'72 Skylark Front Rotor/Caliper Upgrade - Baer or Wilwood -vs- Stock

Discussion in 'The whoa and the sway.' started by Dan Gerber, Feb 24, 2021.

  1. Dan Gerber

    Dan Gerber Founders Club Member

    Did any of you replace your stock Skylark/GS disc brake rotors and calipers with equivalent size Baer or Wilwood rotors and calipers?

    It's time for a complete brake job on my '72 Skylark but I'm only interested in the possibility of replacing the rotors and calipers. I may also replace the stock front and rear brake hoses with DOT-type stainless braided brake hoses, but I'm only going to rebuild my stock master cylinder (See photo) and rear brake cylinders.

    BTW - I have absolutely no plans to replace my 15" stock steel rallye wheels.

    Anyway, for those of you who only upgraded the front rotors and calipers:

    1 - Did you notice any improvement in brake "feel"?

    2 - Any improvement in stopping distance in maximum braking situations (i.e., panic stops)?

    Thank you in advance for your responses.

    IMG_1530 - Edit.jpg
     
  2. 72gs4spd

    72gs4spd Well-Known Member

    I have Wilwood two piston calipers that replace the stock caliper. For pads and rotors went with EBC slotted rotors and red stuff pads. 15” rally’s clear, though you may have to clean up the welds. Definitely better stopping. Pads do make a bit of dust, but I now have 17” wheels that are easier to clean.
     
  3. Dan Gerber

    Dan Gerber Founders Club Member

    Thanks for your response, Steve. Very informative since I wasn't aware of the two-piston option. I like the idea of keeping as many stock GM A-body components on the car as possible.
     
  4. gstewart

    gstewart Well-Known Member

    Several years ago, I helped install dual piston Wilwood calipers + master cylinder on a '67 mustang. Had to make new brake lines for the new brakes.
     
  5. Dan Gerber

    Dan Gerber Founders Club Member

    Thanks for your input. I'm going to call/e-mail Wilwood customer service for info anyway, so I'll ask about that too.

     
  6. 72gs4spd

    72gs4spd Well-Known Member

    Here’s a picture of my set up before I bedded the brakes. CBB6731E-DE37-4E29-BF0E-86AD6948C221.jpeg
     
  7. jaye

    jaye Well-Known Member

    The wilwood just bolted to the stock spindle without any modifications?
     
  8. 72gs4spd

    72gs4spd Well-Known Member

    Yes bolt on. You may have an issue with the Buick Rally wheels. I didn’t but I’ve heard others that did and they had to grind down some of the welds.
     
  9. jaye

    jaye Well-Known Member

    Great, that’ll be the next upgrade I do, are your rotors also wilwood
     
  10. Bens99gtp

    Bens99gtp Well-Known Member

    I have driven several cars after install the new twin piston d52 caliper, all but one drove perfect. The one seemed to have low volume and very long pedal movement.....but I believe it had the wrong master b4 starting......a standard disc drum master and the problem was gone
     
  11. 72gs4spd

    72gs4spd Well-Known Member

    I went with EBC rotors and pads.
     

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