13" big brake conversion
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
From: SMALL TOWN GA
13" big brake conversion
Hey guys,
I have an 89 with 12" brakes and pbr calipers.
I would like to goto 13" brakes, and I am wondering if I can just get by with using my current cailipers with the 13" rotors and j55 brackets?
Is this possible, or do I have to get new calipers to fit the brackets?
Thanks !
chris
I have an 89 with 12" brakes and pbr calipers.
I would like to goto 13" brakes, and I am wondering if I can just get by with using my current cailipers with the 13" rotors and j55 brackets?
Is this possible, or do I have to get new calipers to fit the brackets?
Thanks !
chris
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,504
Likes: 4
From: Mexico Beach FL
Re: 13" big brake conversion (ETTEVROCL98)
You need:
1) J55 calipers
2) J55 caliper brackets
3) J55 rotors -- left and right, they are directional.
None of these are the same as the 12".
Tom Piper
[Modified by Tom Piper, 12:19 PM 2/25/2002]
1) J55 calipers
2) J55 caliper brackets
3) J55 rotors -- left and right, they are directional.
None of these are the same as the 12".
Tom Piper
[Modified by Tom Piper, 12:19 PM 2/25/2002]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 2,501
Likes: 177
From: Houston, Texas FEAR THE BONES
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Re: 13" big brake conversion (Tom Piper)
Go here and see everything you need: http://www.superchevyperformance.com/gsbrakes.html
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 399
Likes: 1
From: Toronto Ontario
Re: 13" big brake conversion (ETTEVROCL98)
The lowest cost method I could find to convert from 12" to 13" J55 is as follows: ( just keep it to yourself before the auto part stores catch on :D )
- buy the rotors, pads, brackets from GM
- go the your local parts supplier (Napa, Car quest etc) and order J55 calipers
- give your old calipers back as the core
Don't waste your time buying cheaper brake pads. My experience has led me to believe that the rotor needs to be somewhat matched to the brake pad material.
I've tried auto part store pads and big dollar pads. The GM pads worked the best. I bought four "euroRotors" and put Performance Friction pads on them. No joke, they lasted one month. The pads totally ate the rotors. The rotors were crossdrilled and after one month, the grooves were 0.080" deep! I did get a full refund on the rotors. I think they were made from very mild metal.
I also purchased NAPA rotors and found that they were out of round and they don't come balanced. It made my 89 vibrate at any speed above 30MPH.
Good Luck !
- buy the rotors, pads, brackets from GM
- go the your local parts supplier (Napa, Car quest etc) and order J55 calipers
- give your old calipers back as the core
Don't waste your time buying cheaper brake pads. My experience has led me to believe that the rotor needs to be somewhat matched to the brake pad material.
I've tried auto part store pads and big dollar pads. The GM pads worked the best. I bought four "euroRotors" and put Performance Friction pads on them. No joke, they lasted one month. The pads totally ate the rotors. The rotors were crossdrilled and after one month, the grooves were 0.080" deep! I did get a full refund on the rotors. I think they were made from very mild metal.
I also purchased NAPA rotors and found that they were out of round and they don't come balanced. It made my 89 vibrate at any speed above 30MPH.
Good Luck !
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Re: 13" big brake conversion (ETTEVROCL98)
to start with, you don't HAVE to get J55 calipers... yours are fine...
the pads are the same.
the advantage to 13" is greater surface area for better heat distribution.
I recommend EBC greenstuff pads. They are available from http://www.tirerack.com.
If you wish to upgrade calipers, look into getting the GS calipers. they are way cool... and much much stiffer. this is the setup I have... I also recommend getting stainless steel lines... they look cool, and because your rubber ones have aged, why not? get good ones. they must have teflon cores!!!!
the pads are the same.
the advantage to 13" is greater surface area for better heat distribution.
I recommend EBC greenstuff pads. They are available from http://www.tirerack.com.
If you wish to upgrade calipers, look into getting the GS calipers. they are way cool... and much much stiffer. this is the setup I have... I also recommend getting stainless steel lines... they look cool, and because your rubber ones have aged, why not? get good ones. they must have teflon cores!!!!
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,669
Likes: 1
Re: 13" big brake conversion (bogus)
bogus is correct. The ZR1 brakes, the J55 brakes, they are all the same as the 12" brakes. What makes a J55 brake system is the brackets and rotors. The first time I did a conversion I reused the 12" calipers and they were fine. I later upgraded to GS calipers which are powder coated black and say Corvette.
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 399
Likes: 1
From: Toronto Ontario
Re: 13" big brake conversion (snaketr)
Guys, something doesn't make sense here. Before I went to J55, I paid a visit to the GM dealer. For my 89, the J55 caliper # is not the same as the std 12" caliper. THen I purchased the calipers and they were different. I remember the J55 caliper as being wider (as viewed from the front as installed location). I did this about 5 years ago but that's what I distinctly remember.
I just pulled out my mid america catalog - page 25 -
P/N 194212 ( 88-94 non HD 12" rotor)
P/N 194164 ( 88-96 HD 13" rotor)
It looks as though the 95/96 calipers are the same for the 12 or 13" rotor but not the 88-94? :cheers:
I just pulled out my mid america catalog - page 25 -
P/N 194212 ( 88-94 non HD 12" rotor)
P/N 194164 ( 88-96 HD 13" rotor)
It looks as though the 95/96 calipers are the same for the 12 or 13" rotor but not the 88-94? :cheers:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,198
Likes: 2
From: Northern CA
Re: 13" big brake conversion (vette_tweak)
It looks as though the 95/96 calipers are the same for the 12 or 13" rotor but not the 88-94?
FWIW the 13" caliper is thicker to accomodate the thicker 13" rotor.
