lets say i have c6 rims on my c3, will c6 rotors and calipers be bolt-on replacements for stock?

 

bolt on?

none of it is bolt on. You'll have to make your own brackets. c6 wheels will need wheel adapters. C6 rotors will have to be matched to the hubs by machining one or both.

 

i found this but not c6, i imagine its pretty close?


http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/70lt1/brakes.shtml

i know about adapters, already got that down.

 

Don't forget the master cylinder, you'll want to match the bore size used on a C6 vette (not sure what it is off the top of my head but I know it's different). You'll also want to install a prop valve as you'll be upsetting the factory bias dramatically.

What's the intended usage of the vehicle? There may be better options out there.

 

there you go.

i think floating calipers would solve a lot of problems on these cars. I still get a lot of piston knock back with my wilwoods.

Do it. Make some extra brackets to sell. I might be interested. From what i saw on the other thread, you don't mess around.

How's the hand?

 

nothing racing related, but ive come across some c6 parts on craigslist

 

I'd use the stock rotor and just put a C5 or C6 caliper on it. Not as big a diameter as the C6 rotor but would still work fine.

Peter

 

I suspect there would be a lot of pad overhang as the C6 Z06 Rotor is 14" in diameter. And that would be pointless as there is no increased brake torque due to the unchanged moment arm. The stock calipers should provide enough pressure to lock up the rotors, at that point your limited by your tires.

 

i don't think so. most calipers/pads only sweep a 2" area. You'll just mount the caliper appropriately to sweep the perimeter of the rotor. Stock calipers can lock the wheels cold. How about after they're cooking at 800 degrees? They get mushy because of the solid aluminum pistons and crappy seals.

 

I didn't realize this was C6 Z06. Base C6 is basically a slightly improved C5 caliper.

The question sounded to me like he just wanted to change out the calipers to something newer that was easier to maintain.

Peter

 

The distance of the swept area from the center is what creates the leverage. If your gunna be cooking brakes at 800* then there are better options. The larger surface area of the C6 pads will have a negligible impact on fade resistance. Running dedicated brake cooling ducts would have a bigger impact on fade resistance and wouldn't cost big $$. So would good DOT 4 fluid and a better pad compound.

I don't know why I assumed the OP was referring to C6 Z06 Calipers...I guess I'm used to everyone in the C5 section going that route. Sorry.

 

There are C6Z brake kits already in the pipe for C3's, but IIRC you can't use the original e-brake with the rears. In any event, IMCO floating calipers wouldn't be an upgrade over the C3's 4-piston calipers, especially vs J56.

 

Might be a dumb question but...what's J56?

 

J56 was the RPO for the "Special Heavy Duty Brakes" option found on L88's, ZL1's, ZR1's and ZR2's.

 

I strongly disagree with that. Floters will lessen the effect of runout in the rotor, bearing play and spindle flex. You don't see modern vette owners getting out the dial caliper everytime they want to put a new rotor on, constantly checking bearing play, tightening bearings. They don't suffer long pedal and bleed brakes every few weeks/months to get the air out.

I'm trying to remember if you are running stock calipers. Don't you have problems with piston knock back?

 

I bought a new '86 Z51 coupe; the only bad feature on the car was the crummy Girlock floating caliper brakes. ANY time I drove on a twisty road, the pistons would get knocked back into the calipers. I developed an automatic pump, release, pump every time I applied the brakes. Corvette techs said nothing wrong with the brakes. !

C3 brakes, when properly set up and maintained work. They worked fine on thousands of cars for decades without constant fiddling with all the activities listed above. Think about it, GM didn't change the brakes for 18 years, not because the brakes were troublesome, but because they worked. It's now, after years of neglect and bubba maintenance that they have gotten a bad rap.

Funny that GM decided to use the same type of brake, i.e., multi-piston fixed calipers on the C6ZO6 as the C2/C3 cars used. A major improvement I think they made, they put the seals in the piston bore, not on the piston. That way, the corrosion, if any occurs on the easily replaceable piston, not on the caliper bore.


Pete

 

PeteZO6 pretty much covered it there.

I've never really had any significant problems other than driver induced fade or aging bores with C3 brakes, tho I'm about to pull the trigger on some front caliper braces and other J56 related bits. Severe duty applications aside, IMHO proper rotor runout setup and using suitable pads and fluid should be all most owners ever need bother with. FWIW, I highly recommend Goodridge braided brake hoses for any "spirited" driving.

 

The "kit" I purchased from Speed Direct has FRONT only C6 ZO6 rotors and calipers. The rears were to come shortly after but they got busy with other projects. I have not mounted them as yet, waiting on lower control arms. They look sweet, we will see how well the conversion mounts and to its "bolt on ness" or not.

Steve