The Spark

I was changing brake pads today and noticed the rubber dust boots on my front calipers are very brittle and one has a hunk missing. I've got a C5 coupe that I've been tracking for about 2 years.

I've got maybe 2 more weekends this year.

What do you think?

Rebuild these? (can they be rebuilt)
Go to big brakes? (I've been looking at StopTech until I saw $$$$)
Replace with stock calipers?

The race shop I use suggests that I go to coil overs first then replace brakes.

Looking for some ideas.

JDIllon

If you are mainly tracking the car?? The dust boots are not needed, run the car and don't worry about them. JD

Bill Dearborn

They are also easy to rebuild. GM sells a kit to replace the seals.

Bill

Last C5

OK, here are some ideas. . . .

You don't need the boots to track the car. Just go have fun.

Rebuild kits are cheap and easy and they do come with new boots.

Rebuild the calipers with some new DRM stainless pistons

Go to a big brake kit and 18" fronts

Whatever you decide, do the brakes before the coil overs. Coil overs are nice but they won't help you at the end of that long straight going into turn one.

Lancer033

you only have a chunk missing??? Those things should be totally melted

CHJ In Virginia

Don't worry about the dead dust boots. Do enough track days and they will be totally gone. When changing brake pads, be sure to use brake kleene on the pistons and bore areas prior to pushing the pistons back in the bore. You want to make sure all the garbage is gone so you do not hurt the seal. You can rebuild them, but you are going to be in the same situation shortly.

The Spark

Thanks guys.
All the dust seals are brittle and falling apart. I won't worry about them then since it is a track only car.

I started running 18" fronts last year in anticipation of going to big brakes. Guess I know what will be on my Christmas list this year.

davidfarmer

if your seals have lasted nearly 2 years, then you probably don't need better brakes. Very minor differences in braking styles can effect how well the OEM brakes hold up, and yours seem to be doing OK.

I did melt the pistons out of a set of C5 calipers at CMP once.......I don't play there much anymore

John Shiels

in one session

longdaddy

what everyone said if the only problem you have with stock brakes is damage to the dust boot, you are doing OK. Make sure you check the rubber boots on the caliper pins - they get torn up too and you don't want to contaminate the lubricant in there too much.

The Spark

I was getting prices on StopTech brakes to see what they would set me back (er...set Santa back).

The guy I talked to gave me prices for just front and for front and rear.
He said if it was him, he'd go with just the fronts (unless I also wanted to show the car or had the extra money to spend).

I know most of the braking is done by the front brakes - but what do y'all think about just putting big brakes on the front?

longdaddy

many of us are running with only fronts upgraded, since this is where most issues with stock setup manifest themselves.

as long as overall piston surface area is matching stock setup, you should not have any issues upgrading only one axle.

while ideally I would like to have rears upgraded as well, I only did the fronts (wilwood SL6), mostly for cost/benefit reasons.