[rocknroll_jeph]

So I am on a quest to have the best braking for the least amount of money. When I bought my Camaro I was let down by the suspension and braking, and over the years have been trying to make it fit my needs while using a small budget. As of yesterday I don't think I can get it any better without going to spend a lot of cash.

I have already changed the front calipers to 4 piston Brembo from a Cadillac ATS about one year ago. I read a post on how you can get new calipers for about $250 and other than the banjo bolts everything bolted into place perfectly. And I was pretty happy, but now it is time to the back.

A Camaro5 member was selling his stock brakes from a newer SS for a very reasonable price so I bought the calipers, brake lines and pads from him and took them back to China in my carryon suitcase- that was interesting going through security. They didn't care, but I don't think many people take calipers with them on an airplane. After I got back to Beijing, I bought Stoptech rotors locally through my friend's shop and when they finally arrived my father in law and I and took an afternoon to do the swap.

The most challenging or time consuming thing was trimming down the dust shields. We only had an ancient hacksaw and we were cutting for about an hour. The rest was very straightforward. We jacked up the car, put it on stands, unbolted the original calipers, disconnect the lines (I only spilled a drop or two of brake fluid, I was surprised at my neatness). Then take off the rotors (with T30 torx screw). After that trim the shield, everyone recommends 5/8 so we did that too, then put it all back. I attached the brake lines (I used the stock SS lines) before putting on the rotors. Last, the calipers bolt on where the original calipers went. While the car was up we adjusted the parking brake, bled all the brakes and topped off the DOT-4 fluid and that was it.

After bedding in the rotors I went for a test drive to the mountains just out side of Beijing, I'll put those pictures up on my journal, but my impressions are very positive. With the Cadillac brakes and SS brakes both being 4 pot, I was worried that there may be an unbalance or that the master cylinder couldn't cope, but I was very pleased with the increased performance. I was using stainless steel brake lines and aggressive EBC pads with the original calipers. I am still debating if I want to get stainless and different pads on the rear because right now the balance is perfect. On my drive through the mountains it was like driving nirvana...

The brake pedal feels harder and the brakes are even more responsive. I've driven a stock SS and remember when my V6 had stock brakes and I think that this now out preforms both. I read somewhere because of the V6 being 200lbs lighter it stopped in a shorter distance than an SS, despite the Brembos on the SS.

As for my measurements, I weighed all the components on a luggage scale:

Stock V6 calipers with stainless steel brake lines and newish EBC yellow stuff pads weighed just over 6LBS.

Stock SS calipers with stock brake lines and newish stock pads weighed just over 5LBS

Chinese made (don't know the brand) V6 size drilled and slotted rotors: 16LBS

Stoptech slotted brake rotors for SS 23LBS. Ouch!

My take away is if you are looking for less weight and don't care about stopping- add/ keep the V6 brakes. Better stopping but more weight- SS brakes.

I enjoy wrenching on my car. The weather was great and I spend some time with my father in law and I love the way the brakes feel now, I am very pleased with the results.