Is a 1st Gen Disc to 4th Gen Disc swap worth it?

[barryp]

I have a complete 2002 Camaro z28 as a donor car and my ls1 swap is almost complete. Now....for brakes the question I ask is: Is it worth it to swap the 1st gen giant single piston brakes for the 4th gen disc setup? Have any links to threads or info for this swap? I've been reading threads all morning, but have only found 1st gen drum to 4th gen disc information.

I also have a rebuilt hydroboost system from a 92 astro van and hope to pair that with the 4th gen camaro master cylinder.

[evostilo]

https://www.pro-touring.com/showthread.php?61780-C5-Disc-Brake-Swap-for-67-69-Camaro

If you have the donor car you may as well add the center console with the E-brake on it, and yeah it will def. be worth while not to mention it going to save you $$$ cuz you already have most of the parts.

[makoshark]

Search C5 or LS1 brake swap. This has been done a million times and is a proven setup

[barryp]

Search C5 or LS1 brake swap. This has been done a million times and is a proven setup

So then is the C5 setup the same as the Camaro setup?

[makoshark]

C5 rear uses the same caliper as the LS1 f-bodies. C5 have different front calipers and 13" front rotors. The rear rotor is the same size as the f-body rear rotor, but has a different offset. Personally, I would do a C5 front swap onto your car and an LS1 f-body rear swap onto your car. That will give you 13" front rotors with the better C5 front caliper and allow you to utilize the f-body rear parking brake setup with 12" rear rotors. Kore 3 will hook you up with what you need to make this swap

[barryp]

C5 rear uses the same caliper as the LS1 f-bodies. C5 have different front calipers and 13" front rotors. The rear rotor is the same size as the f-body rear rotor, but has a different offset. Personally, I would do a C5 front swap onto your car and an LS1 f-body rear swap onto your car. That will give you 13" front rotors with the better C5 front caliper and allow you to utilize the f-body rear parking brake setup with 12" rear rotors. Kore 3 will hook you up with what you need to make this swap


Thanks for the info.. Unfortunately, I installed a SSBC rear disc kit before I purchased the donor car.. otherwise, I would definitely swap the rears.

[makoshark]

What size are the SSBC rear kit?

[makoshark]

You can put together a LS1 rear brake setup, which has the internal parking brake drum, for $500 or less. I would sell your SSBC rear brake kit, depending on what kit you have, and switch to the LS1

[evostilo]

13" C5 brakes in front and Ls1 camaro rears with C5 calipers and hydro boost will be the best bang for your buck, dose your SSBC kit come with an e-brake?

[barryp]

13" C5 brakes in front and Ls1 camaro rears with C5 calipers and hydro boost will be the best bang for your buck, dose your SSBC kit come with an e-brake?

I'm pretty sure the rear ssbc kit is a 10.5 rotor size... I bought and installed the kit over a year ago. It does have the ebrake as well.

So is using the late model front brakes pointless? I would love to run a C5 system up front, but I can't spend anymore $$ on anything I don't "NEED"

[barryp]

58654

Here is a recent pic for ****s and giggles

[makoshark]

What is the intent of the car? Not trying to disappoint you, but the rear brakes you have are a copy of the late 70's early 80's cadillac rear brake setup. They are not performance oriented brakes and the ebrakes on those calipers were never known to work properly. The LS1 rear brake setup uses a drum brake inside the rotor for the ebrake. They work perfectly. You also have to consider brake biasing. The rear brake setup you have now will not be ideal with the LS1 front brakes or the C5 front brakes. Considering you are putting an LS1 in your car and are wanting to use a hydraboost, I would recommend you have the proper brake setup, front to rear.

[barryp]

What is the intent of the car? Not trying to disappoint you, but the rear brakes you have are a copy of the late 70's early 80's cadillac rear brake setup. They are not performance oriented brakes and the ebrakes on those calipers were never known to work properly. The LS1 rear brake setup uses a drum brake inside the rotor for the ebrake. They work perfectly. You also have to consider brake biasing. The rear brake setup you have now will not be ideal with the LS1 front brakes or the C5 front brakes. Considering you are putting an LS1 in your car and are wanting to use a hydraboost, I would recommend you have the proper brake setup, front to rear.


Thanks for the insight man! I really want this car to be a daily driver, but I've taken many steps to make it more than that so I might as well NOT stop now. If I can put the ls1 front and rear on the car... I'll do it. My finances are getting tight and I really want to be able to drive this car soon. I've been searching a ton for ls1 front brake on first gen swaps, but the information doesn't seem to be organized at all and most recommend going with C5 fronts--as I mentioned before, I can't do this. Are the c5 and camaro setups the same despite the larger rotor? I'm already trying to find some first gen front drum hubs.

[makoshark]

LS1 front calipers are different than the C5 calipers. My 01 WS6 Trans Am would stop on a dime with good pads and better fresh brake fluid. If you already have the LS1 brake setup, front and rear, I would use it. You will not ever be satisfied with the SSBC rear setup. LS1 front brakes work very well and not a great enough difference in performance from the C5 for you to go out and buy more stuff. The only thing about the front LS1 setup is I'm not aware of anyone making a bracket to mount the caliper to the first gen spindle.

[barryp]

Apparently front drum hubs are hard to find... Can I just throw my disc rotors on a brake lathe and cut the disc off?

[makoshark]

I have an extra set of drum hubs and spindles:)

[barryp]

It looks like I may want disc spindles instead? They have the mount that is a little more shallow than the drum... perhaps this will give me more clearance for any bracket I'll need to fab up. I'm gonna head out to my car now and take some measurements and see what I come up with.. The only bummer I see with using a disc setup, then removing the disc portion to create the hub, is when I need to replace parts.


ugghhh... more work. I just want to move onto wiring lol

[makoshark]

Disc spindle is the preferred method, but a drum spindle can easily be converted. The drum hub is the way to go, if not the only way.

I hear ya, at least you are already on the verge of wiring. I'm still trying to get my new suspension installed so I can get back onto body work. I have the body roughed in, just need to spray and block for paint.

[Ranaexcavating]

I have stainless steel brackets to mount the LS abutment brackets to the spindle. The only difference between the disc and drum spindle is the upper mounting boss on the disc will require a .4687" spacer because it is not machined to the same height as the other boss. PM me if you want to buy the brackets.

I also have two hubs.

[evostilo]

muscle rods makes all the brackets and has instructions on how to for this set up

[barryp]

muscle rods makes all the brackets and has instructions on how to for this set up

Purchased the front and rear kit... thanks for the referral man!! I'll put up my review once I get it

[lucky13firebird]

brp hotrods will sell you a rebuilt drum hub set with bearings and everything you need

[lucky13firebird]

by the time you add up the labor to get stock drum hubs machined and pressin new bearing races and so on, the brp hotrods hubs will come out the same price. I used them and was happy.