Camaro Brake Swap
- Thread starter minitrucking02
- Start date
Italianjoe1
Member
Yeah the camaro uses a fine thread, M10x1.0, instead of the coarse M10x1.5 the sonic has. I had to go get new banjo bolts to fit the camaro calipers, if I had known (or read properly), I would have ordered them with the brake parts and saved myself an hour and a half of running around in a borrowed car.
minitrucking02
New member
most calipers should come with a new banjo, if not just take them off the junkyard core.
dorman number for the banjo is 14100
dorman number for the banjo is 14100
Italianjoe1
Member
I didn't buy junkyard cores, I paid the $18 core charge and left it for now, I can return my sonic calipers, or I've got other used calipers floating around. If someone needed a complete sonic set I have it with really good OEM pads, rotors are lightly warped but could be easily turned.
I ended up paying $17 to get the two bolts, if I had ordered them online would have saved me about $10, but whatever.
rodslinger
Member
Did this swap today.... Some concerns
I did this swap today. Super easy. I didn't do the painted calipers but did order the banjo bolts at the same time. Cost about $225 all in. Pleased with the results but had a few concerns.
As a few others had mentioned, the rotor isn't centered in the bracket. One fix was to have the bracket tabs shaved down a bit which it probably a VERY good idea. I'll probably be doing this myself next weekend. The issue I see is with the outboard brake pad and how it sits right at the edge of the bracket. If the bracket spacing isn't corrected there is potential for the outboard pad to come out as it wears.
https://goo.gl/photos/u716SRP2gr8YwmtE6
It will take some care and patience to bleed them also due to how the bleed port lines up. The easiest way for me to do it was just rotate the caliper upward a bit to help those last few bubbles get out.
https://goo.gl/photos/3YQVBHLX7bzByTgf9
The other concern I have is how the brake hose mounts to the caliper and how the hose rests on the caliper body. This is a point of contact that could cause wear through the hose and a leak. I didn't want to double stack any washers just yet. I'm going to see if any of the aftermarket replacement brake lines have a slight angle or thicker body on the brake hose so that it doesn't touch the caliper when mounted.
https://goo.gl/photos/F2UCakrR9JZDTjGZ7
I did this swap today. Super easy. I didn't do the painted calipers but did order the banjo bolts at the same time. Cost about $225 all in. Pleased with the results but had a few concerns.
As a few others had mentioned, the rotor isn't centered in the bracket. One fix was to have the bracket tabs shaved down a bit which it probably a VERY good idea. I'll probably be doing this myself next weekend. The issue I see is with the outboard brake pad and how it sits right at the edge of the bracket. If the bracket spacing isn't corrected there is potential for the outboard pad to come out as it wears.
https://goo.gl/photos/u716SRP2gr8YwmtE6
It will take some care and patience to bleed them also due to how the bleed port lines up. The easiest way for me to do it was just rotate the caliper upward a bit to help those last few bubbles get out.
https://goo.gl/photos/3YQVBHLX7bzByTgf9
The other concern I have is how the brake hose mounts to the caliper and how the hose rests on the caliper body. This is a point of contact that could cause wear through the hose and a leak. I didn't want to double stack any washers just yet. I'm going to see if any of the aftermarket replacement brake lines have a slight angle or thicker body on the brake hose so that it doesn't touch the caliper when mounted.
https://goo.gl/photos/F2UCakrR9JZDTjGZ7
rodslinger
Member
So far these brakes feel very nice. There is a little more overall travel but it is super linear and progressive. Way easier to modulate than before. About the other issues...
I noticed ZZP has stainless steel brake lines for the front. The image shows the banjo end has a slight angle which would probably fix the contact with the caliper. I'm going to order a set and test them out. I'm also going to have the tabs on the brackets shaved a bit to center the caliper better until I feel like trying something else.
I had another thought also since some people are using wheel spacers. Get a 5mm to 8mm wheel spacer and put it BEHIND the rotor. That would effectively center the rotor and pull the wheel out a bit for appearance purposes.
I started trying to figure out where the calipers came from that GM was going to use for the Sonic brake upgrade kit. I found a copy of the 2014 GM performance parts catalog that shows the Sonic brake kit in there. It is on page 41.
http://media.gm.com/content/dam/Med...erfPartsCatalog/ChevroletPerfPartsCatalog.pdf
I looked at images of all sorts of GM vehicles to see if they matched. Nothing made me think it was a part robbed from another car. I also can't tell for sure if the mounting tabs are part of cast or bolted to the caliper. I ended up looking at aftermarket and other OEM's to see where it was off the shelf from someone else. My best guess is they may have tried to get Wildwood to do an OEM run on some of their calipers without their branding and custom mount tabs.
These looks similar and the pad style looks the same. I'll measure the brackets when I take them off and see if they match any of the Wildwood calipers.
Wilwood Disc Brakes - SLC56 Calipers
I noticed ZZP has stainless steel brake lines for the front. The image shows the banjo end has a slight angle which would probably fix the contact with the caliper. I'm going to order a set and test them out. I'm also going to have the tabs on the brackets shaved a bit to center the caliper better until I feel like trying something else.
I had another thought also since some people are using wheel spacers. Get a 5mm to 8mm wheel spacer and put it BEHIND the rotor. That would effectively center the rotor and pull the wheel out a bit for appearance purposes.
I started trying to figure out where the calipers came from that GM was going to use for the Sonic brake upgrade kit. I found a copy of the 2014 GM performance parts catalog that shows the Sonic brake kit in there. It is on page 41.
http://media.gm.com/content/dam/Med...erfPartsCatalog/ChevroletPerfPartsCatalog.pdf
I looked at images of all sorts of GM vehicles to see if they matched. Nothing made me think it was a part robbed from another car. I also can't tell for sure if the mounting tabs are part of cast or bolted to the caliper. I ended up looking at aftermarket and other OEM's to see where it was off the shelf from someone else. My best guess is they may have tried to get Wildwood to do an OEM run on some of their calipers without their branding and custom mount tabs.
These looks similar and the pad style looks the same. I'll measure the brackets when I take them off and see if they match any of the Wildwood calipers.
Wilwood Disc Brakes - SLC56 Calipers
carsNskis
New member
I assumed they were using opel parts, since the OPC cars share the chassis. I think the astra H and J share the front suspension, they ran a Brembo setup with larger rotors
[emoji593][emoji809][emoji472]
Last edited:
rodslinger
Member
I skimmed through those too. Looked like the OPC models with Brembos had a 5x115mm wheel bolt pattern versus the 5x105 on the non-OPC cars.
Didn't check yet to see if it was only a different wheel bearing or the entire steering knuckle and suspension was different to make that change.
carsNskis
New member
Ahh yes I did forget about the 115 pcd, but I did notice the brembo calipers look suspiciously like the camaro SS rear brakes.
Check these out
https://www.opel-tuning.nl/set-brembo-calipers-for-astra-j-and-insignia-opc.html
[emoji593][emoji809][emoji472]
rodslinger
Member
Kept digging...
There might be some options on the OPC stuff. I started to compare some OEM part numbers between different Cruze models and some of the Opel stuff. Even though some have a 5x105 bolt pattern and others have a 5-115, most of the actual suspension bits like control arms, steering knuckle and axles were carrying the same part numbers. Only the wheel bearing/hub and the brake components have a different part number. Looks like those OPC bits would bolt up just fine to the non OPC knuckles. Only have to deal with the rotors having a different bolt pattern.
Speaking of rotor bolt patterns..... I also spent a while going through the entire Bendix brake rotor specifications index comparing everything to the Encore and Sonic rotors. Was trying to see what might be a better rotor to match to the Camaro caliper so that the rotor is more evenly centered in the caliper bracket and maybe a little thicker to reduce the chance of the pad pushing out as it wears. I found TWO and after looking at pictures of them I'm guessing these are the same rotors ZZP used for their kit. They just re-drilled them which you can see in their product photos.
These are the rotors that look to match up best.
Bendix P/N PRT6295
302mm diameter (versus 300 mm for Encore)
28mm nominal rotor thickness (2mm larger than Encore)
39mm overall thickness (slightly less than Encore which would center the rotor in the bracket)
72.5mm center bore (larger than Encore)
5x127mm wheel stud pattern (need to redrill)
OR
Bendix P/N PRT5843
302mm diameter
28.10mm nominal rotor thickness
38mm overall thickness
72.5mm center bore
5x127mm wheel stud pattern
I went back and checked their application guide to see what these fit then looked at aftermarket options for these same rotors. FYI... Those rotors are for a Dodge Journey or Grand Caravan. Checking aftermarket I found that Centric and StopTech makes some slotted and drilled units for those cars.
More Information for POWER STOP AR8797XPR
Am thinking a set of these re-drilled for the correct stud pattern would be a near perfect match for the Camaro calipers. Might order a set if I can find someone local to re-drill them for me.
There might be some options on the OPC stuff. I started to compare some OEM part numbers between different Cruze models and some of the Opel stuff. Even though some have a 5x105 bolt pattern and others have a 5-115, most of the actual suspension bits like control arms, steering knuckle and axles were carrying the same part numbers. Only the wheel bearing/hub and the brake components have a different part number. Looks like those OPC bits would bolt up just fine to the non OPC knuckles. Only have to deal with the rotors having a different bolt pattern.
Speaking of rotor bolt patterns..... I also spent a while going through the entire Bendix brake rotor specifications index comparing everything to the Encore and Sonic rotors. Was trying to see what might be a better rotor to match to the Camaro caliper so that the rotor is more evenly centered in the caliper bracket and maybe a little thicker to reduce the chance of the pad pushing out as it wears. I found TWO and after looking at pictures of them I'm guessing these are the same rotors ZZP used for their kit. They just re-drilled them which you can see in their product photos.
These are the rotors that look to match up best.
Bendix P/N PRT6295
302mm diameter (versus 300 mm for Encore)
28mm nominal rotor thickness (2mm larger than Encore)
39mm overall thickness (slightly less than Encore which would center the rotor in the bracket)
72.5mm center bore (larger than Encore)
5x127mm wheel stud pattern (need to redrill)
OR
Bendix P/N PRT5843
302mm diameter
28.10mm nominal rotor thickness
38mm overall thickness
72.5mm center bore
5x127mm wheel stud pattern
I went back and checked their application guide to see what these fit then looked at aftermarket options for these same rotors. FYI... Those rotors are for a Dodge Journey or Grand Caravan. Checking aftermarket I found that Centric and StopTech makes some slotted and drilled units for those cars.
More Information for POWER STOP AR8797XPR
Am thinking a set of these re-drilled for the correct stud pattern would be a near perfect match for the Camaro calipers. Might order a set if I can find someone local to re-drill them for me.
minitrucking02
New member
So now that everyone is saying the pad can "fall out" after 1 year and 20k miles I'm starting to hear some squeals. Not sure if it is the rears ready to go (they have 55k) or what, but I will check the fronts, re-lube and give you all an update.
Probably to come by October.
Probably to come by October.
rodslinger
Member
Maybe not. I have a Regal GS parked next to my Sonic. Was already thinking about cracking one of the wheels off and looking at the mount tabs and dimensions. I'm just lazy. What I plan to do in a day or two gets done in a month or two.
I have a 15 Regal T/AWD myself. no brembos on those. problem is that pads and rotors are freaking expensive for those.
But then again we wouldn't be using the rotors right? just the caliper, bracket, and pads?
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rodslinger
Member
Possibly. I don't think they are the right dimensions though and would still need to be redrilled for the bolt pattern. My best guess is the rotors used in the ZZP kit are Powerstop units originally made for Dodge Caravan and Journey. The diameter, thickness and offset would be near perfect for use with the Camaro Caliper swap.
I haven't gotten back on this since installation. Trying to finish money making projects first.
minitrucking02
New member
Im amazed and what other people have found. Im still using the same basic setup without issues, but yea having thicker rotors i can only imagine how much better they would perform, along with milling out the brackets.
Good find
schofell84
New member
Just wanted to throw my two cents into the ring:
The OP doesnt mention needing the Camaro caliper brackets- just for clarity.
There are two Dorman banjo bolt P/N's listed in the thread. I imagine either will work.
Cadillac ATS calipers seem to be an option as well.
The OP doesnt mention needing the Camaro caliper brackets- just for clarity.
There are two Dorman banjo bolt P/N's listed in the thread. I imagine either will work.
Cadillac ATS calipers seem to be an option as well.
Ameyejesus
New member
If I'm not mistaken the Power Stop z23 Evolution brake kit comes with everything you need except the banjo bolts for $282.39.
Calipers come pre painted red with zinc coated slotted rotors.
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Calipers come pre painted red with zinc coated slotted rotors.
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Ameyejesus
New member
Upon further inspection the rotors that come with it you would not be able to use
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Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk