Falcon

I need to replace the front calipers on my C5. I've read that the C6 calipers are stronger and are a direct replacement, so can I use them instead of the C5 calipers? Do they use the same pads?

TIA

GAS

Hey Jody,

Yep, I believe they are a direct replacement....I think that was one of the big debates they had in SCCA. We are/were running them on my old T1/ST2 car but now that we want to run the car in TTA/PTA it looks like we may have to take them off and run the stock C5 caliper. It uses the same "size" pad but some people have the opinion it may give you an advantage because it is "beefier". ANYHOW.....should be a simple swap on your ST2 car.

Geff

Timz06

I have some c6 rotors and they seem a bit beefier as well.

Jody, why do you need more brake, seems like you need more gas

Falcon

They're for when I pull into the paddock. I don't want to run into my trailer.

drivinhard

yeah I asked about this last year and was told "no"

yeah jody it'll plop right in. I would say throw the Z51 brackets on and bigger rotor but it would not fit behind your 17" wheels

doje

You can make the Z51 setup work with the 17" wheels, but you would need to shave the fins off the outside edges of the caliper and make sure your tire shop balances the wheels without putting weights directly in line with the calipers. I have seen 3 people do this successfully.

gkmccready

When you shave the fins off the calipers don't you lose the added beef? The fins are probably what make the C6 caliper stiffer?

Falcon

Whoaaa, here! Are you saying the C6 calipers will work but only with 18" wheels?

Or are you saying the C6 "Z51" calipers are different and need that adjustment?

redazz

the c6 z51 runs a larger front rotor and has a different caliper bracket that spaces the caliper out farther than the standard c6.
the standard will fit fine with a 17" wheel
john

argonaut

I believe this is how it works:

- The base C6 setup is the same bracket and rotor (12.75 x 1.25) as the C5 with the beefier caliper - direct bolt on to a C5
- The C6 Z51 is a different bracket with a larger rotor (13.37 x 1.25) and the same beefier caliper - requires 18" rims on the C5 (or as mentioned above, shaving the caliper)
- The C6 Z06 is an altogether different animal

johninar

Thanks for the info in this thread. My calipers are showing their age and I'm planning to swap them out this fall. Sounds like exactly what I need to do... short of a $3k brake upgrade.

Falcon

That's what I kind of surmised, but different elements got introduced.

gkmccready

No, I was just pointing out that when you start "shaving the ribs" you may be losing the benefits of going to the C6 calipers.

I had heard a rumor that the C6 Z51 rear calipers differed from the base C6 rear calipers, but I don't see them listed as a separate part number so that just remains a rumor.

For the wheel clearance you're just going to have to check if a 13.4" rotor will fit where your current 12.8" does if you want to use C6 Z51 sized front rotors. IIRC, the C6 Z51 rear rotor is a 13" so you shouldn't have an issue there?

jadkins

I have a 2000 coupe and a 2008 Z51 coupe - I downsized the Z51 brakes to use the C5/Stock C6 rotors (cheap-disposable ones) - I have heard the same thing about the C6 calipers being stronger but haven't noticed much difference - same pads same rotors.

The only visible difference is that the a C5 caliper uses 15mm and 16mm bolt/nut combo to remove the pads and the C6 use a 15mm and 18mm bolt/nut combo. The Z51 rotors are signficantly heavier but I haven't weighed them to know the specific differences. The stock C5 rotors are a disposible item if you track your car regularly for $30-40 a pop its easier to take.

I haven't tried it but the Z51 brackets (actually called "abutments") and rotors will probably fit just fine on my 2000 C5 but would require 18" fronts (I am running a 17"x11" - 315 as my track wheel setup).

Good luck.

Z06cool

So are the C6 Grand Sport or the C6 Z06 caliper upgrades do-able also on a C5 (assuming 18" wheels)?

doje

I have them on my C5

Z06cool

Which one? GS or Z06? Details on what's required?

doje

Mine are Z06, but the GS ones are identical other than color. Obviously you need complete brakes including calipers, pads, lines, rotors. I am also using C6 Z06 wheels. When I race, I am using C5 Z06 wheels (rears on all 4 corners). The difference from the C5 brakes is amazing.

irishjk

doje,
Are you saying that you're running 18" wheels on all four tire positions? If so, does the C5 Z06 brake system fit within the wheels fine?

Kubs

I have C6 calipers on my C4. They fit perfect behind my 17" CCW Classics, but the Z51 brackets will NOT. I have both size brackets and the Z51 will not work with the classic, maybe another style wheel. If you are keeping the base 12.8" rotor you can use 17" wheels.