94+ W-Body Brake Upgrade

[pepsi_coke]

Hey, I have read a view of you guys have upgraded the rear brakes to the 94+ setup. Was it a bolt on or was there modifications you had to fabricate? I read the how-to and the author said you can't hook up the e-brake .. has anyone figured it out?

Was the only benefecial bigger rotors/pads? Or are the 94+ calipers easier to replace the pads on?

Thanks so much ..
JD
93 Grand Prix SE
3.4L DOHC / 5spd

[robby1870]

The E-brake has been hooked up by some people. You have to add in some shims somewhere to make it all work. A guy off W-body did it....I cant think of his s/n though. The other benefit besides bigger rotors is that the 94+ rear calipers aren't prone to freezing up like the pre 94 ones

[timg]

I've done it to my Monte. Direct swap except for the parking brake. I left it disconnected.

Tim

[Rhedalert]

The steel part of the brake line may have to be bent out slightly. THe parking brake, you could get the cable from a '94+ donor car if you wish. The only real benefit is easier serviceability as they won't sieze the sliders or have piston issues like the previous design, BUT, they'll still warp like all the others. There's no escape!

[blk92z34getrag]

Shitty rotors warp easily.

Just don't buy the $25 a piece P.O.S. rotors from Kragens/Advance/Checkers/wherever. Go with a known good brand.

https://www.tirerack.com

I have the EBC Sportgrooved on the front, with some midrange pep-boys stuff in the rear (had the rear calipers changed shortly after I bought my car under previous owner's warrenty, they only lasted two weeks). Let me tell you, I've slammed on the brakes from 70-0 and the rotors in front are still not warped. This was with my new tires, too, so they were doing A LOT of work.

Also, if you have a stick, you need the E-Brake for certain inspections. I recall someone saying they attached the e-brake with like 40 washers or something... I don't know. I'm sure it isn't terribly hard to figure out.

[pwmin]

i have done the swap twice to two of my friend's cars and hooked up the e brake. the left side i believe i had no problems hooking it up. on the right side, you have to use about a half inch shim (with longer bolt of course) between the caliper and the ebrake bracket. you also have to loosen a bolt in front of the gas tank and maybe another one. so far, the shim has not come loose on either of the cars. you can also get a longer ebrake cable for the right side to eliminate loosening the bolt at the gas tank. it may be a little ghetto, but its way better than not having an ebrake at all.

http://www.w-body.com/index2.html

this includes the parking brake cables you would need if youre going to replace them. its not a write-up, but gives you the parts you need. you will have to click the upgrades link and then the brake conversion link to access the list. hopes this helps.

[napatiger]

what about the front brakes on the 95 Z34. I got stuck with the smaller of the two disk brakes offered that year (early 10" late 11"). Can I just change the calipers and rotor or do I have to f with more stuff.?

[timg]

I believe that you need to swap the struts to swap disc brakes on the 95's. I got lucky and had the larger ones. w-body.com has a write up on what is required.

Tim

[TurboSedan]

yeah you have to swap out the entire strut/knuckle assemblies just to get the larger front 11.25" rotors. it's because the calipers bolt to a welded on bracket. on the newer strut/knuckle assemblies, the welded on bracket is "further out" to accomodate the larger rotor.

the only change is the strut/knuckle assembly and rotor size however. the front brakes will still use the same calipers, pads and hoses. you don't need to change the master cylinder either.

i bought a set of '96 strut/knuckle assemblies from a '96 Cutlass and hope to have them installed by summer.

[TurboSedan]

Re: 94+ W-Body Brake Upgrade

Hey, I have read a view of you guys have upgraded the rear brakes to the 94+ setup. Was it a bolt on or was there modifications you had to fabricate? I read the how-to and the author said you can't hook up the e-brake .. has anyone figured it out?

Was the only benefecial bigger rotors/pads? Or are the 94+ calipers easier to replace the pads on?

Thanks so much ..
JD
93 Grand Prix SE
3.4L DOHC / 5spd

beware, no E-brake on a 5-speed car seriously sucks ass! my car has rolled away from me a couple times now because i left it in neutral and i stupidly thought it wouldn't go anywhere. one time it rolled about 100ft away from me and i had to chase the car down on a side note i've upgraded the rear drums on my 5-speed GTS to rear disc and now i have no E-brake. i might be going back to rear drum brakes on that car just so i can have an E-brake again.

i have '94+ E-brake cables i'm going to try to install (requires a bit of welding) but i'm seriously considering reverting back to the '88-'93 W-body rear brakes and using better (brass?) sliders. the major benefit to the '94+ rear brakes are the bigger rotors (doh), the calipers aren't prone to seizing up, but also, the pads are MUCH MUCH easier to change.

[gpse3400]

The aftermarket has stepped in and made the old style rear calipers more reliable if not fool proof. One Reman company to go with is Fenco. Not for nothing the only reason why those rear rotors are bigger on the newer style is because it uses a bracket. Otherwise the rotor is thinner... I don't see any difference in longevity of the rotor from one design to another. . Ones diameter slightly smaller and ones width is slightly bigger....With the new parts avalible I think its a waste... As far as stopping faster, thats up to your tires. If anything is more worthwhile it's probably a change to the bigger front rotors which I have and I don't feel any difference with, and I still warp those. One thing we could change is that small mushy master cylinder we have. Need one from an old Monte Carlo. That master is so powerful that car will lock up at all 4 at 5 mph. Cars with the Powermaster have a very strong balanced system as well even when it's broken.

[Invasion1]

Fenco Calipers suck

used to go threw them like crazy on my Cutlass Supreme

i switched to Bendex reman calipers and no problems with the parking brake or pistons seizing

[gpse3400]

Well then I guess you get had a bad batch or maybe you are just so far damn north that everything rusts and corrodes regardless.. I've had the same ones in service for about 3 years and one my last two cars they seems to do the trick...The ones I see now are comming with stainless sliders as well. Bendix is a fantastic name in brakes to be sure.

[pepsi_coke]

Yeah, I got sick of bottoming the piston on rear calipers .. Went to my neighborly AutoZone and bought (2) Bendex reman calipers .. and its a lifetime replacement .. so next time I replace rears .. I just gonna bring in both calipers and exchange for new ones! (less hassle)

But the guy at AutoZone said the reman calipers have fixed all the problems!

[Invasion1]

ya i get new rear calipers every year or so just because of the Bendex lifetime warrentee LOL

im on set 2 now and im due for a new set......

FENCO only has one year replacement i believe