Mounted ss rotors without changing caliper!
 

I searched all the parts to put larger rotors on my HHR and found all I needed was the ss caliper bracket to use larger 11.65" rotors. Now
all I need to do is clean up my calipers and paint them...:smile:

But what do you accomplish without more braking surface? Just a little more heat dissipation, but no more stopping power. Some physicist (not me) might even be able to show a decrease is performance.

If the aim is to reduce rotor warp, that might help, but adjusting the rears does that too.

I'll bet the wear ridges will look odd.

I am not criticizing, just discussing.

Hummm............. thinking that with the pads being further out from the hub, the result will be:
- the pads/calipers will provide an increase in braking power (like more leverage/anti-torque in my humble technical vocabulary LOL)
- the swept area on the rotor will be larger with the bigger rotors - resulting in less heat as it also has a bigger area to dissipate the heat from.
- cool factor is increased. :-)

Precisely.. :twothumbs:

OK swept area is increased, but what about total friction area? Wouldn't that be proportionately decreased? Oh boy, science at 0130.

Verry interestink.

Lol - my brain is starting to hurt.

Proportionately decreased - yes. However, the total friction area remains constant (still has the LT pads), so the only benefit really comes from the increase in swept area.

........... I think............ :nuts:

Braking power is increased by the leverage of the caliper being farther out with the larger rotor, just like sitting to the far end of a tetter-totter. You have increased swept area which contributes to better cooling, but the leverage is what really increases the braking power.
Just a note, the advantage of the Brembos is even more rotor diameter, but mostly 4 pistons pressing on the pads, much more pressure means more braking power. BTW, the Brembo pads are not much bigger than the stock pads, its that they have more hydraulic pressure pressing on them.

Yes, this will work, & is better than the HHR SS front brake setup...:twothumbs:

Don't know what in the world That GM was thinking when designing the HHR brake systems...:gnonespet:

When designing the HHR, I'm thinking that the engineers treated it as a 'truck', with hauling capabilitys, & it was listed as a 'truck', by GM.
The front rotors are heavy, Appox: 16 lbs, & aren't used on any other GM vehicles. The front calipers have a 60mm piston, & is a common caliper used with other GM vehicles.

After a few years, the HHR SS came along...:twothumbs:
The front rotors are 3/4" bigger in diameter, at 11.65", & Appox: 1 lb heavier.
BUT, they also put on a strange caliper, with a smaller 54mm piston. This small piston caliper isn't used on but a few GM vehicles. Don't know why GM did this ??

So by going with the bigger SS rotor, with the stock HHR caliper, you'll have better , stronger braking, on your HHR LS or LT.

In fact, this same 'combo', is used on my factory stock 2004 Malibu Maxx, which also has the exact same rear discs, & calipers as my HHR SS.
And yes, my 2004 Malibu Maxx braking, feels better than my stock 2009 HHR SS brakes. Makes you wonder why GM does, what it does...:gnonespet:

I did think that maybe the master cylinders were different, but they aren't.
The HHR LT , with stability control, master cylinder, is the same as used on the HHR SS.

I have done some testing:
https://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/fil...693_thumb.jpeg
https://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/fil...px_329693.jpeg

I'm running a brake setup that works very well for me, for the 1/4 mile, & as a DD.
1996 Honda Accord 11.5 lb front rotors, & 2012 Honda Civic SI 7.5 Lb rear rotors.
I'm also using the standard HHR front calipers, with the bigger 60mm pistons.

OK, got it.

Also, the HHR SS guys, can have harder 'hitting' braking, by going with the stock HHR front calipers, with the bigger 60mm pistons...:twothumbs:

For the HHR LS/LT guys, when replacing your front rotors, go with a much lighter rotor from
The 2004 Malibu, [not the classic model], with 2.2 engine. You'll get better gas mileage, & better throttle response.
It's a direct bolt on, With a saving of at least 2lbs per rotor...


http://www.centricparts.com/
Everyone has their 'favorite' brake rotor/parts brand.
I have found that Centric is the 'bomb', with all their brake parts, for all cars/trucks.
I lookup what I need on their website, than usually buy from Amazon, as you can't beat
Amazons free shipping on rotors...:twothumbs:

My wife is hard on rotors, & I couldn't find rotors that would last on her car, for more than 2 years. The Centric front rotors that are now on her car, are going on 4 years old, & still look/work like new...:nuts:

Theres some meat to sink teeth into.

Thanks 2005HHRauto... :twothumbs:

I will try and hazard a guess on possibly why the setup is unique. This vehicle was produced in Mexico, and back in this era, cost-cutting may well have reigned in such a way that this part came from a unique supplier or there was some commonality with another GM Mexican product that we don't see here. That's a guess. I work for GM, and some of these things still remain inexplicable.

Reducing rotor weight is a great target, though. I am curious as to how you found the ones you use.

During downtime at work, I search the Internet...:smile:
Autozone.com & centric parts.com give all sorts off good specs on rotors.

The autozone site even shows all cars that use a rotor or caliper.

The SS caliper is used on the Cobalt sport with 2.4 engine , some Ion models, & older Cobalt SS models, & that's it...

The heavy stock HHR LS/LT rotor, is only used on HHRs...

I have the SS caliper brackets, stock LT calipers, and will be getting Wagner rotors 11.65 inch for the SS non Brembo, ( they're much better priced here in Canada) a member posted last year he did this swap and stated this set up was far better than his stock LS/LT 10 inch stock brakes.

are these the calipers I would need to utilize the larger rotor ON MY 08 HHR panel ?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Disc-Brake-Caliper-Front-Left-Right-Raybestos-FRC11620C-Reman/252729546589?epid=227975745&hash=item3ad7dad75d%3A g%3AgJoAAOSwmVdbmePt&fits=Year%3A2004%7CModel%3AMa libu%7CSubmodel%3AMaxx%7CEngine+-+Liter_Display%3A3.5L%7CMake%3AChevrolet%7CTrim%3A Maxx+Hatchback+4-Door%7CEngine%3A3.5L+213Cu.+In.+V6+GAS+OHV+Natural ly+Aspirated

Thread from the dead....

thank you
I plan on using the 11.65 rotor because of how poorly the brakes respond, so much fade.
after reading that the brembo brake calipers are actually kind of a downgrade in braking performance, as well as some other threads on how much better they work with this upgrade, I figured now was a good time to do this as I have to replace my rotors (warped) and the pads are close to needing replaced as well.
I was looking to just get the brackets, but was finding it difficult to identify what the bracket I needed was, this gives me clarification.
so now I can look for the actual bracket for the model of caliper in the ebay link :)

yes, thread from the dead, but considering these vehicles (at least the panel version) are still in pretty high demand, I think it a good thread to revive
I have plans for my HHR ;)

I got my 2LT Panel back in '09 & it had the 11.6" rotors on it. Much discussion was on here about this. Seems IIRC a couple other Panel owners had the bigger rotors as well.. :twothumbs:

The stock brakes should not fade badly , the rotors should not warp. These issues are usually a result of rear brakes that have not been kept properly adjusted .

pairing them up next to my other cars (protege5, sentra, altima and civic) they have horrible fade and far less grip. I asked my mechanic to check things out and everything is working correctly, just weak brakes in my opinion.

as for the warping, my mechanic explained it as this, whoever replaced the brake pads previously, didnt put any grease on the pins, thus not allowing the calipers full freedom of movement, so they stayed clamped longer than they normally would have.
typically, I would do a brake job myself, but as he was looking at an issue Im having in another area already, and I had the pads on hand, he went ahead and put them on for me today. anyways, once I get the newer calipers and rotors on, Im going to have him manually adjust the rear drums as well, just to cover my bases ;)

Im still having a little bit of an issue with identifying the correct brackets, does anyone have a link to part numbers for the specific brackets I need ?

awesome, thank you !
for the record, I know I can use the search function, and have, the problem is I suck at it, Ive never been good using search engines, maybe I use too literal phrasing or too vague, or.... I dont know, I just always have issues with using search functions.
so I apologize for asking questions that I know have been answered.

This sites Search Function isn't that bad..........if done correctly.
Change the default search box from Threads to Google Search and you'll get much better results.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...a0ff9f4ea5.png

a perfect example of why I suck, I honestly didnt even know that was possible... and Im not dumb (unless you talk to my wife), Ive been working with comps since mid 90s and building them since 98... but that is hardware lol