speed_demon24

I was wondering what the best brake setup I can get for 16" wheels is. I have an LT1 too so I know that makes a difference. I called up baer and they said their 2 piston 12" caliper and ceramic pads is the best I could get for them. I'm going to take my car to the occasional track day, and stock LT1 brakes definatly won't cut it. And I don't have an extra ~$1400 to spend on 17" wheels and tires.

Shempy

If brakes and an extra set of wheels and tires are too much for your budget, you really need to reconsider whether you're cut out for running occasional track days.

If this is an "occasional" track car and you don't think $1400 plus fancy brakes are in your budget, then go out and buy some used and/or visually blemished 17" SS/ZR1/WS6 wheels, and buy decent track tires for them, perhaps Nitto RII's for valueerformance or Toya RA1's. Then go on ebay or through the classifieds and spend a few hundred on front ls1 brakes. Buy 4 front ls1 rotors and preferably 2 rear rotors. Then you'll need to buy front street pads and front track pads, (1 set of pads per rotor, don't use different pad compunds on the same rotor!). Then when you're done with that, buy high quality brake fluid that's got a high wet boiling point such as ATE Blue and flush the system. Then you'll have an occasional track car.

Chewbacca

LS1 brakes work with 16 inch wheels.

speed_demon24

How do LS1 brakes compare to the Baer brakes though?

Shempy

I don't know that it matters much in your situation. If your budget is so limited that Baer brakes and a second set of wheels & tires is out of the picture, you're better off with the second set of wheels/tires and the LS1 brakes. A quality set of pads, a 2nd set of plain Brembo rotors to use with them and a quality brake fluid like ATE is plenty for an occasional track car.

Chewbacca

Depends on the Baer kit. I don't believe anything that will fit a 16 inch wheel will be much different than the PBR LS1 calipers.

It's not like the LS1 brakes are junk. Hell the CMC (Camaro Mustang Challenge road race series) guys aren't allowed to run anything more.

Just run the appropriate pads for track work. Cooling ducts for the front would certainly be beneficial if you get serious about tracking it.

speed_demon24

I just don't have an extra $1400 to spend on wheels/tires. I have $1400 to spend on brakes though. If I spend the money on 17" wheels and tires I won't have any money to spend on brakes for a few months, and theres no way in hell I'm going to take my car to the track on ****ty LT1 brakes.

Shempy

You don't need $1400 in brakes to do occasional track days. As noted by a few people now, the LS1 brakes with track pads will do you just fine.

4 17x9 wheels, $300
LS1 calipers, rotors, pads, brackets, spindles, bearings and shipping, $250
Brake fluid & complete flush $100
Front Brembo OEM rotors for track days only, $145
Front Hawk Blues pads (or other performance pad) for track days only, $165
4 Toyo RA1's for your new 17x9's, mount & balanced - $800


For $1760 ($360 over budget), I guarantee you'll be 10 times happier come track day. If you're going to do track days, you're going to want to spring for a better alignment either way you go, so add another $70 or so there.

speed_demon24

Do you have any alignment specs I should have my alignment set at? And is it worth doin the LS1 back brakes, or just put some better rotors and pads on the back of my car. I can get the complete front ls1 conversion from tacreations for $200 since I'm 30 minutes from them, the rear conversion would cost me another $200 though...

Shempy

The front brakes do the majority of the work, so worry about those most.

As for the alignment, get as much negative camber as you can (it won't be enough come track day), a slight amount of toe and 4.5 degrees of caster.

Chewbacca

When I still drove mine a lot, I went with 0.03" toe IN per side and maxed the LCAs out in their slots for about -1° camber and about 4.5° caster. Camber / caster results can vary car to car. I've also lowered the car about an inch with the Ground Control kit.

Now that I don't drive it as much (but autocross it A LOT more), I have the front end set at 0.03" toe OUT per side and about -1.7° camber with 4.8° - 5.1° caster. GW upper arms got me the extra camber.


No.

Thats where I got mine. Just rebuilt the calipers and I was ready to roll. FWIW I didn't use the included rotors. I got new Brembo OEM blanks.