I'm in the process of making all the Brackets and installing 11.25 Lebaron rotors with camero front calipers on all four corners on my GT. I'm using this page ( http://www.ipass.net/~fieroman/terranexus/fieroman/walt/walt.htm ) for the adapter brackets dimensions, but not much else.
The design of the rear brackets will not work with camero calipers without some modifying.
The casting bosses are in the way plus the piston housing must be larger than the cadilac calipers the brackets were designed for. Front Hubs ready to go. I may try to lighten the modified fiero hub to reduce the unsprung weight. Perfect fit.
------------------ -Brian, Toolmaker Lincoln, NE 87' GT- Turbo Charged, Modified 2.8- 235 HP w/ 8 psi Boost,water Injected.
IP: Logged
10:17 PM
PFF
System Bot
Sep 19th, 2002
Adrift Member
Posts: 1796 From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Registered: Jun 2001
Today I lightened the modified front hubs by drilling 24 1/2" holes in them. This knocked off about 1lbs total. I'm not going to remove any more material for fear of weakening them and making them more likely to warp when the wheel is tightened.
Now I'm installing longer wheel studs 55mm, installing new bearing's and tomorrow I start installing the parts on the car.
IP: Logged
08:55 PM
Nashco Member
Posts: 4144 From: Portland, OR Registered: Dec 2000
Interesting idea. Make sure to keep an eye on that hub frequently; the hub is subject to a ton of heat (from the brakes), and does a lot of expanding and contracting. Cross drilled rotors can get cracks in them fairly easily; they minimize this by cryo-treating them or that other crazy vibrating stress-relief (can't remember the name!) and radiusing the edges of the holes. You may want to think about at least radiusing the edges, if not doing the cryo treatment. Food for thought...
I love seeing pictures of build-ups, really reinforces what's going on. Thanks!
Good point about the holes, I know all about how important it is to properly stress releive a part(I've seen 4" thick pieces of hardened tool steel crack clean into around non-radiused hole's) Just thinking about a cheaply made cross drilled cast iron rotor makes me cringe, I'd hate to see one let go.
Even if a crack was to form it wouldn't do much, maybe warp the rotor, there isn't alot of stress where I drilled the holes.
IP: Logged
11:51 PM
Sep 20th, 2002
jelly2m8 Member
Posts: 6244 From: Nova Scotia, Canada Registered: Jul 2001
I finished the swap up this weekend I did run into a few problems, all of them were clearance issues with casting flash on the calipers that needed to be machined off.
A nut was used for a spacer on the rear mount to give the proper offset so the caliper would function right.
I did run into the same problem that Jelly2m8 had, caliper hitting the shock mount. But when I loaded the suspension, and turned the wheels lock-to-lock the problem wasen't there. The steering rack runs out of travel before the caliper hits the shock mount, about 1/2" clearance between them.
Total cost was just under $500 and about 10 days work. I'll post some finished pics with the wheels later.
[This message has been edited by sluppy123 (edited 09-23-2002).]
IP: Logged
04:10 PM
fieroman_5000 Member
Posts: 1407 From: Ann Arbor, MI, USA Registered: Oct 2001
I should have done this swap A long time ago. They don't even compare to the stock brakes let alone the Grand Am brakes I had before. Pedal pressure is perfect, If You really stomp on them it's like hitting a brick wall. I love'em!!!
good work sluppy, I've been a machinest for 27 years and you've done some quality machining there... One question,did you use one of the big bore master cylinders???I've been collecting parts to do a Zettner conversion for a while now,not the most important thing on my list of to-do's but getting closer... My name is Brian by the way....
I've been a machinist for about 5 years, Mostly CNC mills I even have a Bridgeport in the Garage, It's nice to make the parts right next to the car. I already had a full-size blazer master cylinder installed with the Grand-AM brakes, Pedal travel and feel is just about perfect.
IP: Logged
12:06 AM
jelly2m8 Member
Posts: 6244 From: Nova Scotia, Canada Registered: Jul 2001
Originally posted by sluppy123: I already had a full-size blazer master cylinder installed with the Grand-AM brakes, Pedal travel and feel is just about perfect.
You got that right! After driving on the 11.25's for a week then hopping back in my 88, I swore the calipers were froze solid!!!
IP: Logged
12:33 AM
fieroX Member
Posts: 5234 From: wichita, Ks Registered: Oct 2001
LUD-You add about 1/2" to the width of the front end, the Labaron rotors are about 1/4" thick on the seat.
I'm sure you could just do the fronts, you would just need a proportioning valve. I never looked into putting the Le1 calipers on, I do know the brackes would need to be redesigned. Someday I may try to make some brackets for the Le1 calipers of some 4 piston calipers.
I also had to fab caliper brackets to mount the stock calipers outward to fit over the Firebird rotors that I chose.
Your work looks very nice, but I would like to offer some kindly, constructive criticism. I would remove the nuts that you are using as spacers and at least replace them with a piece of solid flat stock. There is a shitload of bending and twisting torgue that goes on when you apply the brakes, and your nice new bracket is only supported against the small faces of the spacer nuts.
If possible, you should make a spacer that traces the knuckle and have it welded to the new bracket. I know that you will have to refinish the bracket, but if it were me, I think the extra work would be worth it.
But I could be wrong. Check the pads after about 1000 miles and see if they are wearing funny.
Good luck with what appears to be a job well done.
I have 215/45 r17 wheels in the front,with 35 mm offset(hope thatīs right?!),do you think the wheels will stand out the fenders,maybe you have the same width?
the comment about the nut as spacer sounds good,as I first saw your construction I thought itīs only a temporarily solution,but if I were you I would change that...
thanks, LUD
------------------ give me fuel,give me fire,give me that which I desire!
