Caliper choices

[High Plains Mopars]

Looking to convert the calipers on my Challenger to replace the old stock single piston. I've looked over a few different offerings and have to say nothing really jumps up and grabs me. So, what are some of the pro-cons of the different manufacturers in the $200 range for four piston calipers such as Wilwood, Baer, Brembo or something else out there? Also need them to be adaptable to and work with the factory 11.75 brake rotors and do not want to step back to a 11 or smaller rotor unless there is some compelling reason to do so.

I've heard Wilwoods are nice but lack dust seals to allow them a long life on the street, true? Brembo can be had as the factory Viper offering which may keep the cost down a bit. Unfortunatly the Viper kit requires the drum brake spindles which means it won't work with the 2" drop disc spindles Magnumforce is developing. What else is out there?

Input and experience on things like any specialty install pieces required, pad availability, pad and rotor wear, or other pertinent info also appreciated. For that matter, good arguements about staying with stock parts also considered.

[CarlC]

Using a C4 PBR or C5 caliper is an excellent option. Pad availability is, well, how many Corvettes are out there? Whatever you desire.

It's also very nice to be able to go to your local NAPA parts store and pick up a $10 rebuild kit. Plus if the caliper dies on the road every parts store will have something that will work.

Track performance, if the correct pad is used, can be very good. However, caliper choice should be made based on what master cylinder, assist system, and wheels you are using. Caliper/wheel clearance should be verified.

These are just GM choices but making adapter, if someone already hasn't, should be straight forward. However, using OE parts has always been for me a first-choice for me if applicable.

My 2-cents.

[1FstChevy]

I agree C5 2pot caliper with a set of HAWK HPS pads is your best route, there are a variety of companies that have kits out there too retro fit them; more so than the newer C6 6pot caliper since the C5 is soo much more affordable.

Check out www.Kore3.com I know they have an expanded product line for GM cars, but if they don't have a kit for you Mopar guys I'd still give Tobin a call, hes pretty knowledgeable and could probably point you in the right direction.

I agree with the above reply as well, you can't get better than the OEM parts, especially for long-term availability, instead of a kit that only has 1 pad available at whatever price they name. I also picked up that NAPA C5 rebuild kit! But of course thats the only way to get it outside of them being provided with NEW GM AC-Delco pads at the stealership.

[Apogee]

You may be limiting yourself by requiring that it be compatible with the 11.75" rotors you currently run. Without knowing the swept friction surface dimension, we don't know what pads will fit and therefore what calipers as well. Specifying your wheel diameter and make/model along with BS specs would be a starting point as ultimately, that's what determines your max rotor diameter and caliper combination.

Just FYI, Viper parts don't come cheap. Certain OE comonents can be had for relatively good deals...Viper parts are not one of them. If you want Brembos, CTS-V's may be an option if you don't mind running wide annulus rotors in the 14" diameter range and 18" or larger wheels.

[High Plains Mopars]

Never thought about the vette calipers. There are a lot of positives to that idea, especially if they can be picked up without the corvette logo on them.

Viper calipers can be picked up for $160 for used to $300 for new if you shop around. Rebuilts are right around the $225 mark. These are a four piston, fixed caliper design that is pretty nice. I also have access to the adapter kit to put these in place for a mere $150, so it isn't a huge expense going this route and there is a decent assort of pad compounds out there.

Rotor limitation is due to wheels. I've already got a nice set of lightweight, 15" wheels that I don't really want to replace, so dumping $2500 or more to change out my wheel and tires just to gain 1.25" worth of brake rotors and spend another $1500 on a brake kit is money I'd rather spend on other things. 11.75" is the biggest factory rotor available to these and in stock form works pretty darn good. I'd like to change calipers to get some better and more consistent clamping force with some increased road feel.

Master cylinder is a lightweight mopar unit, similar to Wilwoods, with no power assist system.

I seem to recall reading about some nascar spec set ups in the 12" range, but again, dumping a couple grand for new spindles, brackets, rotors and calipers doesn't make much sense to me for a .25" gain.

Anyone with experience with SSBC units?

What is it like living with Wilwoods on the street?

[1FstChevy]

Welp you may be SOL with most all big modern calipers using an 11.75" Rotor inside of a 15" wheel!!!

I'm thinking you should look into using a C4 Corvette Caliper from the mid 80's-mid 90s Vettes. Its a 2 piston unit, smaller than the large new ones and I've read a variety of people have crafted up brackets to bolt them onto their classic cars. Although still not as strong as the C5 calipers I've read that the C4's do a pretty good job and is a healthy improvement over old 60's-70's stuff.

So look that route perhaps ^^^ I know for a fact that new or remanufactured C4 caliper sets come up on eBay frequently if you search under "Corvette Caliper" and the rear calipers have the ebrake thats the built in lever so you'd have another plus there if you wanted to use the set of 4.

[Apogee]

C4 calipers are 2-piston floaters with 38mm pistons. They are lower profile than their C5/C6 counterparts and may fit over an 11.75" rotor and inside of a 15" wheel...but I don't think so. The easy way to check would be to get the Baer fitment templates for their "Track" front kit as they're just C4 calipers and drop them inside the wheel to check. If it doesn't give the rotor diameter on the template, get that info from Baer and then you can adjust the template accordingly for your rotor diameter and offset.

I've never run SSBC stuff and probably won't.

Wilwood calipers do fine on the street with regular maintenance/cleaning.

[1FstChevy]

Whoops not 4pot sorry, maybe I'm thinking of an aftermarket unit... but like I said still better than whats on it now I'm sure.

[MrQuick]

I've got these on my Barracuda. Worked real nice for its day.

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/de...QA1184407.html

Parts are still cheap and they fit under a stock Ralley.

[dannyho]

yea, i was going to say , wasn't there a 4 pot disc brake setup for early mopars that came factory. even if it didn't comeon the rear, it's probably not that hard to adapt.

[High Plains Mopars]

Yeah, those do exist. I'm suprised they have them for under $150 as they are somewhat rare, even by mopar standards. They also are limited to standard compound brake pads and are made of cast iron so they are kind of heavy.

Thanks for the input so far.

[High Plains Mopars]

So no one out there is using Baers?

I'm looking for feedback on how owners like the calipers they are using. I can figure out the adapting part, so don't get hung up on teh mopar application.

[CarlC]

Unless you step up to the very pricey stuff from Baer most of it is just C4/4th-gen Z28 parts based.

I have had very good luck with C4 front parts, but if I was going to do it again I'd choose C5.

[High Plains Mopars]

Wilwood calipers do fine on the street with regular maintenance/cleaning.

What would "regular maintanance" consist of and on what type of schedule?

[Apogee]

What would "regular maintanance" consist of and on what type of schedule?

Most of my hot rod buddies run Wilwood on their junk and they'll clean around the pistons with a soft nylon brush and brake cleaner every 3000-5000 miles or so. It's really not that intensive or difficult. I'm not sure what Wilwood recommends (but would recommend asking them or a distributor like Frank @ Prodigy), but several of my friends have 40,000 plus miles without any issues and have the rock chips to prove it.

There's nothing wrong with Baer components, low or high-end. The C4 "Track" stuff is good compared to most everything before it and a step up for almost all but modern systems. The C5 "GT" stuff is better in almost every way except wheel fitment. The C6 base stuff is just an incremental improvement of the C5 design with the C6 Z51 being essentially a rotor size upgrade. Baer's monoblock are the bees knees and should be comparable to other premium monoblocks on the market, more or less.

Are you still set on running the 11.75" rotors or are you leaning towards bigger rotors yet?

Tobin

[LateNight72]

Some of the newer GM's come with 11.75" / Dual-Piston brake setups from the factory. Lucerne V6, Impala '06+, Monte '06+ all will have the Dual Piston calipers for 11.75" Rotors. They can be had at a song too.. Around $30 a pop.

[High Plains Mopars]

Yeah, wheel size is going to keep me in the 11.75 rotors. Wilwoods seem to be the value leader at this point since I can pick up a pair of used Dynalites for around a couple hundred bucks, or about half the cost of the similar Viper set up. I haven't priced out the C4 or C5 calipers/adapters yet.

[High Plains Mopars]

So who here on the board can supply Wilwood calipers? I'm looking for Dynalites in #5094 or #6815. Would need a pair.

[MrQuick]

Frank "Prodigy customs" is the man.

[High Plains Mopars]

Frank is hooking me up, thanks!