VE Brembo Brake Upgrade

[BLACK 346]

Looking to get a set of these soon to replace the sub standard rubbish that is on a VE Calais V. Has anyone had any experience with them, good or bad? I am pretty sure they are imported and off the Cadillac CTS-V. Look to be damn good for the price.

http://www.empireperformance.com.au/home/109-holden-commodore-ve-vf-brembo-big-brake-upgrade-kit-front-rear.html

[Wonky]

I bought genuine Redline front Brembos for the ute from my local dealer. Absolutely love them! Day to day I don't notice much difference but on Australia Day a few of us from another forum went on a cruise which included about 25km of a lovely twisty road and they really came into their own. Constant firm pedal!!

[Bren-00]

I bought a set of these last year from empire, just getting around to have them fitted now. I was waiting for DBA to release slotted rotors for them. I'll hopefully have the time to get them fitted with engineer sign off in the next few weeks. I have searched for info on the US Camaro and CTS-V forums and they have lots of good tips for pad selection etc, there are 2piece rotors available and DBA make slotted 370mm rotors for this kit - I got them for less than $400 delivered.

There are a few on ls1 that have this kit fitted, though I think most are on pre VE with 355mm front rotors.

It may be due to the falling dollar but I was able to get them delivered for a considerable amount less too, same kit with discs, pads, calipers etc. Still from empire performamce but off ebay.

Im looking forward to having brakes next time I'm on the track!

[Micks]

There are some reasonable Brembo front upgrades only around $1k, requires a min 19" wheel though.
In my book not really worth doing front only, better result doing each corner.

[IJ.]

Don't like them on pre VE's as they end up upside down, they're leading/trailing pistons for a reason...

[Maccas]

90% of your braking power is in the front setup, trust me i have only front as they came standard on my wagon and they pull the 2+ tonne car up no worries time and time again, as i do a lot of hill driving! Standards would die in no time with my driving even in a manual!

Cheers

Maccas

[BLACK 346]

There are some reasonable Brembo front upgrades only around $1k, requires a min 19" wheel though.
In my book not really worth doing front only, better result doing each corner.

That would be 355mm 4 piston I am assuming Mick? These are 370mm 6 Piston fronts, so I though maybe worth the extra coin?

[Micks]

That would be 355mm 4 piston I am assuming Mick? These are 370mm 6 Piston fronts, so I though maybe worth the extra coin?

Yes they were, reckon your going the right way there! :goodjob:

[BLACK 346]

Yes they were, reckon your going the right way there! :goodjob:

Do you think that maybe the 370 6 piston is overkill for a road car? Have done a bit more looking around and you can get the 4 piston 355/350 kits for a fair bit less.

[Micks]

Guess it will come down to your rim size & budget..though the 355's will be a dam site better than the VE V8 stockers!
I know our Calais V wagon units are only adequate & no more!

[BLACK 346]

Guess it will come down to your rim size & budget..though the 355's will be a dam site better than the VE V8 stockers!
I know our Calais V wagon units are only adequate & no more!

Budget is not an issue and currently running VE R8 19's. Yes, nothing could be worse that stock VE Commodore brakes, although even a pad change could significantly improve the stock brakes.

ps...Pretty sad when your wifes Captiva has better brakes than your V8 Holden. I wont even mention the daughters Gold, that shames both of them.

[Micks]

Biggest prob with our VE when it's cold & maneuvering from say reverse to D the thing lunges & you have to hit the brakes hard to hold it back!! Was a bit alarmed when we first got it..to anyone unaware could be bloody dangerous!

[Bren-00]

Budget is not an issue and currently running VE R8 19's. Yes, nothing could be worse that stock VE Commodore brakes, although even a pad change could significantly improve the stock brakes.

ps...Pretty sad when your wifes Captiva has better brakes than your V8 Holden. I wont even mention the daughters Gold, that shames both of them.



I had fresh road and track pads on my VE ute standard brakes, they crapped out pretty quick on a track day. Maybe 2 laps in and I found I wasn't able to have any faith in how hard they'd bite. Even on the street they feel under braked so regardless of 4 or 6 piston they can at least give you , ore confidence that they will do what the should.

I was looking at AP racing and Harrop, but at the price the CTS-V kit is hard to pass up.

[Micks]

Pretty sad when your wifes Captiva has better brakes than your V8 Holden. I wont even mention the daughters Gold, that shames both of them.

Our old 2005 Astra had larger brakes straight from the factory & we never changed out the orig. pads in the 4-1/2 we owned it. My Daughters 2010 Corolla out brakes our wagon! :deal:

[BLACK 346]

Well I ended up picking up a set of Brembo 4 pistons with the 355 and 350 rotors. Now I am looking at QFM brake pads as dont want to use the Ultimates that came with the kit. My question is, are the brake pads the same as those for the stock VE brakes? Going off the Ultimate part number they are. I would have thought a larger pad would be utilised with these bigger brakes? Also, does anyone know the GM part numbers for the 4 x Brembo Caliper bolts (Front and Rear) as I believe I will need them for installation.

[BLACK 346]

Found the bolt part number, same front and rear I believe GM92139080. Single use bolt

[motomk]

Post 6 on this thread
http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?133560

[BLACK 346]

Can anyone provide the part numbers for the pads for this setup? I am a little confused. The front pads that came with the set (Ultimate DB1678ULT), and which I believe were used by the original owner, are standard part numbers. I have since found out that the fronts require the VE Redline Brembo pads (which makes sense). But what is the part number for the rears? Is it possible to use the wrong pads? Will they even fit?
Thanks in advance :)

[motomk]

According to the Bendix catalogue, DB1678 is the right pad number for the front Redline Brembo caliper.
DB1938 on the rear???? believe this is for the AP caliper not sure if it is the same as the Brembo rear??

[BLACK 346]

According to the Bendix catalogue, DB1678 is the right pad number for the front Redline Brembo caliper.
DB1938 on the rear???? believe this is for the AP caliper not sure if it is the same as the Brembo rear??

Yes, that is why I am confused. I was sure that the pads were correct, but then found out that DB1678 is also stock VE V8 Pad part number. When I enquired about purchasing QFM pads for the CTS-V Brembo's I was told that they take different pad, same as VE Redline Brembo's. Surely this should not be a difficult exercise.
Thanks for the reply though mate, much appreciated.

[Micks]

Have noticed same with other Holden/HSV variants too, eg the C6 upgrades on the VZ's for instance use a std VZ pads in the upgraded caliper! This was only true for the rears only though. Guessing the larger rear rotors & with greater heat dissipation/less braking effort is why this is the case.

[Wonky]

I have no idea what pads are in the kit but can say the standard pads in the Redline front Brembos I bought from a Holden dealer were bloody annoyingly dusty!! :bawl:

[lmoengnr]

I have no idea what pads are in the kit but can say the standard pads in the Redline front Brembos I bought from a Holden dealer were bloody annoyingly dusty!! :bawl:

Must be the same pads as HSV use....

[motomk]

DB1765 for normal ve front brakes..v8 and v6 according to my research.
http://www.bendix.com.au/catalogue/214109#

The Brembos uses a more rectangular shaped pad. DB1678
http://www.bendix.com.au/catalogue/216052#

[mjrandom]

Pretty sure V6 and V8 brakes are different. Be surprised if they use the same pads.

[BLACK 346]

Pretty sure V6 and V8 brakes are different. Be surprised if they use the same pads.

Right you are. The V6's have smaller discs. Not sure about Calipers and Pads though? I am off overseas for work tomorrow and wont be having these brakes fitted until I return in mid August, but will be sure to post the brake pad part numbers when I finally work out what they are :) They will be fitted by Brad at Enhanced Automotive at the same time that he fits my cam, and I am sure when I catch up with him that he will know what pads are required. Thanks to all who have offered advice and help in this thread.