1stVetteFinally

Ok, so I'm ready to start planning my brake upgrades for my car. Car is a '92 coupe with 2010 OEM rims (18*9/19*10). I want to upgrade to atleast C5 brakes and rotors (tired of my '03 F150 stopping faster than my Vette does). So what I'm looking for now is a parts list or a recommendation for a upgrade kit to use. Also, are C5 and C6 brakes basically the same (rotor and caliper wise that is)? If C6 brakes are better, can I upgrade to C6 brakes on a C4(I do have C6 rims)?

c4cruiser

Vette Brakes has a C5 front brake kit with everything you need. It's pricey at $950 plus shipping , but you get everything in one order.

If you want to collect the parts yourself, try eBay for the custom adapter bracket. You will need the C5 caliper abutment bracket, calipers, rotors, guide pins and boots. Note that the only difference between the standard C5 caliper and the C5 Z06 caliper is the red paint. Use stainless braided flex lines at all 4 corners. The C4 lines from Earl's or Goodridge will work fine and will bolt up to the C5 front calipers. Use a good DOT4 fluid like ATE TYP200 or MOTUL fluids.

I would suggest using the C5 Z06 pads up front and something like Hawk HPS pads for the rear. The C4 rear brakes are nearly the same as the C5 rear brakes in terms of size and performance. The C5 rear brakes use a drum style parking brake while the C4 parking brake uses the caliper so a swap to C5 rear brakes isn't really worth the cost and effort for street use.

l98tpi

If you do not track, HPDE the car all you need are good pads and a good fluid flush/bleed. Get some Hawk HPS or their new pads the Street/Race pads.

1stVetteFinally

good info, thx c4

Yeah, the kits are pricey. I don't mind buying the parts separately if it will save money.

Thanks for the info about the rear brakes, I was wondering about that too.

What about C6 brakes?

1stVetteFinally

I do circle track race once a week, one of the main reasons for this upgrade. Plus, like I said, I don't like my "plain jane" '03 F150 having better stopping power than my Vette does. And yes, it is a substantial difference between the two.

WVZR-1

Not knowing the wheel branding you've got a C6Z06 would maybe do if your pockets are pretty deep. You need the StreetShop package for the rear E-brakes but then it's all done and you've got the "bling" also.

I believe it's covered pretty well in this thread but there's maybe a tweak or two that's come along since. The caliper packages are likely a bit less expensive to come by since the serious souls are upgrading to yet better and bigger. Well bigger maybe but who know if better.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-and-pics.html

1stVetteFinally

thx WVZR-1, I'll read that thread thoroughly.

edit: ok, my pockets are not even close to being deep enough for C6 brakes Just the calipers and rotors alone will cost 3-4 times as much as a C5 brake upgrade package with everything included.

TA

You can do the C5 upgrade much cheaper if you source the parts individually and find some deals on Ebay. I bought rebuilt C5 calipers w/ abutment brackets, as well as, adapter brackets on Ebay for $250 or so as I recall. After rotors, pads and SS hoses I was in for about $500 give or take. It was a fairly easy project that made a huge improvement over my base brakes.

krackenvette

I also recommend the DRM brake bias spring to throw bias towards the rear to keep nose diving down...

1stVetteFinally

That's what I'm going to do. Thx.

Not sure if I want to do that since the car is a semi-daily driver also.

krackenvette

The DRM is very good for daily driver.. there is some data on it here
With my c5 brakes, hawk pads and proper break/bedding in process my c4 can cause abs at speeds up to 120mph, speed at end quarter mile

c4cruiser

Definitely get the DRM brake bias spring when going with a C5 front upgrade. It is a big help to balance the braking and doesn't hurt at all for street use. IIRC, the springs costs around $20 and only take a few minutes to install in the stock master cylinder.

Have you considered just going with some high performance pads? Hawk and others make some good pads that can work for your braking needs and still be streetable. A good set of pads and rotors can make a huge difference without costing a ton of money.

LNO

Last August I found a "used" C5 brake conversion kit on E-Bay for around $350. I cleaned up the parts and repainted and installed on my 96. I am very pleased with the braking.


Adapter Bracket Installed

twin540

I powder coated my c/4 rear caliper to match my c5 ZO6 front calipers.

dizwiz24

Umm. C5 brakes are not An upgrade over a c4 with j55 brakes.

C5 brKe rotors are not a full 13" diameter like th c4 j55 are. Sure they are a little heAvier, which is good if you like unsprung weight

C5 brakes were what non j55 people used to do before the c6 z06.

If you are going to go thru the trouble, do a conversion to c6 z06 brakes or j55 if your pockets aren't as deep

Whatever you do I recommend hawk HPS pads or HP+ if you don't mind squeaks when cold

krackenvette

Actually they are. Thicker, better heat dissipation and better calipers..

JrRifleCoach

C6Z brake Specs
Rotor Diameters/Thicknesses:
Base: F 325mm/R 305mm
Z51: F 340mm/R 330mm
Z06: F 355mm/R 340mm
ZR1: R 394mm/R 380mm
All (3) variants Rotor thickness (with exception of ZR1): F 32mm/R 26mm

dizwiz24

IMHO the cost of the conversion should dictate whats better.

Either way is an improvement vs. c4 12" front rotors.

If you already have j55, then you are wasting your money going to c5 parts.

krackenvette

C6 conversion wasnt an option when I went from C4 12 inch rotors to C5..
I think the C5 calipers are better than J55.
I also did DRM spring, braided lines and hawk pads and went up to ZR1 sized tires...
Stops a tad better..

l98tpi

As well, the other two factors in braking are a) most importantly the pads and b) the tires. Unless the car is a dedicated time trial car, the 13" rotors are fine for hpde's and track days. For autox or street, anything bigger than 12" is a waste of weight and actually affects the brakes negatively in that the brakes cannot heat up to their operating range quick enough.