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Buying the Camaro SS brake calipers?

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2019 6:36 am
by Groundczero
I need to put new pads and rotors on the car and was debating doing calipers while I have tires off.

I noticed people are swapping the Camaro SS, Chevy SS, and CTSV calipers on the cars.

I am wondering the best route to purchase. I am seeing most people sourcing used, but I was able to find remanufactured at what looks to be equivalent prices as used. What are peoples thoughts on this route.

I know they do not say chevy or are painted up, but they are clearly the brembo calipers

Camaro SS 2012
https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/wea ... e+calipers

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web/P ... 20calipers

CTS-V 2012
https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web/P ... 20calipers

Re: Buying the Camaro SS brake calipers?

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2019 9:09 am
by Navy Lifer
Used Brembo calipers can be "refreshed" with seal kits, if there are any issues - my inclination is using new or remanufactured, if you have any doubts about skills in re-sealing the calipers.

As to the sources listed, have you compared costs when core fees are included for the remanufactured calipers?

If you are using a wheel other than stock steel, the clearance with caliper and/or pad will have to be addressed, depending on size/source of the wheels.

I understand the favorable view on going to the Brembo system--I have them on my PPV.

Are you looking for an increase in performance, or is it cosmetics? If performance, I'm curious whether you've found the OE system lacking? The reality is that the PPV front rotor is only marginally smaller in diameter, and it actually offers greater mass--important for handling thermal transients.

The OE PPV brake pads are what makes the system work--but they do make noise and dust a good bit. There are many options for pads that could address this, and with high-performance brakes--OE, Brembo, or whatever an owner chooses--pad selection is vital to how well (or poorly) a system performs, no matter how many pistons are pushing on the pads, or the rotor sizes

What I'm saying is this--the combination of new parts does not guarantee the setup will exceed the capabilities of the stock system, assuming the comparison is new vs new, rather than worn-out vs new, which will always be "better". The desire to use something other than OE spec pads, to get away from the dust, noise and rotor wear issues, results in a compromise that often will not measure up to the as-new performance of the OE brake system.

Not to dissuade you, but mainly for informed discussion.

Re: Buying the Camaro SS brake calipers?

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2019 10:36 am
by Ilikemtb999
I purchased my calipers with lines for $300 shipped on eBay. The pads could of been reused but I like new pads on new rotors. The rotors I sourced on amazon. All in at about $500.

Re: Buying the Camaro SS brake calipers?

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2019 5:16 pm
by Groundczero
Navy Lifer wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2019 9:09 am Used Brembo calipers can be "refreshed" with seal kits, if there are any issues - my inclination is using new or remanufactured, if you have any doubts about skills in re-sealing the calipers.

As to the sources listed, have you compared costs when core fees are included for the remanufactured calipers?

If you are using a wheel other than stock steel, the clearance with caliper and/or pad will have to be addressed, depending on size/source of the wheels.

I understand the favorable view on going to the Brembo system--I have them on my PPV.

Are you looking for an increase in performance, or is it cosmetics? If performance, I'm curious whether you've found the OE system lacking? The reality is that the PPV front rotor is only marginally smaller in diameter, and it actually offers greater mass--important for handling thermal transients.

The OE PPV brake pads are what makes the system work--but they do make noise and dust a good bit. There are many options for pads that could address this, and with high-performance brakes--OE, Brembo, or whatever an owner chooses--pad selection is vital to how well (or poorly) a system performs, no matter how many pistons are pushing on the pads, or the rotor sizes

What I'm saying is this--the combination of new parts does not guarantee the setup will exceed the capabilities of the stock system, assuming the comparison is new vs new, rather than worn-out vs new, which will always be "better". The desire to use something other than OE spec pads, to get away from the dust, noise and rotor wear issues, results in a compromise that often will not measure up to the as-new performance of the OE brake system.

Not to dissuade you, but mainly for informed discussion.
I am looking for a little bump in performance and future proofing the vehicle. My understanding is the SS brakes a slightly better than the stock PPV, the bigger reason I am looking at this is there are a lot more Camaro SS's running around, and people using them on older vehicles for a cheap performance bump than PPV's so when needing parts 5 to 10 years down the line having a brake system that was more widely adopted is beneficial for getting parts at a decent price.

The core issue is really not a factor because the parts store really do not check what is coming back to them so they will see 4 calipers and give me core back.