skizo
Aurora Passenger
WOT ... is there any other way?
Posts: 278 
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Post by skizo on Mar 1, 2007 9:51:34 GMT -6
Description: 16" x 6.5" Alloy Wheel Bright Silver; Alloy Wheel, 16 X 6.5, 5 Spoke  ![]() They slap right on the classic. Tight fit around the front calipers, with maybe a quarter inch of clearance. Clip on weights on the back of the rims would probably be a problem, but I use stick ons, so no worries there. So ... what to do about the center hubcaps? I've stripped all the Aurora logos off the car, so people are already confused enough. Brainfart ... hitch ball covers! I had to trim them down about an inch, but they fit in nice and tight, and the bulge for the ball keeps them there. Been running them for over a year now and haven't lost any yet. Oh ... I passed on the OEM Pontiac lugbolts with them cute lil black plastic covers. Over $120 for a set ... yikes! I went with good ol' NAPA universals at about $30. Rubber? I stuck with the Kelly Navigator 235/60 H series, swapping them off the stock orange juicers. Good ride with the Kellys with minimal vibes in the 65-75 range as long as they're force balanced. Technically, 235 should have a 6" max on the rim, but the Pontiac 6 ½" width doesn't bother them at all. I DID compromise with the wheel weights - Like I said, rear clip ons would be a tight fit around the calipers, and front weights just look like crap. I had the wheel dude do stickons center rim, and he was even able to fudge the weight placement some and hide most of them behind the spokes. The stickons WILL be more work down the road - there's always a chance of them peeling off, but you can minimize that by stripping and cleaning the rims prior to going in for service. I think it's worth it - no butt ugly chunks of lead to mess up the lines. And the final result ...  |
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Post by BlackButy on Mar 1, 2007 11:15:34 GMT -6
Description: 16" x 6.5" Alloy Wheel Bright Silver; Alloy Wheel, 16 X 6.5, 5 Spoke  They slap right on the classic. Tight fit around the front calipers, with maybe a quarter inch of clearance. Clip on weights on the back of the rims would probably be a problem, but I use stick ons, so no worries there. So ... what to do about the center hubcaps? I've stripped all the Aurora logos off the car, so people are already confused enough. Brainfart ... hitch ball covers! I had to trim them down about an inch, but they fit in nice and tight, and the bulge for the ball keeps them there. Been running them for over a year now and haven't lost any yet. Oh ... I passed on the OEM Pontiac lugbolts with them cute lil black plastic covers. Over $120 for a set ... yikes! I went with good ol' NAPA universals at about $30. Rubber? I stuck with the Kelly Navigator 235/60 H series, swapping them off the stock orange juicers. Good ride with the Kellys with minimal vibes in the 65-75 range as long as they're force balanced. Technically, 235 should have a 6" max on the rim, but the Pontiac 6 ½" width doesn't bother them at all. I DID compromise with the wheel weights - Like I said, rear clip ons would be a tight fit around the calipers, and front weights just look like crap. I had the wheel dude do stickons center rim, and he was even able to fudge the weight placement some and hide most of them behind the spokes. The stickons WILL be more work down the road - there's always a chance of them peeling off, but you can minimize that by stripping and cleaning the rims prior to going in for service. I think it's worth it - no butt ugly chunks of lead to mess up the lines. And the final result ...  Looks nice and clean! Good job! What brand and % tint is that? |
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skizo
Aurora Passenger
WOT ... is there any other way?
Posts: 278
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Post by skizo on Mar 1, 2007 15:28:55 GMT -6
Rear glass treatment is 75% limo tint. Due to those ... er ... waddaya call em ... oh, yeah ... laws and such, I went with 35% on the side fronts. That's also probably illegal combined with the OEM tint in the glass, and definitely an issue with the second layer. My neck of the woods, it's legal to go dark on the top 4" of the front glass, and (technically) the flames AVERAGE thereabouts, right?  Got it at www.windowtint.com/products.php?cat=61Don't let the pricing scare you ... you DO have to buy 25 feet minimum, but you can probably plan on scrapping at least a couple tries, assUming you don't glue yourself to the bench anyway ... the default price listed is for a shop roll - click the button for prices on the shorter lengths. Still costs more than Gila and the other cheepo brands, but hey ... I'm worth it! |
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Post by erw38 on Mar 1, 2007 18:40:33 GMT -6
Looks good. I like the tint, but I am not to keen on the flame looking thing. To each their own though.
I like the rims too!
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skizo
Aurora Passenger
WOT ... is there any other way?
Posts: 278
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Post by skizo on Mar 11, 2007 21:17:56 GMT -6
I mentioned earlier the caliper clearance on the front wheels was tight. Here's a pic ...  |
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scottydl
Super Moderator 
There's nothin' like an American V-8...
Posts: 7,373
Staff Member
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Post by scottydl on Mar 11, 2007 22:51:54 GMT -6
I mentioned earlier the caliper clearance on the front wheels was tight. Same issue with my '98 Bonneville wheels on my Aurora. In fact I can't even install the new brake parts I bought last year, because the new pads push out far enough to rub on the inside of the wheel.  I'm still trying to figure out what to do about that... |
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skizo
Aurora Passenger
WOT ... is there any other way?
Posts: 278
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Post by skizo on Mar 12, 2007 7:53:23 GMT -6
Here's mine with '89 SSE wheels ... just happened to have one in the stable when I first picked up on the Aurora and figgered why not. Made the Aurora look way too civilized tho ... those fit right on, but the SSE had a beefy front end too.  Proof positive you gotta be careful (and a bit lucky) when you start doing wheel transplants ... I'd have to check some part numbers and such, but the way the inner spoke fits around the calipers on my setup, I have my suspicions that the Aurora and Grand Prix run the same front calipers. Rears are no problem - much smaller. |
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Post by aurorabrain on Mar 12, 2007 8:55:57 GMT -6
Most newer "W" body and larger cars run the same front calipers. The difference on the GP and the Aurora is a larger bracket for the 12" rotors as opposed to the 10.9" on the GP.
I run '06 Lucerne frt calipers (dual piston). The fit a '97+ Aurora perfectly and fit the stock wheels.
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Post by Aurora40 on Mar 12, 2007 10:50:29 GMT -6
I run '06 Lucerne frt calipers (dual piston). The fit a '97+ Aurora perfectly and fit the stock wheels. I would love to see a writeup of what parts are needed, how much work (I think you said no grinding or modifying of suspension parts was needed) it is, if you need different pads, rotors, etc. It sounds like a nice upgrade, single pistons to dual pistons. Maybe even some pictures  |
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Post by aurorabrain on Mar 13, 2007 0:32:19 GMT -6
I have Lucerne fronts and '04 STS rears. They bolt up with no mods at all. You have to have a '97+ though. The rears will soon be Lucerne rears also, as i'm getting the complete rear end from a new Lucerne as soon as my salvage yard buddy strips it. I bought all the parts from Schram Auto Parts, they have an eBay store. I bought new front rotors, calipers, and pads... as well as the rears. The steering knuckles and wheel bearings are the same as other cars so everything fits perfectly. Having the GM Parts catalog helps also, as i have MANY parts on my car that don't belong.   |
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Post by JimW on Mar 13, 2007 10:55:06 GMT -6
Those Schram guys are great!
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Post by aurorabrain on Mar 13, 2007 13:23:30 GMT -6
Yeah, i got both fronts and rears with all hardware and pads for about $100 shipped. Granted, i buy stuff from them for the dealer where i work, so that gives me a little leverage in this area.
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Post by Aurora40 on Mar 13, 2007 16:34:20 GMT -6
What's different about the STS or Lucerne rear calipers? Also, you needed new rotors due to the caliper swap, or they are the same and you just wanted new ones? Could someone keep their stock rotors and do the caliper swap?
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Post by aurorabrain on Mar 13, 2007 19:19:12 GMT -6
The difference in the rear is the caliper bracket, the caliper is basically the same(Aurora to STS). The bolt on bracket that holds the e-brake cable is different. The caliper bracket allows for a slightly larger diameter rotor (~3/4"). You would have to replace the rear rotors.
The rears on the Lucerne are a thicker rotor and the caliper is different every way except that they still use a cable e-brake. The rear control arms (aluminum) are the same part number as the Aurora '95+.
The front rotors are a different part number and have a different vane configuration for cooling than the stock Aurora rotors. I wasn't going to risk a difference and changed everything. The new rotors rubbed slightly on the backing plates, but was easialy fixed by bending them out of the way. I later got new Lucerne backing plates because they were free to me. I plan on replacing the entire suspension on my car with '06 Lucerne parts. I have a good start already with the engine cradle and steering rack, as well as the frt and rr trans mounts. Everything fits perfectly and it is much stiffer than before.
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Post by irocjohnny on Mar 17, 2007 18:08:54 GMT -6
Great info aurorabrain, too bad my car is a '96 with the old style brakes
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Post by aurorabrain on Mar 17, 2007 19:34:17 GMT -6
Who's to say you can't get a set of used struts and steering knuckles and convert everything?
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I'm still trying to figure out what to do about that...
