This is my first Tech article on this forum so bear with me. I have been looking for something to give me a little better stopping power, and looks without spending a thousand dollars. I came across a local shop Raceshopper.com that has these rotors for the HHR.
http://thumb5.webshots.com/t/63/163/2/12/67/2423212670092577465PcUoJh_th.jpg (http://community.webshots.com/photo/2423212670092577465PcUoJh)
First a pic before I started breaking things.
http://thumb5.webshots.com/t/44/45/9/36/87/2172936870092577465IApSiJ_th.jpg (http://community.webshots.com/photo/2172936870092577465IApSiJ)
I jacked up the drivers side and removed the wheel.
http://thumb5.webshots.com/t/38/38/4/6/92/2487406920092577465HauJSp_th.jpg (http://community.webshots.com/photo/2487406920092577465HauJSp)
Removed the caliper.
http://thumb5.webshots.com/t/36/36/9/55/22/2830955220092577465qLbACX_th.jpg (http://community.webshots.com/photo/2830955220092577465qLbACX)
Removed the bracket and the old rotor and set them side by side for comparison.
http://thumb5.webshots.com/t/61/161/3/74/14/2209374140092577465jgxYnc_th.jpg (http://community.webshots.com/photo/2209374140092577465jgxYnc)
Installed the new rotors and reinstalled the brackets and calipers.
http://thumb5.webshots.com/t/60/160/3/16/56/2079316560092577465CKukrl_th.jpg (http://community.webshots.com/photo/2079316560092577465CKukrl)
Reinstalled the wheel and set it back down.
http://thumb5.webshots.com/t/40/41/4/69/16/2339469160092577465KXwYqf_th.jpg (http://community.webshots.com/photo/2339469160092577465KXwYqf)
I followed the break in procedure, and wow what a difference. They cost me about $250 , $650 less than anything else I could find.:nuts:

Dang, I can't see. My work has a firewall block for the WebShots hosting site. Gotta wait to see them when I get home!

Nice...not a bad price either. Did they have a kit for the rears? Keep us updated.

Ng

Nice...not a bad price either. Did they have a kit for the rears? Keep us updated.

Ng


I asked about the rear, they said they do not sell conversions for the HHR.

Here's a little better shot of it installed:

http://www.songramp.com/photos/ArtistArticle6587.jpg

Looks nice! :thumb:

Looking good mike maybe you can work with a company to come out with a rear disk conversion kit.

Good,
I have discs all the way round on my HHR.
all swirl slotted and drilled long ago..

Looks good.

Good,
I have discs all the way round on my HHR.
all swirl slotted and drilled long ago..

Looks good.

Pix man we need pix.

They look good!:thumb: More meat and cooling surface.
I'm interested in that set up , but even more interested in getting discs in the rear.
Do the Cobalt discs fit? I'm assuming the Cobalt Turbo has four wheel discs. Or what should one look for in discs for the rear?

I put Mitsu disc brakes on my 1964 Corvair, so this stuff can be done.:cool: :D

It's a super charged Cobalt SS. I'm not to sure if they will fit. It would be cool finding some at a junkyard if they did.

what is the difference in diameter from the stock rotors. They look real good..

They are the same diameter Tom, - the picture just makes it look different.

Mike is right they are the same size as the stock rotor, I just can't take good pictures. You should see the pictures from my vacation:confused:

Do the brakes work better? I put 18's on mine and i can feel teh difference in the brakes it is harder to stop and sometimes feel rough?

We at WWW.PROMOTIONTUNING.COM

SORRY WE AT PROMOTIONTUNING WILL ALSO BE SELLING THE SP BRAKE KITS so if you have any question please call 1-877-724-6682

thanks phillip

Here's a better shot of my new Diamond Slotted rotors installed:

http://www.socalhhr.citymax.com/i/SP%20Rotors/Rotor_Sm_Good.jpg

They are beautiful and the new Street Plus Pads bite well - however, there is a strict break-in period for the first 100-200 miles. During that time you must brake gently and not for extended periods of time. This is to ensure the plating wears off evenly and the pads break in properly. According to the instructions, failure to do the break-in properly can result in chattering or squealing....so make sure you break them in right.

I'm still doing the break-in on mine, but can already feel increased bite.

I'll post an update later after they are fully broken-in...

Here's a better shot of my new Diamond Slotted rotors installed:
They are beautiful and the new Street Plus Pads bite well - however, there is a strict break-in period for the first 100-200 miles. During that time you must brake gently and not for extended periods of time. This is to ensure the plating wears off evenly and the pads break in properly. According to the instructions, failure to do the break-in properly can result in chattering or squealing....

I've got the Street Plus pads also. The difference with them and the stock pads that came with the car is SIGNIFICANT in my car. Unfortunately, I've got a mild squeal on my passenger side. Another trade-off is the new pads are REALLY nasty in the dust department. Love the brakin' though.

jerij

Thought they made less dust.

Thought they made less dust.

I wish...
The ones I ended with are MAJOR nasty.

jerij

The SP Street Plus pads are a "low resin" formulation that is suppose to generate much less dust. I have not finished breaking mine in yet, but will report about dust as soon as it's noticed. You may be experiencing a higher level of dust due to break-in. Did you happen to clean your wheels when you changed to the new pads? I cleaned mine fully (both sides), and will keep a close watch for dusting as more miles are put on.:thumb:

They sure do "Bite" a lot better though! :D

Hope it helps,

I just rotated the tires and had to take the time to wash the inside of the front wheels it was so bad.

Wonder what gives?

jerij

I wish...
The ones I ended with are MAJOR nasty.

jerij


That's too bad :(
I really do not look forward to squeeking and lots of dust.

Perhaps I'll stay stock.....sigh. Still to stop quicker is a great goal.

I think I'll leave my fronts stock for now , even though these look so great, and wait for an affordable rear disc set up. Putting the effort into making the HHR a four wheel disc machine is where I see myself headed.

That said, the rears would have to work with my ABS/traction control as the car has these options. I wonder if all that can be accomplished?

Changed out my disc pads long ago to low dust producing pads..
what took everyone so long ?

Changed out my disc pads long ago to low dust producing pads..
what took everyone so long ?

There are low dust producing pads available? Are they marketed as such and are these the ones we speak of with more bite?

On an urelated note, machine gun kitties are cool, eh?:lol: You can never have too many on a screen!:D

my vehicle has the aftermarket ...
Disc all the way round... and with the kit .. got low dust producing pads..

Seems now for the stock vehicle they've got them out..
I'm sure you can replace your stock disc pads for low level dust producing pads... ( depending on your mileage.. on the rotors.. might be a good idea to turn them too) or get the cooler air producing rotors, slotted/drilled..

I'm pretty anal about keeping my front rims clean anyway, it's just a real biatch having them so nasty now.

I would still use the Street Plus pads even knowing how dirty they've turned out. I'm THAT pleased with the braking.

jerij

I'm pretty anal about keeping my front rims clean anyway, it's just a real biatch having them so nasty now.

I would still use the Street Plus pads even knowing how dirty they've turned out. I'm THAT pleased with the braking.

jerij

Also won't hurt is to have Stainless steel brake lines.
it will reduce the pulsing in the lines, and give you a bit more pressure.