How hard is it to do the front brake upgrade?

[Q-Ball]

Has anyone done the fronts? http://www.w-body.com/upgrades/brakes-rotors.html

 

Your existing front rotors are 10.5" in diameter. You can upgrade to the 11.25" front rotors which were standard equipment on late-95 and newer gen 1 W-body cars. This involves replacing your existing strut/knuckle assembly with the newer version, and installing the larger rotors. Your old calipers and brake pads will transfer over. The only thing that was changed is the metal plate on the front of the knuckle that the caliper bolts onto, but since it is welded on, the whole knuckle needs to be changed. This is not a difficult upgrade if you swap the entire assemblies complete with springs, otherwise, you will have to have a shop transfer your springs over unless you happen to have spring compressing equipment.

 

Also, I have another question, what is the strut and knuckle assembly too?

 

[GnatGoSplat]

I've done it.

Strut and knuckle assembly is that whole metal thingie the brake calipers, tierods, and balljoints are bolted to.

 

[Q-Ball]

I've done it.

Strut and knuckle assembly is that whole metal thingie the brake calipers, tierods, and balljoints are bolted to.

 

 

You mean the whole thing I already took out to do the bearing plates?

Oh dear.

[GutlessSupreme]

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/489673/6

 

in a nutshell, yes.

[White93z34]

now is this upgrade actually worthwhile? i would love it if my car stopped better then it does.

[GnatGoSplat]

I thought it seemed to help, but then my old rotors were excessively thin past the replacement thickness and were warped too.

 

[Q-Ball]

I dont seeing why not. It has to stop better. I'm taking the calipers too. More surface area to stop. Plus, 96 brakes have to be better than my 92.

[GnatGoSplat]

Calipers are the same, so are the pads. The only difference is the diameter. However, that does give more surface area to stop per revolution.

 

[Schurkey]

Is the strut valving (stiffness) different among the Z-34; Euro 3.4; 3.1 Euro; and non-Euro Luminas? How about the other division's W-bodies?

 

I'd love to upgrade the brakes on my Euro 3.4, but I don't want to lose the handling by stuffing in limp front struts.

[Crazy K]

Is the strut valving (stiffness) different among the Z-34; Euro 3.4; 3.1 Euro; and non-Euro Luminas? How about the other division's W-bodies?

 

I'd love to upgrade the brakes on my Euro 3.4, but I don't want to lose the handling by stuffing in limp front struts.

re-use the exisitng spring from your car, and use only the lower strut tube from the donor!

[1990lumina]

Plus larger rotors shouldn't heat up as much sice there is more suraface area to disapate(sp? it's early!) heat