I bought bmwguru's Vette brake kit and finally found time to install them. The kit was super easy to install, probably because I alrady had a brake conversion and did not have to part the front rotor and change studs. I REALLY like how the larger rotor fills the space inside the wheel, and how the powder coated caliper bracket match the color on the car. I have not pulled it out for a test ride yet, prehaps that will happen tomorrow.

Before with the LeBaron Rotor:


and after with the Vette Rotor:

[This message has been edited by topcat (edited 12-24-2011).]

so this is with the '88 fiero calipers and the 12" C4 rotors?

Correct, the kit is for 84 - 87 Fieros, and uses the 88 caliper and Vette Rotors

quote Originally posted by PerKr: so this is with the '88 fiero calipers and the 12" C4 rotors?

How did the test drive go?

I gotta ask, how are these better brakes? Other than being drilled they are still solid rotors (or that's what it looks like). And while I'm shur you get some surface area increase wouldn't it be more cost effective to do a vented, drill, slotted and larger diameter rotor?

I don't know a whole lot about the fiero brake system so I was just wondering I don't want you to think I'm coming off as a smart as or anything

The rotors are not solid, they are vented rotors. The surface area increase improves braking tremendously. I can only go by feel as I have no scientific data to support the improvement. I did not do any sort of testing to see what the stopping distance was with the previous brakes.

I can tell you my impression - I had the LeBaron brakes on all around. The braking is minimally improved with the larger rotor and the different caliper. I have more pedal feel than what I had before and it does not take as much force to bring the car to a dead stop.

I've not done any panic stops yet because I have not driven the car enough to break the new pads in, but there is a noticeable difference in braking.

Was it worth the costs?

To some the answer will be no. The LeBaron brakes are great and is a ten fold improvement over stock. The feel with the front only Vetter swap over the LeBaron swap is minimally better. Once I get the rear done it might change, but I do not think it will be a significant change.

For me the answer is yes. I did the swap for cosmetic reasons and personal preference. I never like the caliper style that I used with the Lebaron swap. The 88 caliper looks more sleek, and fits the car better in my opinion.

quote Originally posted by Niterrorz: I gotta ask, how are these better brakes? Other than being drilled they are still solid rotors (or that's what it looks like). And while I'm shur you get some surface area increase wouldn't it be more cost effective to do a vented, drill, slotted and larger diameter rotor? I don't know a whole lot about the fiero brake system so I was just wondering I don't want you to think I'm coming off as a smart as or anything

What size rims do you have on that conversion?

17"

quote Originally posted by topcat: and after with the Vette Rotor:

Where did you get the Vette Rotor and how $$$
Do you have a part#

Here is the thread: https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/087507.html

"They fit the 1988 12" Corvette rotors...it uses the front and the rear Corvette rotors."

I got the rotors from Summit Racing. They were about 150.00 shipped for all four. I can not remember the exact price, but it was not horribly high. I paid more for the rotors that were drilled and slotted. As far as bleeding the Calipers used for the LeBaron swap, yes it is problematic bleeding the brakes. The bleeder is on the bottom so I solved the bleeding issue by hooking the brake lines up, then taking the caliper off and bleeding them while the bleeder screw could be held in the upright position.

I can look for the part numbers and exact prices when I get to me desk top computer later tonight.

quote Originally posted by topcat: I got the rotors from Summit Racing. They were about 150.00 shipped for all four. I can not remember the exact price, but it was not horribly high. I paid more for the rotors that were drilled and slotted. As far as bleeding the Calipers used for the LeBaron swap, yes it is problematic bleeding the brakes. The bleeder is on the bottom so I solved the bleeding issue by hooking the brake lines up, then taking the caliper off and bleeding them while the bleeder screw could be held in the upright position. I can look for the part numbers and exact prices when I get to me desk top computer later tonight.

Thanks, I currently have the Lebaron setup and will probably switch to this setup. I really wanted these but Fiero addiction didn't make them anymore.

Once you get the Lebarons properly blead then they work great. However, these are much more actractive and will stop just as good or better.

[This message has been edited by nosrac (edited 01-06-2012).]

quote Originally posted by Niterrorz: I gotta ask, how are these better brakes? Other than being drilled they are still solid rotors (or that's what it looks like). And while I'm shur you get some surface area increase wouldn't it be more cost effective to do a vented, drill, slotted and larger diameter rotor? I don't know a whole lot about the fiero brake system so I was just wondering I don't want you to think I'm coming off as a smart as or anything

Physics, slotted or not the braking leverage increased considerably over stock by going from a less than 10" diameter rotor to a 12" rotor. From a performance stand point, I'd be happy with a solid 12" rotor similar to stock for the weight savings. It's the same principle of force as found in a breaker bar, the further away you are from the axis of rotation, the less pressure that has to be applied for movement.

I have a stock brake system. For the bmwguru setup and all parts needed for complete install, how much would it cost? Thanks.

quote Originally posted by Joseph Upson: Physics, slotted or not the braking leverage increased considerably over stock by going from a less than 10" diameter rotor to a 12" rotor. From a performance stand point, I'd be happy with a solid 12" rotor similar to stock for the weight savings. It's the same principle of force as found in a breaker bar, the further away you are from the axis of rotation, the less pressure that has to be applied for movement.

ahh but he said he used the 88 calipers so I figure just because you increase the rotor size and keep the caliper and also the brake pad size you really aren't using the extra surface area. Also if you are using 88 calipers wouldn't it be easier just to use the 88 rotors as well? They are already 5x100 drilled right?

quote Originally posted by Niterrorz: ahh but he said he used the 88 calipers so I figure just because you increase the rotor size and keep the caliper and also the brake pad size you really aren't using the extra surface area. Also if you are using 88 calipers wouldn't it be easier just to use the 88 rotors as well? They are already 5x100 drilled right?

The 88 caliper swap from the 84-87 allow you to use a vented rotor, as the 88s are vented. This is why Fiero addictions kit was so popular. The stock diameter of the 88 I think is similar to the 84-87. The idea is to be able to switch to a vented rotor, which allows the rotor to stay cooler in stressful conditions of high consistent braking and resist brake fade.

His kit also increases the diameter or the rotors... why you ask? Now the increased diameter, be it vented or not, allows the caliper to stop the car in less distance traveled. I'm not a mechanical whiz who knows how the leverage and all that works, but this simple math proved what (on the simple side) a larger diameter can do.
Think of it this way...bigger diameter for dummies. if a stock rotor is 9 inches tall (diameter) and to go from "X"mph to a dead stop in say 1 whole rotation of the wheel. Take the circumference of the 9 inch rotor and that is the calipers' distance traveled on the rotor to come to a stop. The circumference of the 9in = 28.26. So the caliper traveled 28.26 to come to a stop.

So now we know that all things the same... speed and conditions of the stop.... The caliper will stop in the same distance traveled on the rotor. That is equal to 28.26. However, with the larger rotor, the 12in circumference is actually 37.68. So the caliper will actually have 9.42 left the travel before making a full 360 degree rotation on the rotor.

So the 9in allows for a full 360 rotation... so a full 360 turn of the tire. The 12in stops you short of a full 360 turn... so the tire does not travel the full 360 rotation. Tada less distance traveled.

That math is what sold me on the solid rotor upgrade fieroguru is offering. Even w/o the vented rotor the diameter is giving me a stopping advantage. I can keep my stock stuff I already replaced new when I got the car and get an upgrade... If I had all dead parts (like when the car was inop at time of purchase) I would got with Bmwguru's kit to also gain the vented rotors.

Ah edit done... finally... darn phone gets so grumpy and changes me words too much

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Rescued & resuscitated 1984 Indy Fiero SE Pace Car Replica #770 presently reversibly modified!
SE: Stormtrooper Edition


Everything is the Previous owners fault

[This message has been edited by redraif (edited 01-06-2012).]

oh ok I didn't know the 88's had vented rotors I thought they were solid so when he went from lebaron calipers to the 88's I was confused. Totaly makes sense now thanks :-)

looks great.... glad you like it.

Dave

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www.hausofguru.com

Looks nice, I've just ordered a front kit this morning.

I read on Fieroguru's thread that the 12 3/4 rotor upgrade kit he was working on was a 35% increase in mechanical leverage, so it seems like the 12" rotors should make a pretty noticeable improvement over a stock setup.