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brake upgrade questions (another question)
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 1:49 am
by alexcoqui
Ive been reading about the F-body upgrade. Form what I understand, it consist of 12" gtp rotors & F-body calipers.
the questions:
did every GTP came with 12" rotors? if not, what years? or was it a special option?
will any 98-02 F-body caliper fit my Bonneville? For example if I get a set of Baer calipers with brakets from a 12" kit, they should fit the Bonneville right?
Re: brake upgrade questions
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 2:10 am
by 00Beast
I thought it was TA brakes? That's how TommyGloves did his, IIRC. He used powerslot rotors for an 02 TA front and Ei rear.
Re: brake upgrade questions
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 4:32 am
by radomirthegreat
I believe the issue is that the GP and Bonneville use different suspension pieces. The 12" rotor upgrade appears to be a bolt-on for the Grand Prix, but you need to switch to a GP suspension in the front to upgrade.
http://www.zzperformance.com/grand_prix ... &catid=138
00Beast wrote:I thought it was TA brakes? That's how TommyGloves did his, IIRC. He used powerslot rotors for an 02 TA front and Ei rear.
The TA is an F-body, and the parts you use from that are the dual-piston aluminum calipers.
http://www.zzperformance.com/grand_prix ... &catid=138
Re: brake upgrade questions
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 10:50 am
by 2003 SSEi
lots of incorrect info here, lets get it straight
the 00+ bonnevilles have the same front brake mounting as the 97+ GP's, there is nothing that needs to be changed
the GP's NEVER came with 12" brakes, the only W bodys that had the 12" brake package was the Intrigues, and the Impalas
yes the F body calipers will work with SSEi brackets or the Impy and the Intrigue...that will result in a 12" brake package for the front. If you use your current bracket you will get 11" brakes and could use your current rotors
if you get the Impala/Intrigue Brackets, and Fbody/aftermarket Fbody brakes you can use a stock Impala/Intrigue rotor
the Vette C5 calipers will also work with the F body bracket
Re: brake upgrade questions
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 4:03 pm
by alexcoqui
there is a write up in their page where it mentions that the rotors are from a gtp. Here is the link:
http://www.clubgp.com/newforum/tm.asp?m ... =1&smode=1
1993 sle wrote:lots of incorrect info here, lets get it straight
the 00+ bonnevilles have the same front brake mounting as the 97+ GP's, there is nothing that needs to be changed
the GP's NEVER came with 12" brakes, the only W bodys that had the 12" brake package was the Intrigues, and the Impalas
yes the F body calipers will work with SSEi brackets or the Impy and the Intrigue...that will result in a 12" brake package for the front. If you use your current bracket you will get 11" brakes and could use your current rotors
if you get the Impala/Intrigue Brackets, and Fbody/aftermarket Fbody brakes you can use a stock Impala/Intrigue rotor
the Vette C5 calipers will also work with the F body bracket
To use the C5 calipers, do I need to use the F body brackets? or do I get C5 brackets?
I was gona order the kit from ZZperformance, but now I think I rather get the C5 calipers.
Re: brake upgrade questions
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 4:31 pm
by 2003 SSEi
the rotors are from a monte carlo or GP as it says in the post. the Montes have the larger rotors like the Impy
here is the deal. The F body is a dual piston, and we have a single piston caliper, the F body has 2 smaller pistons that almost equal the size of the single piston. even though the pistons are smaller they provide a better clamping power than the single....anyway, because the overall piston volumes are the same the pedal feels the same. The C5 have larger pistons and the pedal feels mushy
you can use the F body brackets with the C5 calipers, the C5 brackets will not work as they bolt up different to the Hub.
Re: brake upgrade questions
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 5:10 pm
by 2000Silverbullet
All 2000 SSEi's came standard with 12" rotors like mine.
Re: brake upgrade questions
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 6:28 pm
by 00Beast
So he's basically upgrading to a little better than SSEi parts, with the 2 piston calipers?
Re: brake upgrade questions
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 6:29 pm
by radomirthegreat
Jes, jes.
And so can you!
Re: brake upgrade questions
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 7:10 pm
by swampthing
this thread is confusing.... hypothetically if i wanted f-bdy calipers only what would i do?
Re: brake upgrade questions
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 7:17 pm
by 00Beast
Bolt them on. They will bolt on to SSEi brackets. the benefit is more clamping force from 2 smaller pistons vs. 1 large one in the center.
Re: brake upgrade questions
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 7:26 pm
by swampthing
ok... now does anybody know if all f-badly calipers are the same?
Re: brake upgrade questions
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 9:12 pm
by alexcoqui
from what I understand, is the 98-02 that fit.
for those who are confused read this:
http://www.clubgp.com/newforum/tm.asp?m ... =1&smode=1
Re: brake upgrade questions
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 10:38 pm
by alexcoqui
OK, new question.
what would be better? the F body brakes upgrade or the GXP brakes upgrade?
I read somewhere that the GXP have 13" rotors. Is this true?
Re: brake upgrade questions
Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 10:15 am
by swampthing
00Beast wrote:Bolt them on. They will bolt on to SSEi brackets. the benefit is more clamping force from 2 smaller pistons vs. 1 large one in the center.
did i mention that my cousin just totaled his WS6 :sad5: maybe i can get the brakes off it though

Re: brake upgrade questions (another question)
Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 2:59 pm
by alexcoqui
what would be better? the F body brakes upgrade or the GXP brakes upgrade?
I read somewhere that the GXP have 13" rotors. Is this true?
Re: brake upgrade questions (another question)
Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 3:02 pm
by swampthing
i don't know which is better but this tells you what the GXP's have
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2005-Pon ... QQtcZphoto
Re: brake upgrade questions (another question)
Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 3:19 pm
by alexcoqui
Yes, I was looking at that same auction yesterday. & thats why I asked. It says that the front rotors are 13" and the back ones are allmost 12". Im not shure if that means that that the system has more griping area, but it will look better for shure.
Re: brake upgrade questions (another question)
Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 3:26 pm
by swampthing
honestly i painted my calipers (and they need it again) and installed slotted cross drilled rotors and i love them they aren't any special brand i researched on ebay and got the ones with the best feedback about a year ago and haven't had any trouble out of them they stop on a dime and not warping or anything in fact these have saved my butt a few times in traffic lemme know if you want to see a close up pic of the rotors
Re: brake upgrade questions (another question)
Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 3:31 pm
by alexcoqui
If you have it, show it.
The ting is that I have to change both my front rotors & pads. & 1 of the calipers. So Im thinking that for a little more money, might as well upgrade the system.
I like the gxp one from morad on e-bay, but its $500. & then I need to buy new pads & probably the rotors. so its a bit expensive I think.