G8 GT Brake Upgrade Review

[LiquidRedBeautyGT]

Hey Guys!

Long time forum reader, first time poster (again as my previous post got lost by the server crash)....

I know this topic has been beaten half to death on several occasions and even know there is a sticky on it (sorta), but I would just like confirmation that the brake setup I'm conjuring up will work flawlessly and improve my braking to the most possible. My plan is to do a direct bolt up system without any drilling required (no matter how minor it is). Furthermore, I would like to retain my E-Brake (since my job is located on a hill and use it on a daily). Please let me know if this will work, if I'm forgetting anything, whether I need something else or not, if it'll even look right (appearance wise) and any other recommendations (especially on the rear).

Front
--'04-'07 CTS-V Brembo Front 4-Piston Calipers (x2) - GM# 89047726 & 89047727
--'04-'07 CTS-V Caliper Pin Kit (x2) - GM# 89047711
--'04-'07 CTS-V Caliper Bolt (x4) - GM# 18041878
--DBA 4000XS Camaro SS Cross Drilled/Slotted Front Rotors (x2) - DBA# DBA42604BLKXS or DBA42604XS (haven't decided if I want them in black or gold yet)
--EBC YellowStuff Front '07 CTS-V Brake Pads (set) - EBC# DP41210R

Rear
--OEM GT Calipers (will just keep the current ones I have)
--DBA 4000XS G8 GT Cross Drilled/Slotted Rear Rotors (x2) - DBA# DBA42029BLKXS or DBA42029XS (again, haven't decided if I want them in black or gold yet)
--EBC YellowStuff Rear '09 G8 GT Brake Pads (set) - EBC# DP41834R

Russell Brake Lines (set) - Russel# 692210

I am fully aware that I will need to get either wheel spacers and longer bolts if I want to retain my 19" GT wheels for now, but I more than likely will be upgrading to the '10-'12 Camaro SS wheels pretty soon.

Please let me know what you guys think (also if you recommend any other direct fit rotors), thanks!

[Napalm]

I would avoid cross drilled and slotted rotors - unless you just want the look

performace wise - slotted only, or plain face please. they work better, less likely to develop deposits and won't crack. DBA rotors are the best you can get IMO for a holden.

If you wanted to save a buck I'd consider the street series like rotors over the 4000 series. but full bore. 4000 series slotted only front and rear is awesome.

also what I have currently.

I wouldn't use EBC yellow pads though. I'd use anything else, especially cheaper. if going all out for track use - get some carbotech or performace friction or porterfield.

but for street use - any other pad. Had bad luck with EBC's and DBA rotors in the past. ALSO the EBC yellow compound is a track formula and wants some heat in them to stick so they don't street very well - IMO. so I would avoid them in general.

Otherwise good luck.

[STL_G8GT]

I would avoid cross drilled and slotted rotors - unless you just want the look

performace wise - slotted only, or plain face please. they work better, less likely to develop deposits and won't crack. DBA rotors are the best you can get IMO for a holden.

If you wanted to save a buck I'd consider the street series like rotors over the 4000 series. but full bore. 4000 series slotted only front and rear is awesome.

also what I have currently.

I wouldn't use EBC yellow pads though. I'd use anything else, especially cheaper. if going all out for track use - get some carbotech or performace friction or porterfield.

but for street use - any other pad. Had bad luck with EBC's and DBA rotors in the past. ALSO the EBC yellow compound is a track formula and wants some heat in them to stick so they don't street very well - IMO. so I would avoid them in general.

Otherwise good luck.
Love napalms brake threads!

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[Rob@WretchedMS]

You can't run EBC Pads with DBA Rotors, I would recommend the Hawk Pads instead.

Either the HPS or the newer HP Street 5.0 (HPS 5.0)

[mjones73]

Maryland Speed is selling DBA rotors that have paint defects in the fairly inexpensive, $350 for all 4.

[mjones73]

I spoke too soon, looks like all they have left are the slotted and drilled version left.

[MYVESSV8]

You can't run EBC Pads with DBA Rotors, I would recommend the Hawk Pads instead.

Either the HPS or the newer HP Street 5.0 (HPS 5.0)

we run EBC with DBA here in Aus, if you want to use EBC use the red

[LiquidRedBeautyGT]

I would avoid cross drilled and slotted rotors - unless you just want the look

performace wise - slotted only, or plain face please. they work better, less likely to develop deposits and won't crack. DBA rotors are the best you can get IMO for a holden.

If you wanted to save a buck I'd consider the street series like rotors over the 4000 series. but full bore. 4000 series slotted only front and rear is awesome.

also what I have currently.

I wouldn't use EBC yellow pads though. I'd use anything else, especially cheaper. if going all out for track use - get some carbotech or performace friction or porterfield.

but for street use - any other pad. Had bad luck with EBC's and DBA rotors in the past. ALSO the EBC yellow compound is a track formula and wants some heat in them to stick so they don't street very well - IMO. so I would avoid them in general.

Otherwise good luck.

Hey Napalm! First off, thank you for your response. Secondly, apologies for my response on this being soooo late. Shortly after I posted it a family matter arose and the fires for that have recently died down...

Anyone, responding to your response... I had a question for you. Have you ever dealt with R1Concepts Premier Series Diamond Slotted Rotors for the front? I just took a look on MarylandSpeed.com and the Camaro SS front rotors are $245.68 compared with $491.83 for the DBA 4000 (they apparently don't make a T2 model, only T3 - I searched across a lot of websites and the T2 for this doesn't exist from my knowledge, unless you have a specific model# for them).

Aside from this, I believe I will be going with the Hawk HPS Camaro SS front pads and G8 GT rear pads since they're on sale as well.

Please let me know your opinion on this. Thank you!!

[LiquidRedBeautyGT]

I would avoid cross drilled and slotted rotors - unless you just want the look

performace wise - slotted only, or plain face please. they work better, less likely to develop deposits and won't crack. DBA rotors are the best you can get IMO for a holden.

If you wanted to save a buck I'd consider the street series like rotors over the 4000 series. but full bore. 4000 series slotted only front and rear is awesome.

also what I have currently.

I wouldn't use EBC yellow pads though. I'd use anything else, especially cheaper. if going all out for track use - get some carbotech or performace friction or porterfield.

but for street use - any other pad. Had bad luck with EBC's and DBA rotors in the past. ALSO the EBC yellow compound is a track formula and wants some heat in them to stick so they don't street very well - IMO. so I would avoid them in general.

Otherwise good luck.

I also had another question for you Napalm (if I may) or in general for you anyone reading - So I'm an idiot and I forgot that for this setup, you can use either the '10 Camaro SS / '09 G8 GXP front rotors or the '07 CTS-V front rotors. My question to you, the front rotors for the Camaro SS / G8 GXP are 355mm in size, while the '07 CTS-V fronts are 370mm. My vehicle is mostly considered a daily driver with some eccentric "spirited" driving from time to time... will I really notice that much of a drastic difference in stopping power between the 355mm and 370mm rotors while using the CTS-V calipers / Hawk HPS pads combo??

I also called R! Concepts and spoke with Ken. With their current holiday specials, he's giving me a deal on the Camaro SS front & G8 GXP rear rotors - Premier Series Diamond Coated Slotted - for $419.27 + tax. What do you think of them and their quality? Is it a good enough deal not to pass up?
Please let me know... thanks!

[BuildItYourSelf]

07 Cts-V is 6bolt.
You may be confused with the years and applications.
The 6 pot brembos can use the 5th gen zl1 or V2 front rotors.
Also you may have read the calipers on the 5th gen an v1 front are the same other then the mounting bolt diameter. The 5th gen Camaro is 14mm and the v1 is 12 (g8 uses stock 12mm hardware so of you use 14mm you need to drill your knuckles.)

[LiquidRedBeautyGT]

07 Cts-V is 6bolt.
You may be confused with the years and applications.
The 6 pot brembos can use the 5th gen zl1 or V2 front rotors.
Also you may have read the calipers on the 5th gen an v1 front are the same other then the mounting bolt diameter. The 5th gen Camaro is 14mm and the v1 is 12 (g8 uses stock 12mm hardware so of you use 14mm you need to drill your knuckles.)

really?? Everything I have virtually read says the '07 CTS-V front calipers are a direct bolt on to the '09 G8 GT. As long as I use G8 GXP or '10-12 Camaro SS front rotors, it should work flawlessly. Has every forum post been wrong about this??

[G8Holland]

BuildItYourSelf was just saying the front rotors are 6 bolt for the 07 CTS-V. The front 07 CTS-V calipers are a direct bolt up, so game on there. The two rotor types you stated, GXP 10-12 SS, are correct, either would work.

[imajeenyas]

I used V1 calipers, new bolts and 10-12 Camaro SS rotors. Quick, easy swap.
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/08/f73aa5439c3792a32e71712d82e92af3.jpg
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[LiquidRedBeautyGT]

I used V1 calipers, new bolts and 10-12 Camaro SS rotors. Quick, easy swap.
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/08/f73aa5439c3792a32e71712d82e92af3.jpg
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I thought the front oem rotors on the SS were plain? They come in cross-drilled and slotted? What's the part number for those?

[imajeenyas]

Seriously? They're aftermarket rotors that are made to fit the 2010 Camaro SS...same dimensions

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[LiquidRedBeautyGT]

Ok guys I'm sorry to beat this question even further, but at this point since I now need the brakes/rotors asap, i don't have the proper funding to go with DBA 4000's for the front and rear. So if budget is more of a concern now, should I go with StopTech slotted, PowerStop slotted, RotorPros slotted, R1 Concepts slotted, or EBC slotted for the front and rear? Which ones give you the most bang for your buck aka come in 2nd to the DBAs?

CTS-V front calipers are still a go as there only a little over $100 on amazon right now, as well as the Russell brake lines. The bolts and pin kit I can get locally since I have an AC Delco discount via UPS. I'm sticking with the GT rear calipers, so I will just be changing the rotors and pads.

Speaking of which, looks like after further digging the big favorites for DD w/ optimistically spirited driving tend to be the StopTech and HPS pads. Which out of the 2 are the better one?

[LiquidRedBeautyGT]

Seriously? They're aftermarket rotors that are made to fit the 2010 Camaro SS...same dimensions

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well by how you said, it sounded like they were oem. that's what got me confused haha sorry. So which aftermarket rotors did u go with?

[imajeenyas]

I used this list I copied from the forum


Parts on Amazon:
AC Delco caliper 172-2288 $101
AC Delco caliper 172-2287 $98 Raybestos H5817A caliper pin kit: $23 (only 1 required, since this kit includes the pair)
Hawk HPS HB453F.585 pads: $128 PowerStop Drilled/Slotted 2010+ Camaro rotors AR8680XPR: $169
And 4 caliper bolts from GM 11515778, around $3.50 a piece. (You have to have these, the thread pitch is different on the Brembos)