C5 brake conversion
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Launching!
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 283
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C5 brake conversion I had a question i was thinking of doing a c5 brake conversion on my 97 trans am. If i were to buy the calipers from a junkyard what yrs are compatible for the conversion. I was gona get tbe bracket kit from bmr or ws6 store but they seem to want alot for the claipers id need the brackets to. Has any one done this and hows it work
On The Tree
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 157
Likes: 9
From: Oshawa, ON
You should be able to get remanufactured calipers from Napa or any other generic parts store for $100-$150 each, which is probably a better route than going used.
I'd also suggest looking into some of the 4 piston Brembo swaps. If you are going to buy calipers, rotors, pads, etc it will be very minimally more to get a 4 piston Brembo setup from a C7 / ATS / CTS-V / Camaro, and you'll get a much firmer pedal feel with the fixed caliper.
There are lots of threads on here about them, but in a nutshell the C7 JL9 / ATS swap uses 12.6" rotors and will fit under OEM 17" wheels. Only added expense you might need is wheel spacers for the spokes to clear the calipers. I did this swap and got ATS Brembo calipers from Amazon for under $150 each. It's not super organized, but the "Best brake upgrade stock SS wheels" thread just below has lots of details on this swap for part numbers and part compatibility.
Then there's also the CTS-V 14" rotor swap as well, which uses very similar calipers but the larger rotors, so you need at least 18" wheels to comfortably fit. There's a sticky at the top for that swap.
That's just my two cents - C5 swap will still be an upgrade, but for very similar cost I'd rather spend the money and time on a Brembo setup.
I'd also suggest looking into some of the 4 piston Brembo swaps. If you are going to buy calipers, rotors, pads, etc it will be very minimally more to get a 4 piston Brembo setup from a C7 / ATS / CTS-V / Camaro, and you'll get a much firmer pedal feel with the fixed caliper.
There are lots of threads on here about them, but in a nutshell the C7 JL9 / ATS swap uses 12.6" rotors and will fit under OEM 17" wheels. Only added expense you might need is wheel spacers for the spokes to clear the calipers. I did this swap and got ATS Brembo calipers from Amazon for under $150 each. It's not super organized, but the "Best brake upgrade stock SS wheels" thread just below has lots of details on this swap for part numbers and part compatibility.
Then there's also the CTS-V 14" rotor swap as well, which uses very similar calipers but the larger rotors, so you need at least 18" wheels to comfortably fit. There's a sticky at the top for that swap.
That's just my two cents - C5 swap will still be an upgrade, but for very similar cost I'd rather spend the money and time on a Brembo setup.
On The Tree
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 157
Likes: 9
From: Oshawa, ON
You don't need those brackets, but you do need 98-02 F-Body front spindles (different caliper mounting bolt pattern). And if you have access to a junk yard you can probably source those cheaper than the brackets.
I got a set of 98-02 spindles for like 35 bucks from my local pick a part. Tremendously cheaper than online, and no shipping. Any 98-02 will work, camaro, trans am, v6- v8, they are all the same spindle. I'd do the the c7/ats swap if I was going to go that far, and is what I will be doing when the funds allow. I know near me, there are not a whole lot if any Vette's in the wrecking yard that the yard owners haven't already picked over and listed/sold the parts for top dollar. Witht eh ATS-V swap, no need for special adapters, all "factory" parts (except for the custom front brake lines you'll need) and should be about the same, maybe a little cheaper in the end. The thread Andy mentioned has good part #s in the last few posts. I looked up the ATS calipers on amazon a few weeks ago and they were like 120 each with prime shipping, hard to beat that.
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