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 Post subject: Brake Upgrade
PostPosted: Thu Dec 06, 2018 6:58 pm 
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Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 11:38 pm
Posts: 1700
Location: Cambridge, OH
Year and Trim: 95 LeSabre Custom
01 Bonneville SSEi
09 G8 GT
Finally finished the brake upgrade on the SSEi a couple weekends ago. Went with the GXP front brake upgrade (actually from a Grand Prix GXP), and what I thought would be a couple weekends of work turned into 3 months of hell, but I learned a ton about this, considering before this, the most I ever did was change pads. I learned how to rebuild the fronts and rears, and even found out the pins in one of my rears was completely frozen, causing the inner pad to drag.

It's amazing how well the car stops now, even better than my GXP (probably because of all the new parts), as it takes so little effort to come to a complete stop now. I know it's not Corvette / CTS upgrades, but it's at least 200 times better than stock. No more weak baby brakes anymore!

Here are the calipers, and front and rear brackets powder coated, and thanks again to Matt for teaching me the wonders of powder coating:
Image

Mock up:
Image

Rebuilt calipers:
Image

Front set test fitting:
Image

Rear brake setup (with stainless steel lines):
Image

Rear setup with wheel on:
Image

I wasn't impressed at first, but once Tim and I got all the kinks out, I ended up almost breaking my nose on the steering wheel on the first successful stop (should have been wearing my seat belt). This now feels like how the car should have stopped from the factory!

_________________
- Greg | -- Project Prasinos -- |
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1995 LeSabre Custom: 312K Miles | Custom K&N CAI | Edelbrock SDT Muffler | Camaro Tips | 180 T-stat | LED Interior
& Exterior | 20% Tint | PA Grill & Portholes | Limited Trim | GTP Rims | Ported LIM | Plus Many More Mods | Restoration Thread
2001 Bonneville SSEi: 225K Miles | Instense FWI | Intense MPS (3.4") | 180 T-stat | ZZP Plog | Ported Rear Manifold |
ZZP 3" Downpipe | Magnaflow Cat | Retrofitted HIDs | GenV M90 | GXP Brake Upgrade | 35% Tint | Plus Many More Mods |
2005 Bonneville GXP: 101K Miles | Custom FWI
2009 G8 GT: 89K Miles | 35% Tint | Roto-Fab CAI | SOLO Mach Exhaust | BMR Tunnel Brace | BMR Sub Frames | BMR STB |
Kooks Headers | QTP Electric Cutouts | BMR Sway Bars | Elite Engineering Catch Can | Innovative Dual Wideband Kit
1984 Caprice Classic Wagon: 86K Miles | Restoration Project


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 Post subject: Re: Brake Upgrade
PostPosted: Thu Dec 06, 2018 7:21 pm 
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Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2010 6:17 pm
Posts: 5766
Location: DeKalb, IL
Year and Trim: .
92 SSE
92 Lumina Z34
99 Tahoe
03 PAU
Glad to hear it finally turned out Greg! I'm going to be ordering parts soon to do GP GXP front brakes on my Ultra, a few hasty stops have worn out the already too small brakes, it takes a lot to stop over 4k lb. :lol:

_________________
Will
88 Cutlass Ciera Brougham International | 120k mi | White w/ Dk Claret Int. | Roller to be S2 L67/4T65E-HD | 1 of ~5100 3.8 FE3 Int'l series
91 Riviera | S2 L67 Swap/4T60E | 127K mi | Antelope Met. w/ Tan Int. | Saved From Death By Crusher
92 Bonneville SSE | L67/4T60E | 77K mi | Med Slate Grey w/ Two-Tone Grey Int. | Low Miles Time Capsule
92 Lumina Z34 | LQ1/4T60E | 177k mi | Torch Red w/Grey Int. | Rusty In Odd Spots
99 Tahoe LT | L31/4L65E | 276k mi | Spiral Grey Metallic w/Grey Int. | Truck for Truck Things and Portable Concert Hall
03 Park Avenue Ultra | 212K mi | White Diamond Met. w/ Shale Int. | Southern Time Capsule
05 Acura RL | 155K mi | Carbon Grey Pearl w/Ebony Int. | The Super-Hooptie Daily


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 Post subject: Re: Brake Upgrade
PostPosted: Thu Dec 06, 2018 8:46 pm 
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Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 11:38 pm
Posts: 1700
Location: Cambridge, OH
Year and Trim: 95 LeSabre Custom
01 Bonneville SSEi
09 G8 GT
Yeah, this is so worth it. This is what GM should've done. The stock brakes just don't cut it on these large cars. Had I knew what I was doing and finished this, I would have had this on the fall color tour.

You will love how the PAU stops after you upgrade.

_________________
- Greg | -- Project Prasinos -- |
Image
1995 LeSabre Custom: 312K Miles | Custom K&N CAI | Edelbrock SDT Muffler | Camaro Tips | 180 T-stat | LED Interior
& Exterior | 20% Tint | PA Grill & Portholes | Limited Trim | GTP Rims | Ported LIM | Plus Many More Mods | Restoration Thread
2001 Bonneville SSEi: 225K Miles | Instense FWI | Intense MPS (3.4") | 180 T-stat | ZZP Plog | Ported Rear Manifold |
ZZP 3" Downpipe | Magnaflow Cat | Retrofitted HIDs | GenV M90 | GXP Brake Upgrade | 35% Tint | Plus Many More Mods |
2005 Bonneville GXP: 101K Miles | Custom FWI
2009 G8 GT: 89K Miles | 35% Tint | Roto-Fab CAI | SOLO Mach Exhaust | BMR Tunnel Brace | BMR Sub Frames | BMR STB |
Kooks Headers | QTP Electric Cutouts | BMR Sway Bars | Elite Engineering Catch Can | Innovative Dual Wideband Kit
1984 Caprice Classic Wagon: 86K Miles | Restoration Project


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 Post subject: Re: Brake Upgrade
PostPosted: Fri Dec 07, 2018 12:58 am 
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Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2010 6:17 pm
Posts: 5766
Location: DeKalb, IL
Year and Trim: .
92 SSE
92 Lumina Z34
99 Tahoe
03 PAU
Oh I'm sure, the last straw was actually on the way home from the color tour, some idiot two cars in front of me brake checked car #2 in line because he was riding too close, long story short the ole Buick had to find a way to do an 85-0 really quick, it gave me flashbacks. lol

_________________
Will
88 Cutlass Ciera Brougham International | 120k mi | White w/ Dk Claret Int. | Roller to be S2 L67/4T65E-HD | 1 of ~5100 3.8 FE3 Int'l series
91 Riviera | S2 L67 Swap/4T60E | 127K mi | Antelope Met. w/ Tan Int. | Saved From Death By Crusher
92 Bonneville SSE | L67/4T60E | 77K mi | Med Slate Grey w/ Two-Tone Grey Int. | Low Miles Time Capsule
92 Lumina Z34 | LQ1/4T60E | 177k mi | Torch Red w/Grey Int. | Rusty In Odd Spots
99 Tahoe LT | L31/4L65E | 276k mi | Spiral Grey Metallic w/Grey Int. | Truck for Truck Things and Portable Concert Hall
03 Park Avenue Ultra | 212K mi | White Diamond Met. w/ Shale Int. | Southern Time Capsule
05 Acura RL | 155K mi | Carbon Grey Pearl w/Ebony Int. | The Super-Hooptie Daily


James May wrote:
Hello.


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 Post subject: Re: Brake Upgrade
PostPosted: Fri Dec 07, 2018 10:51 am 
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Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 11:38 pm
Posts: 1700
Location: Cambridge, OH
Year and Trim: 95 LeSabre Custom
01 Bonneville SSEi
09 G8 GT
I know nothing about those flashbacks... :-$

Yeah, I got tired of my car not being able to slow down or stop the way it should have (part of that was the worn rotors, but that was only a portion of the issue). Last night I had a guy in an old Toyota merge right in front of me as I was trying to pass a semi. It was snowing, slick, and I still have the all seasons on, and he was moving about 25mph slower than me. I was prepared to slam the brakes, but I didn't have to. They grabbed so well that I only had to put moderate pressure on the pedal to slow down from 75 to 50 in an instant. I giggled a bit, then proceeded to throw hand signals at the dude.

_________________
- Greg | -- Project Prasinos -- |
Image
1995 LeSabre Custom: 312K Miles | Custom K&N CAI | Edelbrock SDT Muffler | Camaro Tips | 180 T-stat | LED Interior
& Exterior | 20% Tint | PA Grill & Portholes | Limited Trim | GTP Rims | Ported LIM | Plus Many More Mods | Restoration Thread
2001 Bonneville SSEi: 225K Miles | Instense FWI | Intense MPS (3.4") | 180 T-stat | ZZP Plog | Ported Rear Manifold |
ZZP 3" Downpipe | Magnaflow Cat | Retrofitted HIDs | GenV M90 | GXP Brake Upgrade | 35% Tint | Plus Many More Mods |
2005 Bonneville GXP: 101K Miles | Custom FWI
2009 G8 GT: 89K Miles | 35% Tint | Roto-Fab CAI | SOLO Mach Exhaust | BMR Tunnel Brace | BMR Sub Frames | BMR STB |
Kooks Headers | QTP Electric Cutouts | BMR Sway Bars | Elite Engineering Catch Can | Innovative Dual Wideband Kit
1984 Caprice Classic Wagon: 86K Miles | Restoration Project


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 Post subject: Re: Brake Upgrade
PostPosted: Sat Dec 08, 2018 1:32 pm 
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Joined: Mon May 10, 2010 6:11 pm
Posts: 9491
Location: Chicago, IL
Year and Trim: 2003 SLE
Might have to do this upgrade to Penny, I almost did it a while back. Love the color scheme you picked.

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-Car Guy Carl
"Penelope" - 2003 SLE - 247k Miles
"Sydney" - 2000 Honda S2000 - 98k miles
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 Post subject: Re: Brake Upgrade
PostPosted: Mon Dec 10, 2018 6:22 pm 
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Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 11:38 pm
Posts: 1700
Location: Cambridge, OH
Year and Trim: 95 LeSabre Custom
01 Bonneville SSEi
09 G8 GT
Yeah, this is probably my favorite upgrade so far. For the colors, I wanted something subtle, and the black and silver matched with the car's exterior color scheme. In the sun they look great, but you don't see much with those swoopies.

_________________
- Greg | -- Project Prasinos -- |
Image
1995 LeSabre Custom: 312K Miles | Custom K&N CAI | Edelbrock SDT Muffler | Camaro Tips | 180 T-stat | LED Interior
& Exterior | 20% Tint | PA Grill & Portholes | Limited Trim | GTP Rims | Ported LIM | Plus Many More Mods | Restoration Thread
2001 Bonneville SSEi: 225K Miles | Instense FWI | Intense MPS (3.4") | 180 T-stat | ZZP Plog | Ported Rear Manifold |
ZZP 3" Downpipe | Magnaflow Cat | Retrofitted HIDs | GenV M90 | GXP Brake Upgrade | 35% Tint | Plus Many More Mods |
2005 Bonneville GXP: 101K Miles | Custom FWI
2009 G8 GT: 89K Miles | 35% Tint | Roto-Fab CAI | SOLO Mach Exhaust | BMR Tunnel Brace | BMR Sub Frames | BMR STB |
Kooks Headers | QTP Electric Cutouts | BMR Sway Bars | Elite Engineering Catch Can | Innovative Dual Wideband Kit
1984 Caprice Classic Wagon: 86K Miles | Restoration Project


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