Switching stock V6 brakes to GT brakes

bexleycorona · Jul 19, 2017

So I had some eBay bucks to burn and some time. I decided to purchase some GT brakes with about 11k miles on them. I figure once my current pads are done I can put these in. I have attached pictures.

1.) Can I just take it to a shop and they can transfer over the brakes? Did I buy all the right things? I know, I should have done my research beforehand but I have a habit of impulse buys.

2.) How much life is left in the pads and rotors approx?

DANA44 · Jul 19, 2017

No pictures showing

bexleycorona · Jul 19, 2017

DANA44 said:
No pictures showing

Fixed

DANA44 · Jul 19, 2017

You may want to check the below part numbers as you are missing the sheilds.

FR3Z-2K004-F
Splash Shield

FR3Z-2K005-F
Splash Shield

Rick#7 · Jul 19, 2017

Although the S197 made it easy to upgrade the base brakes to GT size by simply bolting on the GT calipers and rotors, I have no idea if the same thing works on the S550, and it would be naive to assume that it does without researching it.

As far as how much life is left in the parts you bought, that is impossible to tell from a pic. A brake rotors life is measured in thousandths of an inch, it needs to be measured with a dial caliper to determine if it is still within service life. However, just looking at your pics one rotor appears to be worn considerably thinner than the other, maybe it's just a difference in the angle they are visible at, but before trying to use them you should make sure that both rotors are within tolerance for thickness and runout and that both are FRONT rotors as the thinner one might be from the rear brakes and accidentally mixed up in the parts the seller salvaged.

Just my opinion, rotors and pads are normal wear items and are not something to take the chance on buying used. Brakes are too important to risk on saving a few dollars on with used wear items. Used low mileage calipers are fine for doing the upgrade to bigger GT brakes, but if it were me I'd just buy new rotors and pads to go with the GT calipers. You may not have much choice in the matter either way, because I think you'll have a hard time finding a shop that will install used brake parts for you. It's a liability thing for them, they won't take the risk on unknown wear items, and certainly won't offer any kind of warranty on the work.

jperls · Jul 20, 2017

I did this upgrade. I do recommend getting the back shields. Your pictures do not tell the whole story in regards to determining how much life is left in the pads or rotors...let alone if the pads were wearing evenly. Also, this swap will only work if you have 18in wheels or larger..they will not work with the 17in wheels and barely fit behind the stock 18in wheels (I mean barely). It is an easy upgrade to do and everything should just swap over.

bexleycorona · Jul 20, 2017

Rick#7 said:
Although the S197 made it easy to upgrade the base brakes to GT size by simply bolting on the GT calipers and rotors, I have no idea if the same thing works on the S550, and it would be naive to assume that it does without researching it.

As far as how much life is left in the parts you bought, that is impossible to tell from a pic. A brake rotors life is measured in thousandths of an inch, it needs to be measured with a dial caliper to determine if it is still within service life. However, just looking at your pics one rotor appears to be worn considerably thinner than the other, maybe it's just a difference in the angle they are visible at, but before trying to use them you should make sure that both rotors are within tolerance for thickness and runout and that both are FRONT rotors as the thinner one might be from the rear brakes and accidentally mixed up in the parts the seller salvaged.

Just my opinion, rotors and pads are normal wear items and are not something to take the chance on buying used. Brakes are too important to risk on saving a few dollars on with used wear items. Used low mileage calipers are fine for doing the upgrade to bigger GT brakes, but if it were me I'd just buy new rotors and pads to go with the GT calipers. You may not have much choice in the matter either way, because I think you'll have a hard time finding a shop that will install used brake parts for you. It's a liability thing for them, they won't take the risk on unknown wear items, and certainly won't offer any kind of warranty on the work.

You're right, I should have done my research.

jperls said:
I did this upgrade. I do recommend getting the back shields. Your pictures do not tell the whole story in regards to determining how much life is left in the pads or rotors...let alone if the pads were wearing evenly. Also, this swap will only work if you have 18in wheels or larger..they will not work with the 17in wheels and barely fit behind the stock 18in wheels (I mean barely). It is an easy upgrade to do and everything should just swap over.

I have a set of 18" and 19" wheels for my car. I'll figure out how I'm going to work that out. Worst case I have to buy new brake pads and rotors.

Thank you for your input guys!

RedRyan98 · Jul 20, 2017

Are these base GT brakes or GT PP brakes? For some reason I thought the base Gt brakes would be same as the base Ecoboost and V6 brakes but haven't researched it enough

Chef jpd · Jul 20, 2017

3 different brake setups

1- Base EB and v/6
2- Base GT and EB PP
3- GT PP (brembo)

DANA44 · Jul 20, 2017

I upgraded both the front and rear to the base GT. Very easy swap with noticeable Improvement.
The rears just offer the benefit of venting but when I was shopping could be had for almost nothing.
The fronts open up the door for improved rotors or pads aftermarket.
I recently had to make a panic stop the car stops so quick I thought the guy behind me was going to rearend me. He had to Veer left in to the break lane GTI. It was a 60 to 0 stop on a curve somewhere around Albany.

DR_ · Jul 20, 2017

Yes you got everything you need to swap if those rotors are the same. There are lots of life left on those pads so no worries there. You will love the extra braking power these provide. It shouldn't be more than 2 hours of labor (~$200) to have them installed and the brakes bled. I did mine myself and it was a breeze.

bexleycorona · Jul 21, 2017

RedRyan98 said:
Are these base GT brakes or GT PP brakes? For some reason I thought the base Gt brakes would be same as the base Ecoboost and V6 brakes but haven't researched it enough

I believe Base V6 and Base EcoBoost are the same brakes (2 piston).

Ecoboost Premium Package and Base GT are the same (4 piston).

GT Premium Package is Brembos (6 piston).

I thought the rear brakes on the Base GT and Base V6 were the same?

DANA44 · Jul 22, 2017

I thought the rear brakes on the Base GT and Base V6 were the same?[/QUOTE said:
Rears on the GT are vented rotors . Still a single piston caliper but the housing is larger to support the wider vented rotors
.

s550v6 · Jul 30, 2017

Just ran into my first problem with my GT brakes...I have both front and rear stock GT calipers, DBA 4000 T3 rotors, and stock pads. I was cut off on the highway and slammed on the brakes and instantly got a warning that my brake fluid level was low, even though the car recorded my max deceleration at 1.1G. My question is, what's going on? Am I actually low on brake fluid or do the increased caliper size require more fluid? The car still stops incredibly well...

DANA44 · Jul 30, 2017

Check the fluid level at the master cylinder. If low look for a leak. The master cylinder is compatible with the GT calipers.

Switching stock V6 brakes to GT brakes

bexleycorona

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DANA44

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bexleycorona

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DANA44

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Rick#7

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jperls

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bexleycorona

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RedRyan98

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Chef jpd

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DANA44

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DR_

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bexleycorona

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DANA44

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s550v6

Mike

DANA44

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