Camaro brakes.... Bolt-on?

[123abc]

I've been less than thrilled with how long rotors last on the dual piston setup on our cars. Plainly put, there's not enough material on the rotor to keep from warping. I work at Oreilly's, so needless to say I've been trying out different setups but by chance, I ordered in some calipers and brackets from a 01 Camaro. I couldn't believe it, but the brackets bolted right on to our knuckles. Here's a pic of the calipers with the stock rotor:

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After a week long search I've determined that 300zx rotors, with a spacer behind them, will work and are nice and thick:

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It seems the brake hoses/banjo fittings from a 2g work with them, and the factory 16in rims fit too. Not to mention the calipers are a lot lighter because they're made of aluminum and have stainless pistons. The only things needed are to take a little bit of material off the bracket so it sits further towards the center of the car, and as mentioned, a spacer for the rotor. I'm going to take a pair of old rotors and cut the mounting flange out of them for spacers.

I HAVE NOT TEST DROVE!! I have only test fitted and determined what needs to be done. It'll be a few weeks yet before I drive the car with these on, but I thought this was good info for those looking for a better brake setup without being flashy.

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[brian9397gsx]

thats really cool I like this mainly because the calipers are aluminum

 

[96 420a-t]

Suscribed.

This is fantastic news. How thick is the spacer behind the rotors? Im thinking this might balance with the evo rears. How much clearance is there?

 

[123abc]

Suscribed.

This is fantastic news. How thick is the spacer behind the rotors? Im thinking this might balance with the evo rears. How much clearance is there?

I can't say for sure because I have to cut my old rotors apart to have the spacer. (very very small budget for me). Basically, the thickness of the mounting flange on our stock rotors, guessing about 4mm. Then I'll have to take about 4mm off the caliper bracket so everything lines up how it should.

Another good thing is the 300zx rotor (z32) is the same bolt pattern and center hub diameter. They fit like a glove.

 

[agentorange313]

Thats an ingenious idea, glad to see someone is trying new stuff. Does the new caliper change the size of the rotor needed? Can you take some measurements an post them. Diameter of rotor clearance etc.

I am just surprised that your two piston calipers were not enough. I have had the two pistons for 2 years now with the same hawk pads and OE brembo rotors. Still have and meat on the rotors. Haven't had to change the rotors.

Also if the rotors are warping, you should check out these guys, they have lifetime warranty on warping: Brake Rotors Discs Pads Brakes Cross Drilled & Slotted

 

[123abc]

Perhaps I drive my car a bit hard then, but my rotors I got from Oreilly's are pretty warped. They have meat on them, but I'm looking to upgrade the over-all package as well. I want the car to actually slow down from 130 instead of coasting...


The 300zx rotor is really close to the same diameter, but is nice and thick. 1.085in is what I come up with for the thickness.

 

[agentorange313]

What about the size of the pistons used in the caliper?

If they are the same size or small, they wouldn't be an upgrade from switching from the other 2 pistons. They look like 2 piston sliding calipers to me. Its all about surface area. Does the pad for the Camaro calipers make more contact to the rotors?

What year are those calipers from, I want to look them up.

these are the piston sizes for the AWD front caliper:
Professional Grade; 1.81" Overall Length / 1.62" Piston Diameter / Steel

 

[skatershawn]

So this is saying, i can go out and get 01 camaro brakes and bolt them right up, nothing more? Then put my tires on and drive away?

 

[123abc]

So this is saying, i can go out and get 01 camaro brakes and bolt them right up, nothing more? Then put my tires on and drive away?

No, you should read what I typed.




I dont care about piston size or how many there are. I care about rotor thickness.

 

[skatershawn]

so the removing of material is the only other thing needed! Am i over reading and missing anything!
I desperately need a break upgrade and do have the money to fork out for brembo and the like!

 

[Bud92gsx]

So list of things to do when or if you want to swap to Camaro calipers..

Calipers
Brakets
2g brake hoses and banjo fittings

Correct?

Can I get a weight on the stock vs camaro caliper as well? Have you tried any other spacer of some sort? I'd really love to see what you cut off in order to get your spacer..

 

[123abc]

So list of things to do when or if you want to swap to Camaro calipers..

Calipers
Brakets
2g brake hoses and banjo fittings

Correct?

Can I get a weight on the stock vs camaro caliper as well? Have you tried any other spacer of some sort? I'd really love to see what you cut off in order to get your spacer..

From a 2000 to 02? Camaro:

Calipers
Mounting brackets

From a z32 300zx:

Rotors

You'll need 4 bolts for the brackets and a spacer for the rotor. I still have more to figure out.

 

[Bud92gsx]

From a z32 300zx:

Rotors

You'll need 4 bolts for the brackets and a spacer for the rotor. I still have more to figure out.

You'll need to elaborate on this a little more when you get it figured out..Are you saying the bolts to mount the bracket/caliper..


And a spacer I would like to also see what you used for that..

Whenever you get a chance ..No need to rush..

 

[123abc]

You'll need to elaborate on this a little more when you get it figured out..Are you saying the bolts to mount the bracket/caliper..


And a spacer I would like to also see what you used for that..

Whenever you get a chance ..No need to rush..

The bolts that hold the caliper bracket to the knuckle are different thread pitch from our stock brakes, so new ones will be needed. That's what I was meaning.

The spacer will be made soon from my old set of rotors. It'll fit between the rotor and the hub.


After I get the moneys for the rest of the brake parts, I'll start looking at options for the rear. I have a set of rear caliper brackets and calipers from a 01 Camaro sitting at work too. What are the odds those will bolt on as well?

 

[constant_proj21]

Is this for your red car?


I would like to see how these fit in person, are you going to proving grounds? I'd like to take a peek at them.

 

[123abc]

Is this for your red car?


I would like to see how these fit in person, are you going to proving grounds? I'd like to take a peek at them.

Yea, it's for the red POS. No plans on going, I work every weekend and only get a weekend off to autox once in a while. Only "event" I might go to is rockfalls once or to the All Mitsu Cookout.


I'll take better pics to try and explain what needs to be done where to make these work once I actually get them 100% on the car.

 

[pagosa dsm]

RTM has everthing for the PBR conversion. You can see the conversion in my gallery.
Rick

 

[eclipsh]

The Camaro brake pistons are 45mm according to this link. Click on the photo of the calipers for the info. It looks like the '98-02 models are all the same. For comparison the 2 piston DSM calipers use a 42.9mm piston. I didn't search for info on pad size.

 

[123abc]

Thanks for that bit of info. They're noticeably bigger when looking at them, but the Camaro's are decently lighter. Another tid-bit is with these caliper brackets, C5 vette calipers are a bolt on from what I've been reading.

 

[agentorange313]

The Camaro brake pistons are 45mm according to this link. Click on the photo of the calipers for the info. It looks like the '98-02 models are all the same. For comparison the 2 piston DSM calipers use a 42.9mm piston. I didn't search for info on pad size.

exactly the info I was looking for. Now we just need to know the pad size and start to figure out how much of an improvement they are over the stock 2 pistons.

 

[123abc]

exactly the info I was looking for. Now we just need to know the pad size and start to figure out how much of an improvement they are over the stock 2 pistons.

I should be able to get pics of the pads side by side at work today. I can also get pics of the rotors side by side.

 

[96 420a-t]

What are the chances this will work for us 2g guys?

 

[ed1380]

What are the chances this will work for us 2g guys?

+1 also wondering that. and the c5 brakes

also how thick of a shim is needed behind the rotor?

 

[eclipsh]

What are the chances this will work for us 2g guys?

The same as the chances on a 1g. They use the same caliper bolt pattern on the front.

The bit about Corvette calipers is worth looking into. Using Corvette calipers with Camaro brackets and 300ZX rotors could be fun.

Pagosa DSM is using Mustang Cobra calipers (also aluminum PBR units) with custom brackets and rotors from a police cruiser. I think the rotors are thicker than 1" but they need to have new stud holes drilled and a ring to center them on the hub.

 

[123abc]

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Camaro on the left, dsm 2 piston on the right.