does anyone make floating calipers for a C3?It would end a lot of the brake problems.

 

Why would you want to downgrade to floaters (that's rhetorical)? If SS C3's or J56's aren't good enough, IMCO you should look at Wilwoods or maybe a Z06 conversion, such as below...

http://www.guldstrand.com/scripts/pr...?idproduct=581


TSW

 

Changing the seals to O-rings seems to solve the problem of air infiltration. AFAIK that is the single biggest problem with C3 brakes.



Rick B.

 

Getting your rotor runout down below 0.003" will cure a C2/3 Vette of most brake pedal problems if the entire system is in good condition.

 

agrred most of the problem is run out.but floating calipers would solve that.not everyone drives their car the way it should be driven.

 

I have not heard of a floating conversion kit. With the expense.......why not replace all calipers with o-ringed and SS sleeved. Then either resurface or replace all 4 rotors. I have not touched my brakes other than pads in 10-12 years.

 

I have had VBP SS calipers on my 78 since 1985 and other than changing the brake fluid every 3 years and a replacement piston seal in 1990, I have done nothing to them as well (performance friction pads in 2004). The fixed caliper on the C3 is a terrific braking system even today with 16 total pistons acting on 12 (11.75 for those inclined) inch rotors, vented front and rear! Floating calipers would not be able to apply the same clamping pressure on the discs and generally do not wear the pads evenly, with the pad on the piston side of the caliper wearing faster than the pad on the side of the caliper without a piston applying pressure. IMHO, a floating caliper does not provide the same braking forces as a what is on your car now. I would fix the stock system since it really is quite good when functioning properly, which is fiarly easy to do!!

 

The C5 uses floaters, and there is a conversion kit for that somewhere.

Floaters and non-floaters both apply the same force to each side of the rotor. If yours does not, then you have issues with clearance on your mounts and that should be fixed.

My Q45 had cast iron floaters from the factory, and I put aluminum non-floaters from a Skyline GT on the car as an upgrade. The stopping distance changed very little from one to the other and it was probably the pads that made the difference. The braking surface area changed very little, but the mass of the rotors went up a bit, so the brakes did not heat soak as quickly. I got a little less un-sprung weight which is always good at the track.

There is nothing wrong with floaters.

Regardless of what you decide to do with your calipers and rotors, I agree with the others, you need to check your run-out and make sure you are using fresh brake fluid. Once a bottle of fluid is opened, use what you can and toss the rest. Brake fluid starts to break down when exposed to the air. That is why I don't buy brake fluid in bulk.

I would rather spend a few dollars making the factory system perform at it's best, than spend a lot of dollars on an upgrade that may or not improve performance.
Good luck.

 

That's why brake upgrade kits move from floating to fixed. If you want to switch to o-ring let me know, we have them in stock.

Andrew
800-442-0335

 

IMCO, it's apparently necessary to note that the Z06 does not use floaters. If it weren't for a good reason, you'd best believe the General wouldn't have gone to the expense...

All of this is not to say there's anything necessarily wrong with floaters. My DD has them, and they do a good job (relative to the application). However, despite them being in a very good state of repair, I've also seen uneven wear as described by jb78L-82.

Bottom line is, fixed calipers are simply superior.

 

right now The body is off the frame and I don't have any calipers,lines, master,hoses are purchased or installed.Just checking out my options.

 

[QUOTE=Curby;1574024699]The C5 uses floaters, and there is a conversion kit for that somewhere.

Floaters and non-floaters both apply the same force to each side of the rotor. If yours does not, then you have issues with clearance on your mounts and that should be fixed.

My Q45 had cast iron floaters from the factory, and I put aluminum non-floaters from a Skyline GT on the car as an upgrade. The stopping distance changed very little from one to the other and it was probably the pads that made the difference. The braking surface area changed very little, but the mass of the rotors went up a bit, so the brakes did not heat soak as quickly. I got a little less un-sprung weight which is always good at the track.

There is nothing wrong with floaters.

Floaters and non floaters do not apply the same pressure in the example that we are talking about in a a C3. If you replace a a fixed 4 piston caliper with a 1 or 2 piston caliper the floater will NOT provide the same clamping pressure. A single or dual piston on one side of a caliper only is incapable of matching the clamping forces of a 4 or 6 piston caliper (Z06). In addition, the beauty of a fixed 4 piston caliper is that it provides even pressure on both sides of the pads-a single or dual piston floater does not apply even pressure on the pads. Every single floating caliper that I have changed brake pads( often more than once) on in the last 10 years have shown uneven pad wear-2001 Pontiac GP-dual piston front caliper, 2004 impala-single piston front, 1994 mustang GT-single piston front, etc.

Generally, speaking a fixed caliper system is superior to a floating caliper system which are usually used on street vehicles since the floater has much less maintenence, not becuase it is a better system. Racing using fixed calipers for a reason and so does the Z06!

The C4 corvettes went to a floating system on that generation and the brakes initially were not very impressive-A C3's were superior-a little embarrassing at the time.