SDLS1Rider

Since I'm between big mods at the moment, I decided to upgrade the look of my brake calipers. I originally considered installing C6 Z06 calipers, but couldn't justify the expense of a wheel and tire upgrade. Then a fellow vette buddy suggested I try changing out the stock gray calipers with powder coated ones. So I got in contact with thePowderCoater.com. Turns out he was offering a great deal over the holidays. So I order them. Since I would be changing out the calipers, I also installed stainless steel brake lines. I thought I would do the work myself. Here are a few pictures of the install.

Here's a picture of the OEM bracket after the caliper was removed. Notice the stock brake line. I just tied off the caliper without disconnecting the line. I wasn't sure if my line plug would work. So I held off changing it until the last second. The plug worked and I just took the brake lines off first thing.


The connection to the hard brake line. The clip was removed by prying it off sideways with a screw driver.


The bracket mounting bolts took some effort to break loose. But a breaker bar made it fairly easy.



The powder coated caliper with the AN fitting and bleeder nipple attached. I used VBP stainless steel brake lines. The AN fitting came with the lines and screwed right in with a supplied copper washer.



The brackets were powder coated black. I applied blue loctite and torqued the bolts to 125 ft-lbs.



The stainless steel line installed. VBP supplied a clip to use with their fitting. I tried using the OEM ones, but they proved too difficult (and might have been impossible). The VBP clips slid right in with some help with long blunt object hit with a mallet (I used a claw hammer held length wise with a rubber coated handle).



The powder coated caliper installed with the new brake lines installed. Notice the reverse S shape of the line.



Another view of the caliper and stainless steel brake line.



The opposite side.

Got uid0

nice work

MrSimpson

Where did you get the lines?

Poppy's Vette

Nice job Will! Good documentation. The only picture missing is a nice shot of the car with it's new look!

SebringSixSpeed

I assume you did the rear calipers too. Lets see a pic of the whole thing.

SDLS1Rider

I got the lines at Vette brakes and Products Inc. I've read good things about them here and decided to go with them. They do not use the OEM banjo bolt fitting but an AN type instead. They are DOT approved also. I just remembered that I didn't see any active-handling codes when I test drove it.

Thanks Paul, I did get a some pics but I accidently deleted them. The wheels are filthy with brake dust, and I'm afraid to dirty up the calipers with excess cleaner.

RockJustBelow

Great job

I just got my calipers back from Mike (aka thepowdercoater) yesterday. This post is timely for me. Any issues getting the brake lines off? I have a set of Russell lines that I'm going to put on and I was wondering if there is a trick to getting the OEM lines off.

csexton

Great mod and a job well done

Chuck

SDLS1Rider

I pulled the clip off by wedging a screw driver against the hard part of the line. Keep in mind I never put the same clips back in. Then I just used a 13 mm end wrench and a small adjustable. It comes apart fairly easily. The banjo bolt was in pretty tight. The hard part of taking the banjo bolt off is gatting a grip on the caliper to apply some torque on the wrench.

I did not have a factory service manual. But I used the Wilwood brake caliper install article from LS1Howto and the rotor change out from Install University (I know it's a F-body, just used it for procedural purposes).

RockJustBelow

Thanks, great howto article as well!

I can't tell you/everyone how much I appreciate this forum and how much people are willing to help. A true testament to a strong and vibrant corvette community. Thanks again!

SDLS1Rider

Just to be clear, you do have to put some sort of clip back in (I used the clips supplied by VBP). I'm just not sure if my method of taking them off affected getting them back on.

memphis_vette

looks great good work

SDLS1Rider

Finally did some thorough cleaning of my wheels today, and took some pictures of the powder coated calipers. It was partially overcast today so the light wasn't very good. So here is what they look like.













On a side note, let me tell you when cleaning these wheels, there is no end to the brake dust. I clean them off, then went over them with more buffing compound and a white terry cloth. It was black after a few strokes. I spent about 2-1/2 hours buffing the wheels (even taking them off the car). I could probably spend another 2-1/2 hours on them and still be cleaning brake dust off.

SebringSixSpeed

Well worth the effort, they look amazing!

Blu Angel

Fabulous lookin!!

C5FORFUN2

Nice job! Switch to ceramic pads and you won't have to worry about the brake dust.
Also what kind of floor jack is that? I need a new one.

Bluefire

They look excellent. Great job!

SDLS1Rider

I bought it at harbor Freight. It's a US General Aluminum lightweight floor jack #91039. It works for me.