• From: Shakopee, MN
  • Registered: 2009-10-05
  • Posts: 129

Topic: Chevette brake upgrade

I did a write up on our brake upgrade for the Chevette and I figured I'd do my best to share it with the other goofballs running these cars. It upgrades the fronts to 11" vented rotors and keeps the 4x100 bolt pattern too. The type of brake hose we used got lost in the shuffle, so you're on your own there. It's a part store part though it just ditches the banjo for a npt (I think?) fitting. The pads I suggest aren't for endurance racing though, use something else like Hawk Blues or an endurance pad from Wilwood.

Sorry for linking but I'm lazy and didn't want to retype the write up every time I posted it.

http://www.missedshift.com/2012/05/chev … e-upgrade/

2 Reply by mike944 (edited by mike944 2012-05-31 12:36 PM)

  • Registered: 2010-12-29
  • Posts: 208

Re: Chevette brake upgrade

fellow goofball here!

we did something very similar, but with different parts.     we used Saturn Ion rotors and calipers.   rotors were mounted the exact same way you mounted yours.    As to the calipers, it's a long story, but only after we mounted them, we realized they don't have any hi-perf pads for that caliper, so we're using regular street pads.  They seem to be holding up ok, but they don't grab very well.        The Ion redline has high-perf pads available, but the calipers don't interchange on the same bracket.   For the fall race at Loudon, we were planning to make a new bracket to mount the Redline calipers.    Unfortunately, our brackets are much more complicated, because the flat mounting surface on that caliper is facing the rotor, not facing the spindle.

Did you guys do anything on the rear?    we were thinking about trying to upgrade from the drums.

Team Chev-itte Where The Sun Don't Shine  -  1985 Chevrolet Chevette.  Now with turbo power!
Judges Choice - Loudon Annoying 2012
Class C & Least Horrible Yank Tank winner - Boston Tow Party & Overhead Cam Bake 2011
IOE Winner, Loudon Annoying 2011
  • From: Columbia, South Cackalacke
  • Registered: 2009-05-02
  • Posts: 539

Re: Chevette brake upgrade

Great writeup! Maybe stupid question: didn't the Fiero use Chevette stuff up front with bigger rotors/calipers? If so,that might be an easy boneyard upgrade for someone. Redrill the rear axle flanges for the 5 bolt circle and you are done.

Philosophy of life: old age and treachery will ALWAYS overcome youth, enthusiasm and cash. General smartass know it all beer swilling ne'er do well. Avoid eye contact with this person, best avoided completely. 2008 Animal House Racing CMP 'Most Likely To Leave In An Ambulance' 2009 Blind Rodent Racing CMP 2010 Team Galileo CMP 2011 Roundhouse Kick Racing CMP 2012 Road Kill Grill Racing CMP (x2)
  • Registered: 2009-12-22
  • Posts: 166

Re: Chevette brake upgrade

Someone should go with the "Dominoes Pizza" theme from the 80's. I delivered for Dominoes while
looking for a job after finishing school and had a blast beating on those "pos" chevette's they provided
us future "Mario Andretti's"!

  • From: Shakopee, MN
  • Registered: 2009-10-05
  • Posts: 129

Re: Chevette brake upgrade

Yeah, the only reason we tried to stay 4x100 is that we bought our 8 rims prior to the brake upgrade. The 88 Fiero has better brakes but uses different suspension than the prior years and other Fieros still use solid rotors.

We are currently in the process of upgrading the rears with discs now. The parts are on there but the stock master can't move the fluid required. I just got a master in today but I have to see how fitment will work. I didn't source any of those bits but I'm pretty sure Saturn calipers are involved but I have zero idea on the year.

I'm pretty excited about the rear brake upgrade. In its current form, the car passes a few E30s. I'd like to change that to most E30s and I think the rear sway bar we cludged on and these rear discs will do it.

  • Registered: 2010-12-29
  • Posts: 208

Re: Chevette brake upgrade

CarRacer wrote:

Yeah, the only reason we tried to stay 4x100 is that we bought our 8 rims prior to the brake upgrade. The 88 Fiero has better brakes but uses different suspension than the prior years and other Fieros still use solid rotors...............

Same here.   we didn't get special wheels (we used Saturn SC wheels with spacers) but we already had a bunch of wheels to use.     Besides, i think redrilling a 4-bolt pattern to become a 5-bolt pattern wouldn't be very easy.    We read online that fiero parts bolted right on, but because of the bolt pattern difference, we never even investigated what the fiero used as far as whether it was actually an upgrade or not.

Good tip on the master.   we haven't really investigated any rear brake upgrades yet, at least not in any kind of detail.

You must be doing better than us.    i think we're keeping up with some of the E30's.   Maybe passed one or two

Team Chev-itte Where The Sun Don't Shine  -  1985 Chevrolet Chevette.  Now with turbo power!
Judges Choice - Loudon Annoying 2012
Class C & Least Horrible Yank Tank winner - Boston Tow Party & Overhead Cam Bake 2011
IOE Winner, Loudon Annoying 2011
  • From: Shakopee, MN
  • Registered: 2009-10-05
  • Posts: 129

Re: Chevette brake upgrade

The only reason we pass E30s is because we said screw it and figured a Chevette and Mitsubishi slurry would be fun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CeqqM37Qb8

  • From: Columbia, South Cackalacke
  • Registered: 2009-05-02
  • Posts: 539

Re: Chevette brake upgrade

I understand wanting to keep the wheels you have. If you are just starting out on a build, then going 5 lug is pretty simple and opens up a whole bunch of junkyard wheel upgrades. I had a machine shop redrill some axles for 4x100 for my AX car, if you know someone with a milling machine it's a pretty simple operation. But no, I wouldn't try it with a benchtop drill press. big_smile

Philosophy of life: old age and treachery will ALWAYS overcome youth, enthusiasm and cash. General smartass know it all beer swilling ne'er do well. Avoid eye contact with this person, best avoided completely. 2008 Animal House Racing CMP 'Most Likely To Leave In An Ambulance' 2009 Blind Rodent Racing CMP 2010 Team Galileo CMP 2011 Roundhouse Kick Racing CMP 2012 Road Kill Grill Racing CMP (x2)