Roadking103

Looking to upgrade the brakes on my supercharged c5 z06. Considering AP racing or Wilwood. I'd like to hear about peoples experiences good and bad with each. Thanks

John Shiels

first pick your budget for buying and maintaining them.

GOTHAM VETTE

Very happy with my wilwoods, wont break the bank an take the abuse i give them. Picking a good pad is also very important.

Roadking103

It's not just budget but value. Wilwoods are about $1700 where as AP racing are about $2500 but since I don't have expereince with either I need to know pro's and con's of each.

Roadking103

Did you go with the kit that fits in the stock wheel or big brake kit? What pads are you using?
Thanks

SunnydayDILYSI

I still have the stockers as well and spend a weekend at the track about every month. From what I can tell, and from what I picked up from the other guys around the track, the only major benefit from either is less pad taper. If you spend an hour and flip your pads 1/3 through the wear cycle with stock, you're just as good but with $2,500 more in your pocket. If you want better brake performance, you need a bigger rotor which = 18s in the front and a bigger brake kit. That said, the couple guys I asked that are track mechanics recommend AP over the Willwood.

John Shiels

The benefit is thicker pads, better feel, take more heat, less fade at the end of the session, and cost less to maintain than stock brakes. If you don't run really hard and often it may not be worth bumping up. Going to bigger rotors will mean bigger rims so it can get real expensive very fast. If you get the Wilwwods get the SS pistons and the thick pad caliper. I have run the WW front and back for many miles. They were 1200 way back when I bought them with the SS therm-o-lock pistons.

SunnydayDILYSI

The OP mentioned a supercharger. Unless he has an amazing cooling system, I doubt that he ever spends more than 25 min at a time on the track. I don't, even with NA and an awesome cooling system. These are sports cars, but not race cars.

OP - if you are looking for an upgrade in appearance, pick the one that matches best. If you are looking for better performance, put up the cash for new front wheels, tires and a big brake kit. If you are pushing your current brakes close to the edge (like me) look into better pads first (e.g., Carbotech bobcats for the street or XP10s for the track). Other effective upgrades that are more cost effective include the DRM brake ducts, quantum spindles, Motul 600 fluid, new brake lines (might as well go SS while you are there) and hardbrakes titanium heat shields.

CTZoom

AP>Wilwood. I've used both on different cars over 12 years or so of racing. IMO AP are stronger, flex less and are better on track. Wilwood are probably OK as a street caliper but I would never use them again for a racing application.

0Todd TCE

There are today a wide variety of 'Wilwwod' kits.....from factory kits to a number of alternate manufactures using Wilwood components. Understanding the pros and cons of each can help prevent getting the wrong kit for the need. Review the options and make an informed decision.

mgarfias

I put together my wilwood front setup for about $1100. If I had it in my budget there is no question I'd be on APs.

John Shiels

cooling ducts / spindle ducts are always first unless your just riding around.

JerryTX

Very hard on brakes here and ive used both, finally going Stoptech route. At the top of the heap only two are consistently called out as being capable of putting up with the abuse a Vette can dish out: Brembo and Stoptech.

db2xpert

Been using the Ap 6 piston on 14" rotors for the C5 Z since 2001.
Great brakes, only had to rebuild the calipers once so far.
Have ducting and spindle ducts.

Shock96

I don't believe that AP calipers have dust boots on them so that means more wear and tear if they are on the street. Catch alot of crap and tear up the seals and pistons.

Wilwood makes calipers with dust boot seals (Dynapro I think) as well as ones without, so if you are going to be doing a lot of street driving I would go with the Wilwoods.

Or Brembo's as they have dust seals as well.

John Shiels

dust boots don't last on a tracked car unless your just cruising around.

RedLS1GTO

I had Wilwood SL6Rs on my C4 and Hardbar's AP T1 setup currently on my C5Z. Both have spindle ducts, etc.

I beat the sh*t out of the C4 with the Wilwoods over a span of a couple of years and they never let me down. I have only spent a little bit of time on the APs, but there is something about them that just feels... better. Granted, that could very well be in large part due to the C4/C5 as a whole. The fit and finish of the APs seems to be a little better as well.

My personal evaluation as a weekend warrior (not a full time racer) is that Wilwood is good... AP is better. Either option is a definite upgrade over stock.

John Shiels

AP's may be a tad stiffer caliper

GOTHAM VETTE

I have the 14" rotor kit. On track I run Carbotech pads, which compound will depend on what type of rubber you run.

JeremyGSU

Disagreed. The AP kit provides way better feedback and consistent braking than my stock calipers did. I can brake deeper and later.

The stock calipers suck and the pads are very thin.

Read this.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/autocr...ease-read.html