D52 caliper upgrades
 

In response to the recent post by Chuck "My whole braking system - thinking out loud" and the ensuing conversation regarding updating the rear brakes to disc with calipers that match the fronts, I did some research.

The stock front caliper (D52) is very common on many GM trucks and cars. There are several direct replacement units available, but they aren't really considered an "upgrade". My focus on this search was to find direct bolt on calipers that would offer better braking than the stock single piston D52.

The applications below meet that criteria with the exception that some do require replacing the flex house as well. I also included several replacement rotor choices.

Keep in mind this does not cover any "Big Brake" upgrades. I feel that is an entire different category in it self that I hope to cover in another post.

If you have any other options please post them along with a source link.

D52 options-



Summit-
Wilwood GM D52 Calipers
Brake Caliper Aluminum,
164.99 Each
http://static.summitracing.com/globa...937-rd_w_m.jpg

Power Stop AR-8600SL
69.95 Each
http://static.summitracing.com/globa...ar-8541l_w.jpg

Power Stop AR-8600L
79.95 Each
http://static.summitracing.com/globa...ar-8600l_w.jpg



POL-
#18346- DUAL PISTON CALIPERS
GM TYPE 389.00(PAIR)
Requires braided stainless brake hose kit #-DPSBH. Add $79.10
http://www.performanceonline.com/sto...roductid=18346

#19569 LARGE GM D52 ALUMINUM CALIPERS
DUAL PISTON 349.99 (PAIR)
Upgrade to polished, add $75.
http://www.performanceonline.com/sto...roductid=19569

#18292 CROSS DRILLED AND GAS SLOTTED ROTORS
79.00 (PAIR)
http://www.performanceonline.com/sto...roductid=18292

#18290 CROSS DRILLED ROTORS
49.00 (PAIR)
http://www.performanceonline.com/sto...roductid=18290

#18288 GAS SLOTTED ROTORS
49.00 (PAIR)
http://www.performanceonline.com/sto...roductid=18288

Re: D52 caliper upgrades
 

Ken,...
I assume those pictures of "hat style" rotors are just "sample photos" of the slots or drilled holes, since they obviously won't work on the front of the 67-87 trucks?

Re: D52 caliper upgrades
 

Wow the POL rotors are cheap!

*EDIT* Price does not include rotors only the machine work...

Re: D52 caliper upgrades
 

While they don't have the 'Bling' of the Wilwood dual piston D52's the factory option JB7/JD7 calipers have 3 5/32" dia pistons. I'm about 90% certain these are based on the D52 caliper castings. My computer is running extremely slow, or I would find some verification tonight. I'll look some more tomorrow. IIRC the standard JB5 and JB6 calipers have 2 15/16" pistons.

Re: D52 caliper upgrades
 

carcraft put the wilwood calipers on a few cars and said they worked amazingly better

Re: D52 caliper upgrades
 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/71-87...item2303780ba6

POL has the "ugly" wilwood dual piston on eBay for $249/pair right now.

Re: D52 caliper upgrades
 

That's the stock photo from each companies site. I just used their pic to show the style that was available.

I know most of the referenced thread is referring to calipers for a rear conversion, but your going to need rotors to match so I pulled that up as well.


This is here so we can discuss options with out mucking up Chuck thread.

Re: D52 caliper upgrades
 

so these take you from a single piston to a dual piston. These will fit where ever the stock calipers fit assume?
looks like a decent upgrade. My brakes work good right now but I would guess be much better after this...
Thanks
Dave

Re: D52 caliper upgrades
 

From what I've read, braking performance might be improved, but only marginally @ best over a properly functioning OE disc set-up. The total piston area is not changed by much, it's just distributed slightly farther out by virtue of the smaller dual pistons vs. the single, larger, OE centered piston.

With out a doubt.... they look better ;) .

Re: D52 caliper upgrades
 

So these POL calipers are made by Wilwood too? I like the looks of the new Wilwood D52's, but for the money, I think these will be fine for me. I was looking at getting the POL ones above before I knew about the new WW D52's.

Re: D52 caliper upgrades
 

Scoti, thanks. I think it would be cool to have the better brakes but mine work great so I wasnt sure on how much they could improve. They do look cool tho...

Re: D52 caliper upgrades
 

Total piston area per caliper:
OE C10 = 6.777
D52 = 6.584
CPP Big Bore S-10 = 5.940
OE S-10 = 4.909
Corvette 40mm = 3.896
Corvette 38mm = 3.516

The D52 is the most close to the OE piston area. We use 52mm pistons in our big brake kit with the 13" rotors. One advantage with our claiper is the pad area is much larger. This gives better performance, lower pad temps, and longer pad life. You also might have noticed how small the Corvette cliper is.

Danny Nix
CPP

Re: D52 caliper upgrades
 

do you know what are the thickness of those rotors.
i´m planning on using mcghaughys drop spindles on my ´67 c-10 but i read that they must use heavy duty rotors. do you know if the rotors in this post fit these spindles?
or know another rotor caliper combo that fits the spindles.
tnks

Re: D52 caliper upgrades
 

You will need to use the 1.250" thick rotors with the McGaughy's spindles. You can get the Wilwood D52 calipers to fit the 1.250" rotors, or you can use OEM style D52 calipers for the 1.250" rotors.

Re: D52 caliper upgrades
 

I used the POL D52 calipers along with summits drilled/slotted rotors.

IMO you can change rotors and calipers, but don't over look the brake pads too. You can gain a lot of performance by upgrading the brake pad even on the stock rotors/calipers.

Re: D52 caliper upgrades
 

Yesterday I ordered the POL calipers that Ackattack has (thanks to Alvin's heads up in the post above), along with some zinc plated drilled/slotted rotors. I am using Impala rotors on the rear with Glock's brackets running the Camaro calipers. The front is CPP drop spindles (the regular 73-87 version) and CPP tubular upper/lower arms.

Re: D52 caliper upgrades
 

are the wilwood calipers available in 1.25" rotor thickness or should use thiner pads??

Re: D52 caliper upgrades
 

in your proyect bruiser which spindles used the first time?
didi you use heavy duty rotors??

Re: D52 caliper upgrades
 

Yes, the Wilwood D52's are available in two versions, one for 1.25" (heavy duty) rotors, one for 1" rotors.

Re: D52 caliper upgrades
 

Initially I used ECE 2-1/2" drop spindles, but swapped them out for the CPP modular drop spindles since I didn't have enough back spacing on the front wheels.

I used these rotors, they're 1-1/4" thick

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-DSEP-5516L/

Re: D52 caliper upgrades
 

tnks x link.

by the way great truck that bruiser!