Please forgive my ignorance but I read the GSX brake upgrade sticky and I know I need the calipers, rotors, caliper brackets and shims to do the swap.

When it says shims, is that the same thin metal shims that go between the brake pads and the calipers? Dont those come with new pads?

What exactly are the brackets. I am thinking it is the large piece that bolts to the hub that the calipers actually go into right?

ok nevermind i think i got it

if i buy a loaded caliper and rotor that side is good to go right?

Originally posted by baxsom
if i buy a loaded caliper and rotor that side is good to go right?

Should be as long as whoever your buying from knows what they're doing.

If your running GSX brakes you need the GSX/AWD rotor as well as the brake pads.

The shims are what sit inside at the top and bottom of the caliper. The shims help position the pads properly in the caliper.

The caliper 'bracket' is what mounts to the back of the hub and then the caliper bolts to the bracket after the rotor has been installed.

http://www.dsmregistry.com/detail.php?carid=1030

cool thanks

thats what i thought but i am a visual learner
it would be nice to have pictures in the sticky of this is what you need, this, this, and this for the learning challenged like i seem to be turning into

It's not that bad really. Probably one of the easiest modifications on our cars. Our brakes are simple once you've worked with them a few times.

http://www.dsmregistry.com/detail.php?carid=1030

ive been planing on doing this for the longest time, well since i joined 2gnt. but recently i went to a brake place and they planted a doubt in my mind, he said "oh well i dont know...you may have to buy the hole hub for the bigger caliper and rotor to mount on..." i was pretty domn confident after all my readings of faqs and stuff, but this guy has made me qstion myself... anyways, try buying the loaded calipers (rebuilt)from kragen/checker autoparts, they are 60 a piece after the core, and just turn in ur single piston ones, by the time they notice IF they even notice they arent the same itll be too late :thumbsup , i hate myself for just sayin that...

Originally posted by edxmon
i went to a brake place and they planted a doubt in my mind, he said "oh well i dont know...you may have to buy the whole hub for the bigger caliper and rotor to mount on..."

No. Unless your current hub is damaged there is no need to replace.


For the sake of your car don't take it to that shop again. Find a new shop or learn to do the work yourself. If any 2gnters are nearby perhaps one of them could show you the ropes.

As said ^^^, brakes are fairly simple. First few times break out the chiltons or FSM and you're good to go. Don't forget to bleed 'em when you're done. :thumbsup

total off topic but i love that red color

i am getting mine repainted soon since i have the silver that was famous for the fading side skirts

and i am still decideding if i should change the color or not

That mechanic is no pro. Nice of him to mention that, but obviously he is not familiar with our paticular models.

Buy em and do it, its a 1 hour job if that... Took me longer cus I painted em.

yeah between the sticky and the specific questions on this thread
i have calipers in the mail from M&S recycling. I found front and rear AXXIS metal masters on ebay for 60 bucks and now i just need rotors. I am trying to decide if i get cheap oem ones or go to raceconcepts.net and buy their slotted ones

I am going to rebuild the calipers just to be on the safe side. any tips or suggestions

Rebuilding is a good idea. I always rebuild mine because they're so nasty from coming off junkyard cars, that I have to dunk them in degreaser overnight.

Autozone sells the rebuild kit and the caliper shims, but NOT the pad shims.


Dark part is the caliper itself
Brownish part is the caliper bracket
Two caliper shims are floating in there somewhere, not installed.

i went to advance to pick up some gsx rotors and checked on the rebuild kits and they said that there were two sizes to the pistons and i needed to know which size to order

i didnt get them

but i will try autozone or napa they are usually a little better

probably a good idea to take a caliper in just in case