Big brake upgrade on '98 Regal GS

[iTurbo]

Hello all

 

I'm going to be finishing up Turbosedan's Regal here as soon as the weather is nice enough. I got the new Brembo rotors from Tirerack and it looks like Josh already had everything else ready to go (pads/caliper adapters).

 

Basically the front brakes are being upgraded to the larger rotor (12"?). The front rotors I got from Tirerack are for a 2000 Pontiac Firebird. I have the pads to go with them and the caliper adapters. Is there anything else I need or is this a fairly straightforward bolt-on? Do I continue to use the original calipers?

 

The rear brakes are going to be stock, with new rotors and the same line of performance pads for the fronts. I'm hoping the brake system will still be balanced fairly well when I'm done. Probably be fine since the rear brakes don't do nearly the work that the fronts do anyhow.

[birdman]

you should be good to go, might wana make sure you got some brake fluid, brake clean and mabey come new washers for the brake lines. it would also be a good time to put some braided lines on if you've got the money. it'd probably be a good idea to go ahead and paint the brackets and calipers if you havent already to stop any rust and keep them lookin good.

[Andrew]

you will need F-body calipers. that is the other big reason for the upgrade, they are 2 piston.

 

and get this to make the swap super easy.

 

http://www.zzperformance.com/grand_prix/products1.php?id=860&catid=138

[Andrew]

another thought..... are you sure he was doing the F-body 12" upgrade?

 

he could have been doing the 2000+ W 12" upgrade. this way is cheaper because you re-use the calipers, just get the bigger bracket.

[iTurbo]

another thought..... are you sure he was doing the F-body 12" upgrade?

 

he could have been doing the 2000+ W 12" upgrade. this way is cheaper because you re-use the calipers, just get the bigger bracket.

 

Oh crap I'm not sure?! Do the 2000+ W-bodies use the same rotor as the F-bodies? I found his notes on the Regal project and he even had part #s for all the parts needed. Didn't find anything on caliper upgrade so you might be right about him doing the 2000+ W-body brake upgrade. I know I got the same rotors he was going to buy because I ordered the part # he had in the notes. I checked the application and found that the part # is for F-bodies so I figured he was doing the F-body brake upgrade.

[iTurbo]

OK, I've been checking front rotor part #s on Tirerack.com

 

I found that the part # for most later W-bodies is the same, for example:

 

'98 Buick Regal GS (27007)

'00 Pontiac GTP (27007)

'01 Buick Regal GS (27007)

 

But then I found this:

'04 Impala SS (27249)

'00 Pontiac Firebird (27249)

 

So it looks to me like he was doing the later W-body front brake upgrade which only came on certain '00+ cars like the Impala SS, which also happens to use the same rotor as the '00 Firebird.

[iTurbo]

I got the front brakes done! All I had to do was swap the caliper adapters that Josh had in his upgrades stash and the 12" rotors (Brembo OEM) went on no problem. Also installed a new set of Performance Friction brake pads. It does look like I'll need to buy new anti rattle clips though, so I hope the parts jobbers can order them. Very very easy upgrade for the front brakes if you ask me.

 

Unfortunately TireRack is out of the Brembo OEM rotors for the rear of the Regal GS. I talked to a salesman there and they said they do not plan on getting any more either. I did find some at a better price at a place called Import Replacement Parts though (http://www.importrp.com).