2012-2013 Buick Regal Brake Upgrade Options

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

The best brake upgrade for a 2012-2013 Buick Regal is usually not a bigger caliper - it is better rotors and pads on the brakes the car already has. Regals built with the factory Brembo four-piston front calipers use a large 355 mm (13.99 inch) front rotor, so the gains come from rotor design, pad compound, fresh fluid and a proper bed-in. Start by confirming which front brake package your car has, then pick the rotor and pad pairing that matches how you drive.

What Brakes the 2012-2013 Regal Came With

When GM announced the 2012 Regal GS, it listed a four-wheel disc brake system with big four-piston Brembo front calipers, a four-channel anti-lock system and standard StabiliTrak stability control with integrated traction control. The GS rode on 19-inch alloy wheels with 20-inch polished wheels optional, and used a HiPerStrut front suspension to reduce torque steer from the 270 hp turbocharged 2.0-liter engine.

That Brembo setup is not just for show. In MotorWeek's road test, the GS stopped from 60 mph in 110 feet with a firm, sporty pedal. In other words, the factory hardware is already capable - most owners who feel their brakes have gone soft or shaky are dealing with worn or heat-damaged rotors and pads, not an undersized system.

Not every Regal carries the Brembo calipers. Hawk lists its 13.99 inch Talon rotor for 2011-2013 Regals with the 2.0-liter engine and 355 mm rotors, and it shares that rotor with the Camaro SS, Chevrolet SS and Pontiac G8. Before you order anything, look through the wheel spokes: a large four-piston caliper with Brembo lettering means the big-rotor package. If you are unsure, measure the rotor diameter or check the parts listing against your VIN.

Signs Your Regal Is Ready for New Brakes

• Pulsation in the pedal or steering wheel under moderate stops, usually from uneven pad deposits or rotor thickness variation after heat.
• Grinding or a metal-on-metal scrape, which means the pad friction material is gone and the backing plate is cutting the rotor.
• Squeal that returns soon after cleaning, often a glazed pad or a lip on the rotor edge.
• Longer stopping distances or fade after repeated hard stops, a sign the pad compound is overheating.
• A pedal that sticks down or brake lights that stay on. This one is not a pad or rotor problem - see the next section.

Measure rotor thickness with a micrometer and compare it to the minimum stamped on the rotor hat. If it is at or under that figure, or if there is visible cracking, heat checking or deep scoring, the rotors get replaced rather than resurfaced.

Rule Out the Brake Pedal Bushing First

GM issued preliminary information bulletin PIC5692 covering 2011-2012 Regals (along with the LaCrosse, SRX and 2013 Malibu Eco). In rare cases the brake pedal may not return, or may feel stuck down after a normal stop, usually in hot and humid weather. The brake lights stay on, the brakes may drag after the pedal is released, and a pop, click or snap may be heard when the pedal is applied or released. GM's correction was to replace the brake pedal assembly because of a bind in the pivot bushing.

A dragging brake from a binding pedal will overheat pads and rotors quickly. If your Regal shows these symptoms, have the pedal checked before spending money on friction parts, or the new rotors will be cooked the same way the old ones were.

Your Upgrade Options, Compared

For a Brembo-equipped Regal there are two sensible directions: an OE-style premium kit that restores factory feel with better materials, or a drilled and slotted performance rotor for drivers who brake harder and want better heat and water management.

Brembo OE kit: factory feel, better rotors

The Brembo OE front disc brake kit for the 2012-2013 Regal pairs UV coated rotors with Brembo Prime ceramic pads. The key feature is Brembo's Pillar Venting Technology: instead of conventional vanes, the ventilation chamber uses pillars placed to move more air and to act as a barrier against crack formation. Brembo states PVT raises resistance to thermal cracking by more than 40 percent compared with a conventional design. The UV coating protects the non-friction surfaces, which matters for a car that sees salted winter roads. This is the choice if you want the car to stop and feel like it did new, only longer-lasting.

Hawk Talon drilled and slotted: more bite under heat

The Hawk Talon drilled and slotted front rotor set for the Brembo-caliper Regal keeps the factory 13.99 inch diameter and 1.95 inch height, so it bolts on without modification. Cross-drilling and slotting help clear gas, water and debris from the pad face, which shows up as more consistent bite in the rain and during repeated stops. It carries a limited lifetime warranty from Hawk. Because this set is rotors only, pair it with a quality pad from our brake pad collection - a ceramic brake pad for a clean, quiet daily driver, or a more aggressive compound if the car sees hard use.

What to Replace at the Same Time

• Pads with rotors, always. New pads on worn rotors (or the reverse) bed unevenly and bring back pulsation.
• Hardware and slides. Clean the caliper abutments and replace worn clips and shims from our brake hardware kits so the pads move freely.
• Brake fluid. Old fluid absorbs moisture and boils sooner under hard use. Flush with the fluid type printed on the reservoir cap or listed in the owner's manual.
• Flexible hoses. If the hoses are cracked or original, fresh brake hoses or braided brake lines firm up the pedal.

How Hard Is the Job?

Front pads and rotors on a Regal are a moderate driveway job with basic hand tools, a torque wrench and a way to compress the caliper pistons. On the four-piston Brembo caliper the pistons are pushed back evenly, and the caliper bolts must be torqued to the value in the factory service manual - never guessed. Clean the hub face so the new rotor sits flat, since rust on the hub is a common cause of runout and pulsation. Finish with a bed-in: a series of moderate stops from speed without coming to a full stop, followed by a cool-down drive. Hawk publishes bed-in instructions for its rotors, and following them sets an even pad transfer layer that prevents vibration later.

Still shopping around? Browse the full brake rotor selection and the complete brake parts catalog.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every 2012-2013 Regal have Brembo brakes?

No. GM specified four-piston Brembo front calipers on the Regal GS, and some other 2.0-liter Regals share the large 355 mm rotor. Check for the Brembo caliper or measure the rotor before ordering, because the big-rotor parts will not fit a car with the smaller brake package.

Can I put drilled and slotted rotors on a daily-driven Regal?

Yes. The Hawk Talon set is built to OE dimensions for street use and fits the stock Brembo calipers without modification. Expect slightly more pad wear and some noise compared with a plain OE-style rotor.

Why do my Regal's brake lights stay on after I release the pedal?

GM bulletin PIC5692 describes a bind in the brake pedal pivot bushing on 2011-2012 Regals that can keep the pedal down, leave the brake lights on and cause brake drag. The fix is a new brake pedal assembly, not new pads or rotors.

Are ceramic pads a good match for the Brembo calipers?

For street driving, yes. Ceramic pads run quiet with low dust, which is why the Brembo OE kit uses Prime ceramic pads. Drivers who do track days or put a lot of heat into the brakes should consider a performance compound instead.

Should I upgrade the rear brakes too?

Match the rear to the front when the rear pads and rotors are also worn, but the front axle does most of the stopping. A front rotor and pad upgrade, fresh fluid and a correct bed-in deliver most of the improvement.

Sources

1. Buick Regal GS announcement (PR Newswire) - four-piston Brembo front calipers, four-channel ABS, StabiliTrak, 19/20-inch wheels, HiPerStrut, 270 hp
2. MotorWeek 2012 Buick Regal GS road test - 110 ft stop from 60 mph with the Brembo front calipers
3. Hawk Performance HTC4415 Talon rotor - cross-drilled and slotted, 13.99 in diameter, 1.95 in height, limited lifetime warranty, bed-in instructions
4. Hawk Performance HTS4415 Talon rotor - fitment to 2011-2013 Regal 2.0L with 355 mm rotors, shared with Camaro SS, Chevrolet SS and G8
5. Brembo: vane vs pillar ventilation - PVT design and more than 40 percent greater thermal crack resistance
6. NHTSA: GM bulletin PIC5692 - brake pedal not returning, brake lights on and drag on 2011-2012 Regal; pedal assembly replacement