Ok, finally got my GT rims balanced today with the stick on weights inside the rim. i plan on doing the Le Baron swap with the 85 caddy Seville calipers. i have heard of a few issues with clearance with this combo. who all has these on their car? have any issues with them? if needed can i add a small spacer behind the wheel rim? and where are the most common areas that the weights interfere with the rotor? I have a 86 coupe 5-speed, stock 86 GT rims and brackets from scott0999 (I think these were designed by forcedfirebird origonally.
Useful enough to know it can be done lol. Have you ever changed tires on it yet to know how far in the weights have to be or know if a spacer was used?
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02:02 PM
TG oreiF 8891 Member
Posts: 776 From: Cleveland, Ohio; USA Registered: Aug 2004
I have the lebaron brakes on my 88GT but I have 17" wheels. I sorta tried to put on the stock rims and it looked like quite a bit of clearancing was going to be needed, so i bought a cheap used set of 17s. Now that I need new tires, I'm investigating this again and I'm curious what you find since my old stock rims still have perfectly good tires on them. If I could switch back without too many adjustments, I'd definitely consider it. I'll be watching to see what others post.
------------------ 1988 Fiero GT Custom Corvette / MR2 electro-hydraulic power steering 17" rims covering up 11.25" rotors with Cadillac Calipers & drop spindles
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02:09 PM
jaredmurray88 Member
Posts: 1153 From: wellersburg pa Registered: Mar 2011
if you have stock 88 rims I've been told those will not work due to the smaller width in front but the older ones will work its just VERY tight and i would like to know trouble areas before i go ahead and buy up calipers and rotors for the swap then not be able to use them. i told the guys to mount the stick on wheel weights as far inside as possible but i am worried those words fell on deaf ears. after all what do us younger guy know that a rude old tire shop guy doesn't? Good i kept the receipt and i can guarantee if i have to go back there i will not be pleased at all.
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02:28 PM
Sep 1st, 2012
LFiero67 Member
Posts: 895 From: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada Registered: Jun 2002
My caliper rubbed on the raise areas inside the rim just slightly. Just lightly ground for clearance. If the weights are towards the inside edge(away from hub face) of wheel, it should be ok. I use lip weights so I can't confirm if stick ons will be an issue.
------------------ 11.425 @115.60 Best 60' 1.543 seconds 3800 S/C 4T65E
New combo : Billet 6262 Precision turbo, PT1001 intercooler, ST1 cam, 130lb springs, comp pushrods, HV3, ARP Rod bolts, otherwise stock L36. 10.263 @ 134.44MPH
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04:03 AM
Sep 2nd, 2012
jaredmurray88 Member
Posts: 1153 From: wellersburg pa Registered: Mar 2011
I have a 87 GT that I have stock gt rims with the lebaron rotors and caddy calipers. Only have them on the front and have stock calipers on the rears. No clearance problems but I do have the weights on the lips.
Jason
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02:26 PM
Sep 24th, 2012
jaredmurray88 Member
Posts: 1153 From: wellersburg pa Registered: Mar 2011
I have the lebrake setup. I usually run 17s but when I first did the brake swap I put the stock lace rims on just to make sure I could use them if I had to. I did have to grind a wee bit off of each caliper to get clearance but it was a quick and easy job.
DF
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08:29 PM
jaredmurray88 Member
Posts: 1153 From: wellersburg pa Registered: Mar 2011
would you happen to have a pic? one through the 17s will work im not picky lol. Do you happen to know who you bought the brackets off of? i have a set of forced firebirds design sold by scott0999. I believe the design and the maker of the brackets is the issue with some clearing with a butt load of clearance and why some need MAJOR mods to fit. Also what did you use to shave the material off the calipers? I read a write up where a guy used a belt sander to remove what looked like a pretty good sized chunk of the caliper with no issue. I'm kinda scared to get into the bore of the caliper or something else or just plain melt the seals inside with a angle grinder.
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09:34 PM
PFF
System Bot
Sep 25th, 2012
Fierobsessed Member
Posts: 4782 From: Las Vegas, NV Registered: Dec 2001
I helped my father install the lebaron rotors and caddy calipers on his otherwise stock 86 GT. The wheels are stock, and they fit just fine. There is probably only 1/8" or so of clearance, but it has never rubbed or otherwise caused any issues.
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01:52 PM
Dave E Bouy Member
Posts: 1465 From: Kettle Point Ontario Canada Registered: Sep 2004
would you happen to have a pic? one through the 17s will work im not picky lol. Do you happen to know who you bought the brackets off of? i have a set of forced firebirds design sold by scott0999. I believe the design and the maker of the brackets is the issue with some clearing with a butt load of clearance and why some need MAJOR mods to fit. Also what did you use to shave the material off the calipers? I read a write up where a guy used a belt sander to remove what looked like a pretty good sized chunk of the caliper with no issue. I'm kinda scared to get into the bore of the caliper or something else or just plain melt the seals inside with a angle grinder.
I think I bought the brackets from rjblaze way back in 07. As far as removing material from the calipers I just used an angle grinder and shaved off the highest point on the tops of them. Not very much material to remove in my case.
