[Sir 500mph]

Having blown my second rear caliper piston in less than 2 years on the same side (driver rear), do I have any better options? Ive looked into the LNF rears but I cant find any straight answers anywhere on how to convert to them, other than a few 'I know how to do it but cant tell you specifically' things. Anyone have any suggestions?
Figured out that the G5 knuckle is the same as the LSJ so the LNF k̶n̶u̶c̶k̶l̶e̶ caliper should just bolt up

 

[darkandshadow]

The LNF knuckle is slightly different, but the LSJ will bolt directly to LE5. The LNF will not fit.

 

[Sir 500mph]

Sorry, I meant the LNF caliper should bolt right up to the LSJ knuckle. I did some more digging and some people said they use a spacer for the LNF rotor to center it since the bore is slightly larger.
A̶n̶y̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶k̶n̶o̶w̶ ̶w̶h̶e̶r̶e̶ ̶I̶ ̶m̶i̶g̶h̶t̶ ̶f̶i̶n̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶o̶s̶e̶?̶ ̶O̶r̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ g̶a̶p̶ n̶e̶g̶l̶i̶g̶i̶b̶l̶e̶ ̶s̶i̶n̶c̶e̶ ̶i̶t̶'̶d̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶a̶ ̶m̶m̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶2̶?̶
Center bore is the same, the misinformation/misdirection is real

 

[Sir 500mph]

I found someone mention being able to go with Saab 9-3 rears here (302/314/345mm rotor vs 292)
Rear calipers lsj vs. Lnf Post #8
And an HHR guy who did Saab rears in another post
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/brakes-|-suspension-|-shocks-|-struts-24/big-rear-brakes-29189/
Anyone got some light to shine on this?

 

[Sir 500mph]

After much digging and thinking, I believe I understand.
From - How do I determine proper brake disc size?
Bolded is added info, I'll add more info as I find it
The first couple describes the front brake disc.

AA: 15" 285mm (285×25 - Hub Bore 70mm)
AB: 16" 302mm (302x28 - Hub Bore 70mm)
AC: 16"+ 314mm (mounted on 2.8 V6) (314x28 - Hub Bore 70mm)
AD: 17" 345mm (starting from 2008 only on Turbo X) (345x30)

The second couple describes the rear discs

BA: 15" 278mm (from 2003 to 2007 on 1.8i, 2.0t, 1,9JTD. From 2008 on only mounted on 1.8i) (278x12 - Hub Bore 65.5mm)
BB: 16" 292mm (292x20 - Hub Bore 65.5mm)
BC: 16" 292mm only on XWD (292x20 - Hub Bore 70mm)

The third couple describes front brake caliper

CA: 15"
CB: 16"
CC: 16"+
CD: 17"

The fourth couple describes rear brake caliper

DA: 15"
DB: 16"
On the front of the 9-3 we have a 302mm rotor on a 16" bracket. This should be an Unloaded (no e-brake) version of the Rear Caliper for the 9-3 on the same(?) bracket. This Rear Caliper fits over a 292mm rotor...the exact same rotor as the LNF. Center bore for the 9-3 and Cobalt Rotors match, front and back and 5x110. What I believe the '16+' is supposed to be is the 16" Caliper on the 17" bracket, which may fit under the stock 17s considering the 9-3 2.8 rims were. Maybe the LNF caliper fits that bracket so no need to modify lines(I think the brake lines have the same thread)? So maybe 314mm rears to match Brembo 315mm in the front?

 

[Sir 500mph]

Im trying to find more info before buying anything. Correct me if I'm wrong but these look like the same exact part other than a different bleeder spot and a slightly different e-brake maybe? I can't find the Caliper Bracket Bolt for the 9-3 2.8 anywhere to check the thread size to see if they really are bolt on.

9-3 2.8L Rear Caliper

LNF Rear Caliper

 

[darkandshadow]

I'm pretty sure it's the size of the caliper that's different as well, even the rears. The SS SC/TC has bigger rotors than the 2.4L versions. A quick search between Wagner rear rotors, gives me this info:
Fits G5 GT
Rotor Outside Diameter (in.):
10.63 in.
Nominal Thickness (in.):
0.551 in.

Fits Cobalt SS (LNF)
Rotor Outside Diameter (in.):
11.03 in.
Nominal Thickness (in.):
0.950 in.

 

[Sir 500mph]

The SS SC/TC has bigger rotors than the 2.4L versions

I know, Im comparing a Saab 9-3 caliper to an LNF caliper. The 9-3 2.0T has the same 292mm rear rotor as the LNF. But the 9-3 2.8 had a 302mm and a 314mm rotor that fit the rear with that same caliper, 9909132B. If its the same as the LNF caliper with a few minor differences, I could use the larger Saab rotor with it.

 

[darkandshadow]

I know, Im comparing a Saab 9-3 caliper to an LNF caliper. The 9-3 2.0T has the same 292mm rear rotor as the LNF. But the 9-3 2.8 had a 302mm and a 314mm rotor that fit the rear with that same caliper, 9909132B. If its the same as the LNF caliper with a few minor differences, I could use the larger Saab rotor with it.

Yeah, that shouldn't be a problem then. The hub size was the other concern, but that's for the front brakes.

 

[Sir 500mph]

From everything I've looked through so far, it seems like all the Saab 9-3 rotors are the same sizes as the G5/Cobalt rotors, as well as a few of the Saab 9-5 rotors like the 299mm rear. Gotta check more stuff but it seems like if one of the Saab Rotor Fits, the accompanying Caliper should too.

 

[Sir 500mph]

the 9-3 2.8 had a 302mm and a 314mm rotor that fit the rear with that same caliper, 9909132B

I misunderstood the label, it meant whatever rear disc was on the 302/314mm front disc version, would be nice if it was clearer. However the 302Mm should still fit the LNF Caliper with a hub spacer for the rotor or even better...
2010 Saab 9-5 Rear Vented Rotor

Should fit with no spacer. However since theyre still the same thickness as the LNF 292 I dont think theyd change the braking characteristics much.
I think I'll try the 314mm w/ the Brembos in the Front and the LNF Caliper with the 299x20mm in the rear. If I still dont like how the rear feels after that, I might switch to the 302x28mm if I cant find something around a 24-26mm thickness (I know the Stock Cobalt 315 Brembo Rotor is ~26mm thick but recommended wear is from 26 to 24mm vs 28 to 25mm for the Saab Rotors, however ~2mm is about the same recommended wear as other rear discs). I will have to do Stainless Steel LNF Brake Lines and since I'll be bleeding the system fully, DOT 5.1 (Not DOT 5)

 

[Sir 500mph]

Alright (reviving another of my dormant threads...again), about to get some of the spacer stuff machined this weekend;

For the rotor center bore spacers : ID 65.6mm OD 69.9mm

For the front wheel hub spacers : 3mm spacer?

For the rear wheel hub spacers : I have no clue, I know LNF rear rotors have a height of 62.7mm vs 45.3mm for LSJ. If anyone knows if one is needed and what size, I can probably figure out what I would need for the Saab 9-5 rotor. Its possible that the same spacer for an LNF rear would fit since the 9-5 rotor has some overhang but idk.

Asked ZZP about LNF rears on an LSJ and apparently they havent even attempted it. That's just.....Idek, Disappointed to say the least
If no one else has any info, I might have to go with the 302mmx28mm, though I did see a 296mmx26.3mm for the LSJ fronts if the 302 is too big

 

[Sir 500mph]

So I went to the "Machine Shop" and they said I'd have to go to an Industrial Machine shop. They cant make lug nuts, they can't make rotor hub spacers, can't make wheel hub spacers. How the fuck are they a machine shop if they literally can't fucking cut and drill sheet steel?!

 

[Sir 500mph]

Slowly collecting parts, Ive got most of the stuff to do the Brembos in front except the rotor spacers for the Saab 314mm Rotors but I was directed to an online Laser Cutter that can make those pieces for me. Guess it takes a machine to do a Lathe-mans work but I digress.

As for the rears and having questioned and re-questioned myself, and my sanity, I think I've had an A̶n̶e̶u̶r̶y̶s̶m̶ Epiphany.
We share our rear brakes with the HHR, and an HHR guy put on a Saab Caliper for the 292mm Vented Rotor that also fits the 'Balts, as far as I can tell, completely bolt-on.
I also know from Rockauto that the 08-10 HHR calipers are the same as ours, they are compatible with the G5s 07-09 and the 05-08 'Balts but not the 08-10 'Balts

So if thats the case, then the rear Saab Caliper (which also fits the 07-08 Cadi BLS) should fit over an LNF vented 292mm rotor with no adapters or spacers, which also means that any larger caliper that fits there should also fit ours.
Maybe there's been an upgrade sitting right under our noses this whole time? Or there's just something obvious Im missing lol

 

[Sir 500mph]

Digging through the Saab forums to try and find some more info, and I found that the Brembos will fit the 9-5 rear but the 9-3 requires a 9-3 to 9-5 caliper bracket adapter......someone correct me if Im wrong, but iirc the Brembos also will bolt up to the rear of the LNF.
If thats the case then maybe the LNF rear is actually Epsilon like the 9-5 and the LSJ & 9-3 rears would be the Deltas then? And considering that they already have an adapter in the Saab world, that would open up a whole host of possibilities for upgrades. I just have to compare the rear brackets of the LSJ to the 9-3 and the LNF to the 9-5
Totally unrelated note, Ik I read somewhere that the 'Balt Brembos are similar to 03' Camaro rears, anyone got any insight on that? Or anything else in my ramblings lol

 

[Sir 500mph]

Went to the Auto Parts store today, compared the G5s rear caliper to the 9-3 Aero caliper for the 278mm rotor since thats all they had and the brackets line up. No reason why the caliper for the 292mm Rotor shouldn't be the exact same bracket size. Time to order parts

 

[Sir 500mph]

They bolt up, but u need a spacer for the caliper and M12x1.75x50mm bolts to replace the stock caliper mounting bolts. Idk if the Steel LNF rear hoses are longer than Steel LSJ rear hoses but they will be needed unless you want to have fun trying to use adapters like me. Steel LSJ Hoses work with an adapter but are tight, maybe making more of an angle on the hose end would help. Spacer is the thickness of an M12x1.75 nut and 3 M12 washers, Ill have to find the exact. The pads sit about 1mm above the end of the rotor, so a 296mmx20mm rotor might be usable

 

[Sir 500mph]

Did the first Brembo today. Also picked up 4 Redline Rims. No spacer, the G5 rims fit barely, they scraped the paint on the caliper on the edge under the logo ever so slightly. And driving around with the rears for a week, they've felt great...
.....
...However, now that I have these rears, I cant help but wonder if I can go past them to something better. The next step will be;
9-3ss Rear Brake Upgrade
Trying to figure out how to adapt the 9-5 drum in hat ebrake setup to our (LSJ) rears. If I can move the e-brake off the caliper, I could make a bracket spacer to fit Brembo rears while having a stronger e-brake