IndyJimW Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 Hello all; I tried a inexpensive upgrade to my front brakes and the results were good. This is an upgrade that can be done during a front brake replacement. My Avanti uses Chevrolet Monte Carlo brakes. I replaced the front rotors and brakes with Raybestos Drilled and Slotted Rotors, (part #'s BR5064L & BR5064R, about $80.00 each) and Performance Friction Pads (part # 0154.20 about $60.00). After breaking them in for about 300 miles they stop straight and true with a high firm pedal. The new brakes stop at least 10 feet shorter at 40 mph with no fading after several panic stops. Fact is my 3rd and 4th stop was shorter than the first two. Recommend this upgrade. But find a safe place to test. My first try to test the setup blew out my rear brake line. Rear lines were rusted bad. Glad I caught it during testing and not on the street. James Wood 12AAV1230H1000108 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndyJimW Posted March 27, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 Here are the parts that I used for my front brakes- They made a difference over stock but I still wanted something better so I installed a set of SSB 2 piston calipers from Summit Racing. http://store.summitracing.com/default.asp?...t=egnsearch.asp The SSB calipers replace the stock calipers with no modifications needed, worked great with my drop spindles and stock 15" rims. These will stop the Avanti in a hurry. Now for the rear brakes. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBCA96 Posted March 27, 2006 Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 The SSB calipers replace the stock calipers with no modifications needed, worked great with my drop spindles and stock 15" rims. These will stop the Avanti in a hurry. Now for the rear brakes. Cool stuff, its nice to have options. There are no aluminum calipers available yet? How you like the drilled and slotted? I have been going back and forth on ordering the 13 inch d&s or just the slotted. I have read that repeated hard stops can cause stress cracks, but then thats regular autocross kinda stuff. Another thing that I am not so sure of, there are only slotted rear rotors available, not drilled & slotted. So I would have drilled and slotted front, and slotted rear. I dont know if that will bother me over time ... LOL. The Monteavanti came with rear drum right? That question came up in a phone call tonight. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndyJimW Posted March 27, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 Cool stuff, its nice to have options. There are no aluminum calipers available yet? The SSBC calipers that I installed are aluminum. How you like the drilled and slotted? They work great and being a Raybestos part they're not that expensive and are available. The Monteavanti came with rear drum right? That question came up in a phone call tonight. Monteavanti! Yea they came with drum brakes, but there are disc conversion kits available from SSBC and Baer for about $750. They keep the stock master cylinder and include a parking brake. The guys on the Monte Carlo SS site have had great luck using them. Urs Tobler from Switzerland installed a set on his '88 but I haven't heard if their working yet. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBCA96 Posted March 27, 2006 Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 The SSBC calipers that I installed are aluminum.Monteavanti! In the pic at a glance, they didnt look aluminum ... my bad. Sorry about the "Monteavanti" comment ... I just thought of it ... kinda flows .... Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndyJimW Posted March 27, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 In the pic at a glance, they didnt look aluminum ... my bad. Tom My fault, the ones in the picture were Raybestos rebuilds. I installed the SSBC's later. I would love to own an original '63 Avanti, when I bought my '87 I decided that I didn't want something that would sit in my garage only to come out in great weather on weekends. I wanted an Avanti for a daily driver, with that in mind the late model Avanti's with their modern chassis seemed a better way to go because I put up to 1,000 miles a month on it. I didn't want another unknown name jelly bean for a car, and the stares and comments let me know that I'm showing people that there was a time when cars had style. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBCA96 Posted March 28, 2006 Report Share Posted March 28, 2006 I didn't want another unknown name jelly bean for a car, and the stares and comments let me know that I'm showing people that there was a time when cars had style. Its certainly better then one just rotting away in your garage, I didnt mean that in a negative or degrading way, I apologize if you took it that way. For me, its a reminder as to what chassis it has. I get confused as to when they switched to the GM chassis. I think that its a great combo really, there are more options for your platform then mine. The only real "downside" I saw with the Avanti II was the higher front end - which you solved. The Avanti was designed with a "rake". I thought it flowed nicely .. "MonteeAvantee" ... wasnt meant to be mean. ALL the other cars I have are GM, and I totally support the install of an LT1! Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndyJimW Posted March 28, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2006 Its certainly better then one just rotting away in your garage, I didnt mean that in a negative or degrading way, I apologize if you took it that way. Nope, just having fun with the smilies. For me, its a reminder as to what chassis it has. I get confused as to when they switched tothe GM chassis. I think that its a great combo really, there are more options for your platform then mine. In '89 they started using the Impala chassis, just imagine... The only real "downside" I saw with the Avanti II was the higher front end - which you solved. The Avanti was designed with a "rake". Mine looked like a speedboat going down the street, thats why I dropped the front end first, had to have the "rake". I thought it flowed nicely .. "MonteeAvantee" ... wasnt meant to be mean. ALL the other cars I have are GM, and I totally support the install of an LT1! I haven't decided what to replace the 5.0L with yet, I have the complete LT1 donor car in the back lot (totaled but driveline OK) and that would be my first choise. The big problem with any of the engine setups I want to install is EFI. How to modify the fuel tank to work, that's the hold up. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBCA96 Posted March 28, 2006 Report Share Posted March 28, 2006 I haven't decided what to replace the 5.0L with yet, I have the complete LT1 donor car in the back lot (totaled but driveline OK) and that would be my first choise. The big problem with any of the engine setups I want to install is EFI. How to modify the fuel tank to work, that's the hold up. I would say GO FOR IT! Most guys on the 2nd Gen Camaro site just use an inline fuel pump and the high pressure rated fuel line. http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40481 Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndyJimW Posted April 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2006 Pic of the SSBC caliper and 16" rim, will get a picture with the wheel off later. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBCA96 Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 Cool stuff! Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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