sprchrgdss

so will these fit the SS/SC 18's? and is it worth the upgrade?

jr racing

any prices out yet guys?

Zoidborg

I got a closer look (though not behind the wheel as much as I'd like) at a new SS/TC to check out the brake questions. Some things I discovered:

(1) I believe the brake hoses on the SC will work; they appear to use the same block w/ bolt connection to the caliper. About 95% sure of this.
(2) The new wheels have significant offset to clear the calipers. I am 95% sure the stock 18s will NOT fit in front of the calipers without wheel spacers. The good news is that I don't think it would need that much spacing. I have 7/16" spacers, and I'm not sure but they appear to create just enough clearance.

I want to take a trip back to the dealership probably tomorrow to get a closer look behind to confirm that the knuckle attachment is the same. Several people have said that it does fit; I just like to know firsthand. I also want to confirm visually the brake hose connection (could only feel it with my hand before).

On another note, while I only had a quick look at them, the rear vented disc brakes look like a tremendously good idea also for an upgrade compared to our smaller non-vented rear brakes.

lnf08ecotec

what I'd like someone to confirm is whether the ss/sc's master cylinder will work since our brakes are only 2 piston and the ss/tc is 4 piston up from bc if you have to swap em' forget it.....

Zoidborg

I don't think you'd need to worry at all about the master cylender. Of course, there will be more pedal travel required to move the brake pistons because of their larger surface area, but because they will bite more due to the higher pad surface area, I'm guessing it is a wash. Besides, I've never seen any mention of master cylenders related to reputable aftermarket kits like SSBC or Baer. Come to think of it, Cobalt-Addiction has a conversion kit to put Z06 Corvette brakes on the Cobalt (6-piston front, 4-piston rear!), and I don't see anything there about the MC. Of course, the people there might be able to relate something based on experience to you more than I.

I've got more concern, though. I haven't had the opportunity to put measurements around it, but based on looking at the knuckle on the new SS Turbo and the knuckle on my SS SC, it may be that the new one's caliper mounts are offset back a little compared to the older one. If this is true, then it would mean that you would be almost forced to get the new knuckle. The good news is that it looks more stout than the older one, so if you were thinking about getting the uprated knuckles anyway it may be a wash to you. But that adds significant cost, naturally. Hopefully I will get an opportunity soon to confirm whether or not that is true (I hope not).

Eddie

will gm offer an upgrade kit for us ss s/c owners, that would be sweet and smart at the same time.

Zoidborg

Well car companies being what they are (that is, wanting your money), I'm sure they'd rather keep it to where if you want the new stuff you gotta get the new car. I doubt they will offer such a kit.

If someone has access to a parts department, can they look up the knuckle part numbers for the 08 SS/TC (VIN code subgroup 1AP37)? I may not get an opportunity to visit with my connection for some time. It would be nice to compare the part numbers with those for the Sport pkg (FE3 suspension) as well as the FE5 and FE3 part numbers from 2007 year model.

Zoidborg

Good news! I took the opportunity to investigate at a local dealership that had the SS/TC outside this weekend. I compared the knuckles on it to those on the Malibu, standard Cobalt, HHR, and HHR SS. It appears that the knuckle mounts the caliper in the same position as those others (which all use the same caliper as each other, the one we've all been familiar with before the Brembos). The HHR is a great example: the non-SS HHRs have the same knuckle we have, while the SS one has the same knuckle as the Malibu and the Cobalt SS. Since all but the Cobalt SS use the same caliper, the conclusion seems to be simply that the ones on the SS (and on the Malibu for that matter) are just beefier. Their appearance would seem to support that. So I'd say I'm 95% sure that the knuckles we have already will be just fine.

Of course, if you want the new beefier knuckles, they appear to be priced quite a bit lower than the part numbers for the uprated knuckles that are available and mentioned on a TSB related to competitive driving of the Cobalt SS. But the good news is that you aren't forced to buy new knuckles to get the Brembos installed. This is supported by the fact that the brake disc's widths (disc width and hat offset from disc surface) are the same as those on the other Cobalts, Malibus, and HHRs. The size difference is all in the disc radius.

Part #s (* indicates required based on what I know so far):
2008 SS Brake parts (FE5 + JL9)
[ SS Turbocharged Coupe (1AP37) ]

* 25900763 - LF Brembo caliper - 300.90/178.37
* 25900764 - RF Brembo caliper - 300.90/178.37
25923942 - LH Steering Knuckle - 172.65/102.35
25923941 - RH Steering Knuckle - 172.65/102.35
* 25900781 - Frt caliper guide pin kit - 30.90/18.31
11570091 - Frt caliper mount bolts - 5.75/3.40
15939642 - Frt brake hose - 25.39/15.05
* 15893541 - Frt rotor - 147.88/87.66
* 25808929 - Frt pad kit - 200.19/118.67

The prices on the right are GM Parts Direct retail/actual price, not necessarily up to date. Enjoy!

Blur.fx

iTrader: (2)

Keep in mind GMPartsDirect.com wants to gouge you $39.24 to ship each caliper, $38.57 to ship two rotors, $26.76 for the pads, and $8.26 to ship the pin kits. Tally it up and $152.07 for shipping a brake kit (sans heavy knuckles) doesn't seem kosher.

Might be worth an email or call to Crate Engine Depot for a quote if you're serious.

Zoidborg

Oh, I'm not buying it from them. I can get the parts at cost plus 10% (turns out to be about $10 more for the calipers, for example) at the dealership my father works for. So all I have to pay is sales tax on top of that, and it works out rather nicely. I may consider the knuckles for a later upgrade; you'd have to get the caliper bolts with those (because where they bolt to is thicker on the new knuckle).

shabodah

I'm still curious how the GMPP competitive driving knuckles differ from the '08 SS/TC ones.

MidnightNB

I checked at a dealer and they said the bremo calipers will fit on stock ss/sc rotors, they are the same size.

montecarloman

The comp knuckles definitely have more aluminum around the hub and have more negative camber designed into them than the factory parts. Its quite possible that the casting as a whole is just beefer.

shabodah

I've directly compared the GMPP competitive knuckles to the SS/SC stockers, but I have yet to see the SS/TC stockers at all, and information I do have points to them being a third revision of the casting.

BRN169

You would think someone at GMPP would figure out what is needed to convert an older SS and offer a complete "upgrade" kit... Does not seem like it would be rocket science.

scampbell

Sweet i think im gonna do this eventually...has anybody done this swap yet??? and is there a noticeable difference?

crypticscifer

I guess all but the knuckles are needed for doing the rear end of a ss/tc?

SilverSurferSS/SC

Has anyone done this yet?

montecarloman

If they have shame on them for not sharing. I've considered the idea but I'd need new wheels to do it. That and I'd have to convert the rears over to disk to make the balance right. Easier than you'd think with access to the right parts

gtx28

anyone know what diameter wheels are needed to clear the brembos? will 17's work or are 18's required? I know the ss/sc brakes will clear 17's easy so im just curious.

ls1fbody

17's work, but offset is a huge issue.

gtx28

i have a 40 mm offset will it work? or is this one of those trial and error things?

ls1fbody

i'm not sure on what offset is needed. search, and you shall find.

Maven

iTrader: (1)

It all depednds on the wheel offset and interior contours. Some 17's MAY fit, but there are also some 19's that wont. The Koni Challenge guys dont even run the Brembos, they are running 2010 Camaro V6 brakes with Performance Friction custom rotors and 17" Enkei RPF-1's

ryanklein

Just a heads up for everyone, when I was talking to some of the GM Engineers at the Illinois meet, they said that the suspension setup and design is different on the 2008 from the 2005-2007 and that a swap would include new knuckles, ball joints, half-shafts, calipers, etc. The 2008 is more refined the the 2005-2007. I will send an email to the GM Engineer if I can find his contact information again and see if I can find more information but I wouldn't hold your breath anytime soon, if nothing else wait for the next GMPP catalog to arrive.

Regards,

Ryan