[lucky1]

Hi, I have a front disc brake conversion on my 65 GTO. SSBC
It has single piston calipers and basic rotors. I have 15" wheels.

I am not satisfied with the stopping power and would like to improve it.

Can I swap the calipers and rotors on a budget ?
Maybe even using GM parts ?

Thank you.

[Scarebird]

Try Hawk HPS pads

[kyle_blake]

Who supplied to conversion kit for you to switch front from drum to disk? if it wasn't you in charge of the job .....then time to review the job in question

[78w72]

Originally Posted by Scarebird

Try Hawk HPS pads

x2 on the hawk pads. they made a big improvement on my 2nd gen firebird. i used powerstop vented, not drilled, rotors & stock rear drums & that car stops better than my 81 t/a with 4 wheel discs. very little dust & no warm up time required, stops as good as stock brakes when cold.

[JLMounce]

What about the stopping power is lacking? Or specifically what feel would you like more of?

The factory 11" rotor and single piston caliper provides quite a lot of braking torque. If you're not able to lock up those brakes, more than likely there's something in the installation that isn't quite right. Residual air in the system, improperly sized or adjusted brake booster pushrod etc.

As mentioned earlier, you can also tune the characteristics of how the braking system feels by trying different pads. If you like a lot of initial bite, I like the Carbotech 1521. It bites quick and has modulation you can feel. It's low dust and noise and also friendly to rotors.

You can also add braided soft line which will firm up the pedal a bit further if that's what you're after.

Regardless of the hard parts in the system, if you have a soft, late pedal and you don't have the ability to lock up the brakes, something is wrong with the system.

[Tom Vaught]

Quite a few different diameter single piston calipers out there.
The DIAMETER OF THE CALIPER PISTON CAN HAVE A MAJOR EFFECT ON THE BRAKING.

Food for thought.

Tom V.

[JLMounce]

Originally Posted by Tom Vaught

Quite a few different diameter single piston calipers out there.
The DIAMETER OF THE CALIPER PISTON CAN HAVE A MAJOR EFFECT ON THE BRAKING.

Food for thought.

Tom V.

More than likely his kit uses the remanufactured GM single piston caliper. The piston size is 2.5" on these units.

One thing the OP could do is look at Wildwood D52 calipers. These are a direct bolt-on for the factory style kits and increases the piston area from 4.91 sq. in. to 6. 28 sq. in.

The larger caliper piston area will increase brake torque applied at the same line pressure. Going to a higher coefficent pad, or a larger rotor also increases this.

That said however, for a given pressure you may be increasing brake torque, but if the OP currently has a problem with the system as a whole, those items are only a bandaid.

Using a pretty standard tire like a 225 section width 15" tire (Cooper Cobra, BF Goodrich etc.) that are typically run on these cars, the factory 11" rotor and 2.5" single piston caliper system should easily lock up those wheels in a panic stop situation.

If they don't, the OP needs to address why that's the case, before slamming new parts on it. More than likely fixing the problem, will garner the type of stopping power that is being desired.

[TCSGTO]

Stock drums will lock up a 215 tire. The tire stops the car, not the brakes. Upgrading brakes without upgrading tires might give the sensation of improved braking but stopping distance won’t change that much.

[lucky1]

Hi, SSBC disc brake conversion. Working properly.

[lucky1]

Originally Posted by Scarebird

Try Hawk HPS pads

Ordered some today, thanks.

[lucky1]

Originally Posted by JLMounce

More than likely his kit uses the remanufactured GM single piston caliper. The piston size is 2.5" on these units.

One thing the OP could do is look at Wildwood D52 calipers. These are a direct bolt-on for the factory style kits and increases the piston area from 4.91 sq. in. to 6. 28 sq. in.

The larger caliper piston area will increase brake torque applied at the same line pressure. Going to a higher coefficent pad, or a larger rotor also increases this.

That said however, for a given pressure you may be increasing brake torque, but if the OP currently has a problem with the system as a whole, those items are only a bandaid.

Using a pretty standard tire like a 225 section width 15" tire (Cooper Cobra, BF Goodrich etc.) that are typically run on these cars, the factory 11" rotor and 2.5" single piston caliper system should easily lock up those wheels in a panic stop situation.

If they don't, the OP needs to address why that's the case, before slamming new parts on it. More than likely fixing the problem, will garner the type of stopping power that is being desired.

Ordered Hawk pads today, if I don't get desired results I will get the Wilwood calipers. Tks.

[lucky1]

Originally Posted by 78w72

x2 on the hawk pads. they made a big improvement on my 2nd gen firebird. i used powerstop vented, not drilled, rotors & stock rear drums & that car stops better than my 81 t/a with 4 wheel discs. very little dust & no warm up time required, stops as good as stock brakes when cold.

Ordered some today. Tks.

[78w72]

Originally Posted by lucky1

Ordered some today. Tks.

you should like the hawks & notice an improvement. just be sure to do the suggested bedding in procedure... & if youre installing them on used rotors be sure to scuff them up & clean with brake cleaner or get them turned just to expose fresh metal for the new pads to bed into.

[lucky1]

Got the pads on the car. Very pleased with the improvement!!

Thanks, as always for the help.

[78w72]

glad you like them. did you do the bedding in procedure? mine really improved after that & a few miles.

[lucky1]

Originally Posted by 78w72

glad you like them. did you do the bedding in procedure? mine really improved after that & a few miles.

Yep, as the label said. when I took the pads out of the box the difference was noticeable. I could slid my fingers across the stock pads without much effort.
The Hawk pads had a LOT more friction.

Thanks again.