Issue with Blazer spindle and LS1 brakes

[SSninja]

Little bummed out that I have a potential showstopper for my plans of using LS1 brakes with Blazer spindles for my G-body.

Did some digging and found out that neither FlyNBye or Kore3 offer a bracket to make this conversion work as there are already clearance issues when using the C5 calipers/brackets and Blazer spindles.

From Kore3 (Very quick to respond by the way):


I've attached a picture that shows how you already have to grind a small amount of material from the
steering stop boss for the lower socket head cap screw as it is with the C5/C6 kit...it would be much more significant for an LS1 setup with a 7/8" smaller rotor diameter. Granted, our brackets are symmetric and you could gain a small amount by making them asymmetric and taking advantage of the small amount of space available at the top, but how much would just be a guess without doing the design work to back it up.

Photo that they also sent of a C6 caliper that shows the issue:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

Now, that’s not to say that it’s impossible, but I have a decision to make as so far I only own the LS1 calipers and Blazer spindles.

Possible options:
- Sell the Blazer spindles, pick up a set of Monte spindles, a FlynBye or Kore3 hub, and an adapter bracket
- Keep the Blazer spindles, buy C5 pad brackets and upgrade to 13” rotors (I'd have to ditch the GTA wheels)
- Attempt to make my own bracket for the Blazer spindles and LS1 brakes based on a modified version of the template found here: http://www.s10planet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28406

I’m really hoping to keep my GTA wheels for now as they’re light (I’ve heard as light as 17 or 18 pounds, although I’ve yet to confirm that) and I haven’t found a 17” wheel yet that I like.

Hoping to get your thoughts on this. Based on the picture above and the thought that slightly more will need to be shaved off of either the bracket or the spindle, should the LS1 brake swap with the Blazer spindle plans get scrapped?

[SSninja]

Any thoughts on these hubs?

http://flynbye.com/catalog/i245.html

Not a bad price if I decide to go with Monte spindles as the cheapest I've found the Blazer hubs was $121 a set. Those hubs would set me back $170 or so and be a one-time purchase.

Thoughts from anyone who has modified a set of G-body spindles for use with LS1 brakes?

[astroracer]

Check out the hubs I made for Bad Ast. Go back to page 19 for the intial job. I have 100.00 bucks into these with all new races and bearings.
https://www.pro-touring.com/showthread.php?20086-The-BAD-AST-Project-Faze-II/page20&highlight=bad+ast

[SSninja]

Check out the hubs I made for Bad Ast. Go back to page 19 for the intial job. I have 100.00 bucks into these with all new races and bearings.
https://www.pro-touring.com/showthread.php?20086-The-BAD-AST-Project-Faze-II/page20&highlight=bad+ast

Amazing build!

Love the work on the spindle by the way; Makes me think about modifying a set to take care of some of the bump steer that is inherent in the Monte and S10/Blazer spindles...

[SSninja]

Can someone with a set of C5 brakes do me a favor?

I'm looking for the following measurement of the abutment brackets (Pad brackets):

- Total height of the abutment bracket

I'm hoping to have this to figure out how the LS1 abutment bracket differs.

I know that from the diagram below that the distance from hole center to hole center is 128mm.


By the way, I also found a good thread with photos of the area that some have needed to ground off of the spindle for fitment:
http://ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-hybrids/1245369-g-body-c5-vette-frt-brakes-w-blazer-zq8-spindles-w-drawing.html

[SSninja]

Here's a drawing of the bracket for use with C5 brakes:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif


Ran out to my car (I have the calipers in my trunk) and did a quick rough measurement of the hole center to center for the LS1 caliper bracket:

Looks to be about 5 1/16" (Didn't have a metric tape measure), which works out to 128.5875 mm.

Given the margin of error, I'd say that it's also 128 mm.

I'll measure the height as well in a few, although I expect it to be roughly an inch shorter than the C5 bracket given the difference in rotor size.

Granted, I'm probably missing something, but I'm not sure why the same adapter bracket couldn't be used for the LS1 caliper. Is there another measurement that I'm not taking into account, aside from rotor thickness?

[rentedmule]

I ran into the same issue and just decided to sell my LS1 stuff in favor of the C5 setup. FWIW the stock 2wd blazer twin piston calipers are very similar to the LS1 calipers and most of the guys that have made the swap from the single piston S10 calipers have been really happy with them. They're heavier and they don't look as good but functionally I think they're basically the same.

[SSninja]

I ran into the same issue and just decided to sell my LS1 stuff in favor of the C5 setup. FWIW the stock 2wd blazer twin piston calipers are very similar to the LS1 calipers and most of the guys that have made the swap from the single piston S10 calipers have been really happy with them. They're heavier and they don't look as good but functionally I think they're basically the same.

Yup, it seems like I'm unfortunately headed down the same path. I was really hoping to use the LS1 brakes as my GTA wheels are

A) Already paid for
B) Very light compared to the 17" wheels I like that aren't $800+ a wheel

I think that going with the Blazer iron calipers would be a step backwards, as all of the unsprung weight that I'm hoping to drop with aluminum calipers and those wheels would be gained back by the Blazer brakes.


With some help from someone on another message board I have the measurements I was looking for earlier:

C5 abutment bracket: From CL of pins the caliper rides on to the CL of the mounting holes looks to be 2 1/8"

LS1 abutment bracket: That same distance is about 2 5/8"


Anyone have any recommendations for a 17" wheel that's relatively lightweight and inexpensive? :)

[rentedmule]

Can you make 'vette wheels fit a G-body? 17" C5 ZO6 wheels are under 20 lbs and cheap as dirt compared to quality aftermarket stuff!

[SSninja]

It's like you're reading my mind. :)

I'm researching those now along with wheel adapters. Not happy having to use them, but from what I've found so far the well-made ones seem to be safe.

[rentedmule]

I have 60 or 70 auto-X events and 3 or 4 years of daily driving on a set of 2.5" spacers without any problems (knocking on wood now)