Brakes
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 10
Likes: 1
Brakes
I am in the process of restoring a 79. This is my first project. My uncle gave it to me and it needs some work. I want to change the brakes, calipers, master cylinder hoses ect. Could I put a more current brake system on them. If so please provide some guidance. On a budget want something good but does not have to be top of line.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,417
Likes: 336
From: Texas
just some fyi. a place to start. the brake system on it is very good, reliable when serviced / replaced correctly. i have replaced mine (79) and that was several years ago and works great.
http://www.cssbinc.com/corvette-brake-kit.aspx
http://www.cssbinc.com/corvette-brake-kit.aspx
Last edited by speedreed8; May 6, 2015 at 11:23 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 331
From: Indy Indiana
these brakes from the factory are entirely adequate. there are ongoing issues of the factory calipers leaking due to design but has been corrected by buying better factory replacement/fit that have stainless steel sleeves in the bores as well as o-ring seals for the caliper pistons. perhaps steel braided flex lines would also be a upgrade vs rubber.
you can get such a kit from one of many vendors on this forum.. reasonable cost and a standard life of parts.
if you are really looking to get a much better 60-0 stop times then the sky is the limit for what is available.. 6 piston calipers, larger heat disipating rotors, special brake pads and rotors that have much greater fade resistance.. then you get into wear issues and considerations on if they will fit your wheels.. as well as the skyrocketing cost.
you can get such a kit from one of many vendors on this forum.. reasonable cost and a standard life of parts.
if you are really looking to get a much better 60-0 stop times then the sky is the limit for what is available.. 6 piston calipers, larger heat disipating rotors, special brake pads and rotors that have much greater fade resistance.. then you get into wear issues and considerations on if they will fit your wheels.. as well as the skyrocketing cost.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 378
Likes: 19
One thing that comes up on C2 snf C3's is that care should be given when replacing or even machining rear rotors. From the factory, they are riveted to the axle stubs, being machined as an assemble. This means that when the rotors are removed from the stubs to be cut or replaced, there maybe excessive run-out, even if care is given to position the rotor in it's original position, (that is if the original rotor was cut). If you do a search, there should be a thread of this problem and the solution to returning back to within spec on the rotor run-out.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
The stock brakes are junk, SS lines, O ring/Lip pistons/don't matter, the calipers are junk, flat statement....owned my '72 for some 20 years now, the entire system has been gone over SO many times, and this last time the damn INNER pistons on BOTH front calipers, managed to kick themselves over at a steep angle that on the driver side, I had to pull the caliper apart and tap the piston back into a non binding position...the pads worn down to destroying the new rotors from a few years earlier....
so in with a old set of rotors, tap/force the pistons back in place, and some new pads......there is totally NO excuse for the constant brake problems recurring over the decades, it is NOT a DD as in a commuter car....it goes maybe 2-5 miles a day, and THAT is generous....
the brakes are a **** poor design from the git go.....someone prove me rong.....can't be done....that is why the ***** out racers to wildwood /etc.....
so in with a old set of rotors, tap/force the pistons back in place, and some new pads......there is totally NO excuse for the constant brake problems recurring over the decades, it is NOT a DD as in a commuter car....it goes maybe 2-5 miles a day, and THAT is generous....
the brakes are a **** poor design from the git go.....someone prove me rong.....can't be done....that is why the ***** out racers to wildwood /etc.....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 951
Likes: 215
From: Foothills of the Adirondacks.
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Team Owner
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Had a 1976 L-82, 4-sp
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Some days your the dog and some days your the hydrant.
Royal Canadian Navy
The stock brakes are junk, SS lines, O ring/Lip pistons/don't matter, the calipers are junk, flat statement....owned my '72 for some 20 years now, the entire system has been gone over SO many times, and this last time the damn INNER pistons on BOTH front calipers, managed to kick themselves over at a steep angle that on the driver side, I had to pull the caliper apart and tap the piston back into a non binding position...the pads worn down to destroying the new rotors from a few years earlier....
so in with a old set of rotors, tap/force the pistons back in place, and some new pads......there is totally NO excuse for the constant brake problems recurring over the decades, it is NOT a DD as in a commuter car....it goes maybe 2-5 miles a day, and THAT is generous....
the brakes are a **** poor design from the git go.....someone prove me rong.....can't be done....that is why the ***** out racers to wildwood /etc.....
so in with a old set of rotors, tap/force the pistons back in place, and some new pads......there is totally NO excuse for the constant brake problems recurring over the decades, it is NOT a DD as in a commuter car....it goes maybe 2-5 miles a day, and THAT is generous....
the brakes are a **** poor design from the git go.....someone prove me rong.....can't be done....that is why the ***** out racers to wildwood /etc.....
I have a '76 and have owned it for 27 years and close to 100K miles. In the early '90's I bought rebuilt SS calipers because originals were starting to weep. Original rotors are like new for wear. I use cheap organic pads because they work. I replaced the MC two years ago. Original PB booster. Original brake lines from MC back to the rear but I have replaced the rear brake lines into the calipers with SS lines at the same time I replaced the calipers. Also replaced the brake lines into the front calipers a few years ago with braided hose but the originals were still serviceable. Brakes began to weep again a few few years ago. Took the calipers apart and wondered how my brakes could still work looking at the emulsified brake fluid. Stripped out the guts, cleaned them up, used crocus cloth to clean up the SS sleeves, cleaned the pistons and lip seals. Put it all back together without any new parts. Flushed the entire brake system with DOT 4 and topped up MC. Bled the brakes. Went on test drive and locked up all 4's as it should. Consider this testimonial and the opinions of other posters as "someone prove me wrong".
Is there a prize?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,465
Likes: 985
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
Vote #3 for not an adequate brake system but a GREAT system, even today. Replaced all 4 calipers in 1985 with SS regular seal calipers, again 1985, Stainless steel braided hoses in the early 90's, change the brake fluid every 3-5 years…NEVER had a problem..NEVER. Look at every car on the road made since 1982 and count how many have 4 piston fixed racing calpers-front AND Rear with VENTED 12 inch rotors-front AND rear..you will not find many.
The C4 floating calipers and small rotors were awful and it was not until the C6 corvette that the 6 Piston FIXED caliper made a return…GM finally woke up after the C3 system…only took 30 years...
The C4 floating calipers and small rotors were awful and it was not until the C6 corvette that the 6 Piston FIXED caliper made a return…GM finally woke up after the C3 system…only took 30 years...
Last edited by jb78L-82; May 7, 2015 at 12:36 PM.