ShaWING66

So i am thinking about downgrading to base brackets and rotors because the rotors are half the price. I assume ill burn through a set per year with HPDEs so might as well save $150 each time. Anyone have any experience with racing on base rotors? I am pretty sure base C6 is same size as C5Z? Not sure on that though. I dont care about looks and I am only getting blanks...

Thanks for any and all input.

RicK T

You will get help here but maybe the guys in the AutoX/Roadracing Forum will have additional info:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/auto...roadracing-23/

ShaWING66

Yeah I posted both... This forum gets more foot traffic.
Cheers

HOXXOH

The C5 front rotors are the same size as the base C6 and are swapable, but they have a slight advantage due to the interior cooling. They have vanes to direct air and are directional. i.e. left and right

I've never examined C5 rear rotors. The specs for size are the same as C6 base, so I'd suspect they too are swapable. There was no difference in rotor sizes for C5 models. The base, Z51, and Z06 used the same ones.

taken19

I think you will run into trouble downgrading brakes on the road course unless you also shed considerable weight off the car at the same time. The better you drive, the more you need solid braking performance. In my old C6, it didn't take link to suffer caliper spread on stock Z51 calipers... This was after SS pistons, high temp fluid, fog light brake cooling, etc.

In my opinion, bad idea for the track.

Gabbiani

As bad as the z51 brakes were on the road course.... I wouldn't want to try the base setup.

But yes they are the same between the c5z and c6.

HOXXOH

The effective swept surface area of a front base rotor is 3.72 sq in less than a J55 (aka Z51) rotor and they are far less prone to cracking. Aggressive pads can more than make up the difference from street pads on J55 brakes.

If it were me, I'd use one set of rotors and pads for racing only and swap back to a different set for the street.

Since the OP is asking these questions and has a limited budget, it's safe to assume he's just starting a new adventure and he'll initially learn to drive within the limitations of his equipment.

Joe_G

I "downgraded" to C5 brakes for the exact same reason as the OP, plus, the z51 brakes have drilled holes which are crack magnets.

I had no problems at all with the c5 brakes and enjoyed the much cheaper pricing when the rotors cracked from use. And my GTO skinnies fit over them with no spacer for drag racing -I've never gone back to the z51 rotors.

I don't drive as well as Sean though....I didn't have any caliper spread issues!

ShaWING66

Thanks for your input Joe. Are you doing many road courses or mostly dragging?

Joe_G

Mostly dragging for the last 5 years but I did a fair amount of road course work in my c5 and c6 prior thereto.

I am not at Sean's level I'm sure, but I did use hawk dt10 track pads and 555rII track rubber so my brakes got a workout.