How would someone go about doing a brake upgrade in 2023? (Page 2/2)
Steven Snyder NOV 30, 10:56 PM

quote
Originally posted by Additivewalnut:

I have an 86, but yeah that was my fear with the slotted stuff. Luckily they have a normal rotor option if I decide to go the route of high quality pads. I'll look into those Porterfields!



Slots and even dimples are fine. Slots help sweep the pad surface clean. Just stay away from the rotors with holes drilled all the way through.

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1988 Pontiac Fiero 3.4 DOHC V6 5-speed track car

[This message has been edited by Steven Snyder (edited 11-30-2023).]

Brian A DEC 01, 08:12 AM
Responding to your title, I am currently upgrading my 1987 GT with Corvette C6 front rotors and calipers and C4 rear rotors and calipers. This is an established solution among others.

I bought my car a couple of months ago with the intent of converting it to a street-legal track toy. The prior owner had already converted it to wide 17-inch diameter wheels.

I wanted as much brake as I could get, but in retrospect, I may have overkilled it.

The positive attribute that attracted me to this alternative are that I won't be stressing the brakes too much, even on track days, which allows me to use those street/light track duty pads. The C6 Corvette is 600 lbs heavier than a Fiero. I have experienced brake fade on the track on other track cars I've owned and let us just say, I didn't "like'" the experience.

The negative attribute to going this route is that the Power Stop AR8259XPR front rotors that I have to use are 17.8 freaking pounds! I never considered the extra unsprung weight I would be adding when I chose this conversion. However, if I cared, I would have to admit that the huge C6 pizza pans will look glorious.
Additivewalnut DEC 01, 11:38 AM

quote
Originally posted by Brian A:

Responding to your title, I am currently upgrading my 1987 GT with Corvette C6 front rotors and calipers and C4 rear rotors and calipers. This is an established solution among others.

I bought my car a couple of months ago with the intent of converting it to a street-legal track toy. The prior owner had already converted it to wide 17-inch diameter wheels.

I wanted as much brake as I could get, but in retrospect, I may have overkilled it.

The positive attribute that attracted me to this alternative are that I won't be stressing the brakes too much, even on track days, which allows me to use those street/light track duty pads. The C6 Corvette is 600 lbs heavier than a Fiero. I have experienced brake fade on the track on other track cars I've owned and let us just say, I didn't "like'" the experience.

The negative attribute to going this route is that the Power Stop AR8259XPR front rotors that I have to use are 17.8 freaking pounds! I never considered the extra unsprung weight I would be adding when I chose this conversion. However, if I cared, I would have to admit that the huge C6 pizza pans will look glorious.



That's an absurd amount of weight LOL

Corvette brakes would be a great option honestly, but finding those parts would bankrupt me. I'd love to ride in a fiero with Vette brakes though, must feel crazy
Additivewalnut DEC 01, 11:40 AM
The guy who makes those hubs actually messaged me on Facebook, boy 400 dollars is steep. I suppose you're paying for convenience and quality but yeeesh. Are the GA brakes good enough to justify spending 400 on just hubs??
cvxjet DEC 01, 12:22 PM
Critical to car performance- and feel- is lightness...especially unsprung and/or rotational weight. I had 15 x 7 wheels with 215 and 225/60 BFG Comp TA tires back in the 90s....around 2005 I switched to 16 x 7 VOXX Monzas which only weigh 13.5 lbs and General G-Max tires(205 & 225/55)....dropped approx' 6 lbs off each front corner and 3 lbs off each rear...The difference was like going from a pickup truck to a modern sports car. The performance was better but the big difference was how it felt- including control over bumps and humps.

All new cars have 17-20 inch wheels...but those cars have electronic suspension control, modern shocks and aluminum suspension arms and uprights.

The Ford 2015 GT350 R version's main difference (From the regular GT-350) is using carbon fiber wheels- huge difference in performance. The wheels cut 11 lbs per corner.

Like Collin Chapman (Lotus cars) stated, "To improve performance, add LIGHTNESS"

Switching from my 9.5" solid discs to 12" vented discs + 88 calipers would have added 4-6 lbs....I weighed all the components and the weight came out the same between the original and the new setup>>>BECAUSE of those aluminum hubs- and you cut the cost of cutting off the discs from your cast iron hubs.

[This message has been edited by cvxjet (edited 12-01-2023).]