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 don't care about looks and I am only getting blanks...

Thanks for any and all input.

MBB

You could burn through a set of pads in a weekend if you have a weekend long event, depends on how you drive. You're trading heat dissipation for saving a few bucks. I personally wouldn't do it, in fact I just upgraded to z06/GS brakes w/ slotted rotors for next season.

I was very happy with my z51 brakes, but I want lasting ability. If the base rotors will give you even less performance it may not even be worth the trouble.

KNSBrakes

I don't think the price difference is quite that large but here are some details to consider.

The Z51 calipers will fit the base model brackets but you will move bias forward as the base/C5 use a rear caliper with a larger piston than the Z51 rear caliper. (due to rotor diameter ratio). So you might want to get base rear calipers.

The C5 front rotor is a curved vane design - the C6 base front rotor is the same basic dimension (325x30mm) but it went to a pillar vane design with a higher vane density, a deeper heat dam and more mass.

The C5 and C6 base rear rotors are the same.

It might open up some interesting wheel options!

FASTFATBOY

You need to search online for rotors, I am buying base C6 Brembo blanks for $41 each shipped on Autopartswarehouse.com.

Google and look around. You would have the "heavy duty" brakes.

I would never downgrade brakes.

Try a different pad, Carbotech is a good start IMO.

Rotors and pads are consumables, just like tires and oil.

Scooter70

I'm running these as well. They are the BASE rotors (12.9") and not the Z51 (13.4") so the OP would need to "downgrade" the brackets to use them.

As far as the front to rear bias, you can a) Let the computer adjust the bias just like it does normally and/or b) Adjust pad compounds front to rear until you get braking performance that you like.

I've been tracking my C5Z for a few years and I think that the Brembo blanks are the sweet spot for cost vs performance (aka crack-resistance). Last year when I was running a forum vendor's "cheap" blank rotors I cracked at least one front every track weekend. This year, I ran the C6/XLR Brembos and went the whole season on one pair. The best part is that they're only about $15 a pair more than the "cheap" ones.

I say if you can find some inexpensive brackets to go ahead and try it and see what happens. Worst case, if you don't like it you can re-sell the brackets and rotors to any C5/base C6 owner for almost what you paid for it.

FASTFATBOY

I stated the price for reference, if I can find Brembo's for a base C6 for $40 shipped each he should be able to find them for Z51 brakes for a little more money and have them last a good bit longer than what he has been using.

I use the rotors until the crack, resurface them and finish them off as street rotors.

EDIT

How does the computer control brake bias?? You are not supposed to activate ABS on track, otherwise the computer has no control over front to rear brake bias.

FASTFATBOY

Rockauto.com has rotors from Bendix, Raybestos and Powerstop( all high carbon) from $45-$75 each. For the J56(Z51) optioned brakes.

When you look them up, scroll down to the "High Performance/Heavy Duty" section.

ShaWING66

Thanks Fast. RockAuto is been what i have been looking at. They do have a lot of cheap options but most are drilled.

I think there may be some confusion. I am not going down to C5... the c5z question was just out of curiosity. I am only thinking about going to reg C6 size...

But yeah, I really want to steer clear of drilled anything because they just crack, so Brembo Blanks for $40 each would be great. I am having trouble getting a set of z51 blanks period. Most are drilled. And then its still about $275 shipped. Hence, regular C6 setup which is still larger than C5 and pair those with carbotech C12s or whatever.

KNSBrakes

We keep a few sets of these on hand for Z51 - undrilled.



http://www.knsbrakes.com/c/car-serie...-+Single+Rotor

But they are slow on the re-stock - we have to order special from Centric.

Sometimes when they don't have them they sub in the drilled ones and we're like

Scooter70

Base C6 caliper mounting brackets and rotors are exactly the same as C5 and C5Z. The caliper itself is slightly better/stiffer than the C6 caliper. Any rotors made for C5/Base C6/Cadillac XLR will fit the base C6 bracket.

This is the Brembo rotor that we are using with good success on our C5s:

ShaWING66

Ohhhhhh... thanks Scooter. And the link doesnt work...

Thanks for the input KNS. I checked around and the same rotors for BaseC6 are $100 less shipped... so if they perform as well, then why not downgrade?

MBB, are you talking about performance or longevity? I doubt there is much of any difference between C6 and C6Z51. And i know the Base C6 brakes are plenty strong enough for my skill level.

FASTFATBOY

C5, C5 Z06 and base C6 brakes are dimensionally the exact same brakes. Internally the C6 rotor is better and the C6 caliper is more sturdy.

FASTFATBOY

C6 Z51 rotor is .5 bigger than the C6 base and C5 rotor(12.9 vs 13.4). As far as the caliper goes I think they are the same.

FASTFATBOY

Link is dead, the " NLA 3/10" means no longer available as of March 2010.

I use these, cheapest I can find.

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/sk...Passenger+Side

Be wary of these on Amazon, there are some listed as Brembo but are not, read the reviews as I got taken and posted a review.

Scooter70

C6 base and C6 Z51 calipers are the same. The bracket is just a quarter inch longer to account for the larger diameter rotor.

Bill Dearborn

Starting with the 2001 models GM went to dynamic rear proportioning instead of using a proportioning valve to limit pressure to the rear brakes. Now they use the ABS system and its ability to detect individual wheel speeds and modulate brake pressure to individual wheels to replace the proportioning valve. From the Service Manual:
Dynamic Rear Proportioning (DRP)
The dynamic rear proportioning (DRP) is a control system that replaces the hydraulic proportioning function of the mechanical proportioning valve in the base brake system. The DRP control system is part of the operation software in the EBCM. The DRP uses active control with existing ABS in order to regulate the vehicle's rear brake pressure.

The red brake warning indicator is illuminated when the dynamic rear proportioning function is disabled.

Bill

ShaWING66

Right, i know there is a size difference. But what are the reasons NOT to switch? Brake performance is negligible.

ShaWING66

I think the J56 option is Z06?

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/auto...55-brakes.html

Bill Dearborn

How many track days are you doing per year? What skill level are you? When I first got my 97 there were no aftermarket or race pads available and I had to use stock pads and rotors. I could easily get 15 track days out of a set of stock C5 rotors. Pads would make it through a two day track event and allow me to use them on the street afterwards. At the time I had 5 years of track events under my belt so was running in the advanced groups Vs novice.

Given the same conditions the Z51 rotors should be able to stand the same amount of abuse and they give you some advantages the base rotors will not provide. They have more mass so they can absorb more heat thus reducing the chance of overheating your brake fluid, they do provide a slight increase in brake torque due to the larger diameter and placement of the caliper a little further out from the center of the hub. If you are replacing them on a once per year basis I think the advantages outweigh the $150 decrease in consumable costs.

By the way I recommend using the stock rotors that you can get from GM Parts House or Parts Taxi Vs aftermarket rotors. I know with my C6Z the stock rotors pretty much out perform anything else on the market (including the high dollar two piece rotors). They go 5 days before cracking at a price of $92 each shipped to my house and the high dollar rotor rings go for 7 days before cracking at a price of $260 each shipped to my house.

Checking the current prices it looks like front base rotors are $73 each and front Z51 rotors are $100 each, rear base rotors are $62 each while rear Z51 rotors are $77 each. That is $270 for 4 base rotors or $354 for 4 Z51 rotors. So you are looking at $84 more for the Z51 rotors plus whatever the difference in shipping costs will be.

Bill

ShaWING66

C6 shipped: $145 Brembo, $115 Centic Premium
C6Z51 Shipped: $245 Raybestos/Centric

for all 4...