F**king GTP Brakes

**ls1camino** · 09-02-2010, 05:08 PM

I know it's partially my fault, but I thought I'd share anyway.

So the brakes have been on their last leg for some time now. I was waiting for the Trans Am to be at home for at least a day so I could upgrade to the C5 Brakes and then put my almost brand new brakes from the TA onto the GTP (direct swap for me) and save about $100. Well, the T/A has been in the shop nonstop for the past few weeks for various reasons (see other threads), so I've been driving the GTP with VERY spongy brakes.

Today was something new...I was coming home from work, I went to stop for traffic on I95 and the pedal went to floor and I had no brakes. I had to swerve onto the shoulder and use the ebrake to stop. I continued home on the shoulder and got home "ok". I hen took my wife's Corolla to Auto Zone to get new rotors and pads

$214 later I have brand new brakes for all 4 corners

So I go home, put the GTP up on 4 jack stands, remove all the wheels and proceed to change the brakes. I do the rears first. When I get to the fronts I can't compress the calipers on either side. I take the caliper apart and fine the two pieces rusted together

It seems that when the previous owner installed the F-Body Brakes he failed to grease the calipers. So now I have to go to the junkyard tomorrow afternoon and buy some MF'ing calipers.

BTW, here is what crappy, overpriced cross drilled rotors look like. I should have changed them right when I bought the car a year ago.

New rotor for comparison:

Cracks...wtf?!?!

The other pads looked fine, apparently this is what a stuck caliper will do, and is what the grinding noise I was hear was.

**Smkn_TA** · 09-02-2010, 05:12 PM

I forgot to grease calipers last time I put them on, and they squeaked like crazy till I did. How would they not notice?

Btw...when doing the c5 conversion. A hand hacksaw is NOT an option. Air cut off wheel barley did they trick.

**ls1camino** · 09-02-2010, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by Smkn_TA

I forgot to grease calipers last time I put them on, and they squeaked like crazy till I did. How would they not notice?

Btw...when doing the c5 conversion. A hand hacksaw is NOT an option. Air cut off wheel barley did they trick.

lol...with the kit I got, I don't have to do any cutting :woohoo:

**Smkn_TA** · 09-02-2010, 05:29 PM

Bullshit. There is only ONE design for the brackets. And you HAVE to cut the tabs off the front. Bust a link to prove it.

**ls1camino** · 09-02-2010, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by Smkn_TA

Bullshit. There is only ONE design for the brackets. And you HAVE to cut the tabs off the front. Bust a link to prove it.

Granted it's ebay, but I read the instructions (no cutting there) and compared them to the T/A and it looks like I'll be fine.

**Smkn_TA** · 09-02-2010, 05:45 PM

I bought mine from umi, and if there was a better way to mount without cutting, I would think they would have done it.

And just remember, TT2's in 17 inch won't clear. Along with a few other 17 inch wheels.

**ls1camino** · 09-02-2010, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by Smkn_TA

I bought mine from umi, and if there was a better way to mount without cutting, I would think they would have done it.

And just remember, TT2's in 17 inch won't clear. Along with a few other 17 inch wheels.

We'll see...someone has to do something first.

I saw that warning, I think I'm safe with my ZR1s.

**EnjoiJoe** · 09-02-2010, 07:38 PM

that sucks I need new brakes in my gtp too

**0rion** · 09-02-2010, 10:08 PM

can't necessarily blame that damage on the rotors or the car....it was neglect that caused that damage. Those rotors have gotten way too hot due to the seized caliper.

**grouch0jr** · 09-03-2010, 02:57 AM

can some one explain to me "greasing the caliper"? im not familiar with this.

**0rion** · 09-03-2010, 03:41 AM

Originally Posted by grouch0jr

can some one explain to me "greasing the caliper"? im not familiar with this.

the caliper pins

**Smkn_TA** · 09-03-2010, 10:20 AM

Allows the caliper to float back and forth. His was putting all pressure on one side(piston side). He probably could have taken it apart and saved the caliper.

**86 IROC-Z** · 09-03-2010, 10:21 AM

oh so they're not supposed to normally look like that? ....damn

**Smkn_TA** · 09-03-2010, 10:23 AM

Can still see the heads on the rivots so no damage was physically done to caliper...

**cammed goat** · 09-03-2010, 03:35 PM

**GTP231** · 09-04-2010, 07:15 AM

I've seen worse

**markarvidson** · 09-04-2010, 10:11 AM

So did you figure out why the pedal went all the way to the floor? A stuck caliper is not gonna cause that from what your explaning.

**1MileCrash** · 09-04-2010, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by Smkn_TA

Allows the caliper to float back and forth. His was putting all pressure on one side(piston side). He probably could have taken it apart and saved the caliper.

as well as a shot on the shim of the pads as well so that they aren't just metal on metal against the caliper. provides for a little ease of movement...helps to prevent noise and uneven wear due to the pads not being able to slide against the pins nicely.

**1MileCrash** · 09-04-2010, 04:45 PM

Originally Posted by markarvidson

So did you figure out why the pedal went all the way to the floor? A stuck caliper is not gonna cause that from what your explaning.

it could if it overextended far enough and the piston actually slid out enough to where the fluid got past the seal. i've seen that happen once or twice on severely damaged brake systems.

**310stanger** · 09-06-2010, 10:25 AM

Seized caliper pins CAN make the pedal travel too far down, you essentially have the pads not making contact with the rotor because the caliper isnt "sliding". The caliper needs to slide on the pins to have a high and hard pedal. The caliper in question more then likely could be repaired by someone that knows what they were working with. The pins may or may have not been greased, but they dont have to be "dry" either for them to seize up. The grease eventually "dries" out a bit and sticks. Think about all the water and grime that finds its way in there. All the snow, puddles etc you drive through. Pistons themselves can also seize up.

214 bucks for 4 wheel pads and rotors and you are crying? OEM rotors on many car lines are over 100 a rotor. That could have been a 1,000 dollar brake job at a shop.