All brake options.

[Tank33]

I realize there are many posts to do with brakes, and yes, I searched.

I am having a unique problem.

I run my 18's in the summer, and I have all kinds of room to run mammoth brakes then, but in the winter time I switch back to my stock 5 spoke 16's. I am trying to find out exactly what brakes I can put on this car, without any fit issues.

The only options I am aware of for different brakes are the corvette swap (which still seems up in the air as to if that fits a stock wheel?) brakes from SSBC, and Baer. I would really like to run Baer brakes, but I am unsure as to which of there products fits our cars.

I just want some input from others who are running stock wheels but larger brakes. I vowed not to drive around this year with shiny wheels and small rusted rotors.

[Mike Jung]

Don't forget this reasonably priced front brake kit by MP Racing:
1999-2005 Grand Am MPR 12" Front Big Brake Kit

Product Information


Use this kit to upgrade your 1999-2005 Grand Am to our 12" Rotor and Dual Piston Caliper setup and greatly reduce your stopping distance!

The base kit includes:

- 1 Pair of Dual Piston Calipers
- 1 Pair of Caliper Brackets
- All hardware for needed for installation
- 1 Set of Ceramic Pads
- 1 Optional Pair of OEM Style rotors

This kit requires 17" or larger rims though it should be noted that depending on the style and other sizing, 16" rims may fit.

Sorry, can't help you about brakes clearing your 16" stock wheels though.


Maybe send a PM to Mark: lvemy3100

[RPO3]

Baer Brakes
http://www.rksport.com/main/part_det...mdid=9&catid=3

[AaronGTR]

Originally Posted by RPO3

Baer Brakes
http://www.rksport.com/main/part_det...mdid=9&catid=3

Those require 17" wheels though. What he is looking for if it's possible is a brake upgrade with larger calipers and rotors that will fit inside the stock wheels.

[Rich]

HOW-TO Install Corvette brakes on a 99+ GA

post 205.

[Tank33]

Those look like the camaro calipers are they not? I assume the Corvette ones are the same dimensions, thats what I gathered in the thread.

[Rich]

yup

[Tank33]

All right thank you, now, just to find the parts in Canada!

I assume there is still no option for the rear brakes? Why is that anyways, does the parking brake screw up any chance of putting bigger brakes on, or howcome we can't just run the rear corvette setup back there?

[Rich]

http://www.mpracing.org/store/index....&productId=313

[Tank33]

Once again, I am aware of that kit, however, it requires 17 inch wheels, which are not an option for me.

[Rich]

ah, then no. i believe its been said the camaro calipers wont fit the rears. i cant recall anyone doing another swap either.

[boost21]

Originally Posted by Rich

HOW-TO Install Corvette brakes on a 99+ GA

post 205.

That's my car with ws6 brakes (same as all the other f-body ones). They fit alright, but I did need to grind quite a bit away from the inner plastic part of the wheels. Still its a very snug fit and I would only suggest it for winter.

[Tank33]

Isn't it ok even if it is a tight fit?

I mean when brakes are mounted, thats where they stay, for the most part, they don't flex terribly out of place.

Do you run those 16's all year round or are you in the same boat as me? And you said those calipers are the same size as the corvette ones correct?

[boost21]

Originally Posted by Tank33

Isn't it ok even if it is a tight fit?

I mean when brakes are mounted, thats where they stay, for the most part, they don't flex terribly out of place.

Do you run those 16's all year round or are you in the same boat as me? And you said those calipers are the same size as the corvette ones correct?

only difference between those and the vette ones are the lettering and the vettes are made of a lighter material iirc. The gap is extremely small but seems to work (ran it two winters now) I did have to grind one of the wheels even more on the last pad/rotor change. Not sure why but it was hitting again. You don't grind the actual wheel but it hits the plastic "chromtech" cover. IF you have the non chrome ones you might not need to do anything.

[alerored04]

My vette ones have small ribs at the top which might conflict with a 16" wheel. They fit my 16" GLS Alero wheels with no problems though.

[Tank33]

So I don't understand though, why can't the rear brakes be upgraded? Is it not the exact same setup as the front, just with the parking brake in it?

Is it even possible to do the corvette brake mod for the front, on the rear? I would assume so, is it not the exact same size brake components as the front?

[KhellendrosxS]

Camaro calipers will absolutely fit on the front with stock chrometechs. Ive used that setup with rotors from an Impala for a whole year now with no problems. As for upgrades in the rear, its not necessary as over 70% of your stopping power comes from the front brakes.

I thought the Corvette calipers wouldnt fit with the stock wheels due to the ribs on top.

[alerored04]

Maybe with the GAGT wheels that is true but my alero wheels fit just fine.

[AaronGTR]

Originally Posted by Tank33

So I don't understand though, why can't the rear brakes be upgraded? Is it not the exact same setup as the front, just with the parking brake in it?

Is it even possible to do the corvette brake mod for the front, on the rear? I would assume so, is it not the exact same size brake components as the front?

You might be able to upgrade the rear brakes, but you'd have to try and find which combination of parts (if any) will fit. So far no one has done it. The rears are totally different from the fronts, on our car and on every car you'd get donor parts from as well.

Front brakes are 10.9" ventilated rotors, rears are 9.1" solid discs. They are't ventilated so they are much thinner, which makes a difference in caliper choice.

Both front and back use single piston sliding calipers, but the fronts are much larger and thicker with a larger piston size for more clamping force. They obviously use different size brake pads as well.

The hub on the front discs just has to be big enough to clear the wheel bearing and hub. The hub on the rear disc is basically a drum brake on the inside, which houses the brake shoe and mechanism for the parking brake.

Those are just the major differences. Obviously because of the differences in the calipers and rotors and the aluminum carrier, that means the caliper mounting brackets are different. You could upgrade the rear, but you'd have to find an OEM or aftermarket larger rear disc that will fit the parking brake, and allow you to use the stock caliper or have an upgraded caliper you can use. Then you have to have a bracket available or have one custom made to properly position the caliper on the disc.

[mfuller]

The rear discs are actually 10.9"x0.4" (trust me....I just went out in the garage and measured 'em).
For those who are hell-bent on upgrading the rear brake, I am fairly certain that the rear brakes from a Grand Prix GXP will bolt right up. The calipers are still single-piston sliding units, but the discs are 11.9"x0.8" vented rotors.