade.

 

well, I didnt upgrade to the d52 wilwood calipers just yet for a couple reasons...one is Its my only car and dont think i'll be able to get the bolt off the caliper hose without breaking the rusted brakeline...the other is I'm not sure how the hell the one pad is suppose to stay on the piston...nothing to hold it

the old one piston calipers have a clip that goes inside the piston and onto the pad to hold it...so Where may I find to smaller clips that go on the pad into the two new smaller pistions to make it work?

did a factory 79 ws6 camaro have factory 2 pistion calipers when equiped with those factory rear discs by chance?

 

What did anyone at Jeg's, Summit or even Wilwood have to say?

 

havent called anyone as of yet..I pla to ask summit this friday as I have to order a porportioning valve for the rear discs...but from a couple websites...looks like its just you have to just be careful not to have them fall out during the install..so I guess theres no clips like on the one piston calipers..
we'll see...I might just order 4 new clips for a one piston caliper and mod them to fit in the 2 pistion calipers

 

The caliper bolts should hold them in place once assembled. You could use some high temp RTV to hold the inboard pad in place while assembling.

 

Mike,

I ordered the D52 Willwood kit from jegs and it is true that the caliper bolts hold the pads in. They can be a lil annoying when installing but once they are in there they'll be fine

Heres some pics: http://v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=202397

Later
~Scott

 

Well after much searching I solved my brake issue...I bought front and rear Z06 :shock: If those don't stop me I am going to install a real anchor:grin:

 

Got any pics, specs and thoughts on the setup?

 

no pics yet, calipers are still in shipping and rotors you can find on the net look up a/c delco parts the set up I got came from an 02 Z06, they are cross drilled and slotted. the front calipers have raised corvette lettering cast into them and will be gound off and powder coated black instead of the factory red for that stealth look. :TU:
Specs are:
Front calipers are twin piston and rotors measure 12.88"
Rears calipers are single piston rotors measure 12"

to install front drum hubs and rear axle flange will need to be machined down to just under 6" for the rotors to fit over. calipers will be mounted to stock spindles and a 10 bolt thanks to KORE3 brackets, Thanks Tobin:beer
check out www.kore3.com

also will have a manual wilwood 7/8 tandem master cylinder due to the problems with a vacuum assist and TURBO oh-my!

I'll have to start a new thread to document the install when this project gets into the garage, oh ou: garage really needs to be the next project, I'm out of room.

 

I don't really see much on the KORE3 site. Seems a lot of content about products just isn't there.

Do you have to run larger wheels than stock 15" chrome wheels? Is it all bolt-on other than the machining mentioned above? BTW, is that the outside edge outside the bolt circle you are referring to? Is that a fairly easy thing to get accomplished in a machine shop with a lathe?

I look forward to your thread.

 

Yes it is a bolt on other than the machine work on the hubs an axles, any machine shop should be able to do the work(and yes it is the outside diameter that needs to be cut down just to let the rotors slide over , as these are slip on rotors). 17" wheels are a min, and not all 17's will clear, Kore3 has templates that can be printed and used to check for fitment. I will be using 17" wheels cause the plan is to beat on the Apollo at the dragstrip as well as autocross. 17's will give me the tires I need and will still be able to fit some drag radials under the rear to get bite at the track.:3gears: I'll try to get some pics up of the parts, had the front rotors on the work bench next to the stockers I'm getting ready to put on the GS and WOW what a sight, the front rotors are just under 13" and the stock wheels were 14":Brow:

 

Did you ever get your front end lined out? How did it go? I'm curious and itching for a winter upgrade to get going.

 

ive been it a bit of a pickle with $$$ but i never put the front calipers on as i'm rocking some 14in steelies with winter tread,and dont want to find out they wont clean and get another set of winter meat..


but the new 9in dual booster/mastercylinder and disc/ disc porp valve and these calipers will be on by the spring for sure along with replaceing my front brakelines with stainless steel

i'm trying to sell off some new rear suspension parts so I may upgrade to something better I found out about..