Yet another brake question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 789
Likes: 13
From: Winter Springs FL
Yet another brake question
Bear with me, I don't frequent the C4 side too often. Here are the car specs:
1966 vert with tube frame that takes C4 suspension. 1991 front suspension, 1992 rear suspension. Brakes are standard (12" rotors, 2 piston calipers in the front). When finished it will have stainelss steel brake lines and will use this brake booster set up:
http://www.angryamerica.com/chevelles/hydroboost.html
I've read all I can here about brake fade and it still leaves me shaking my head. I believe that the brakes are THE most important part of the car, period, so i need to make sure I get the stuff that will stop me when I ask it to. Also, I don't drive like a maniac and the car will be a driver, not a trailer queen. Sooooooo, will the stock C4 12" brakes with first rate Hawk pads and brake fluid, matched to Eradispeed rotors provide me with safe and consistent stopping power? Exceptional, perhaps?
There are a couple of other items riding on this. If I need to move to larger rotors/calipers then my choice of wheels will have to change as well from 16" TT2s to 17" tt2s. I really want the 16" wheels but not if I compromise safety.
What set up will give me what I need with 16" wheels? Is there such an animal?
1966 vert with tube frame that takes C4 suspension. 1991 front suspension, 1992 rear suspension. Brakes are standard (12" rotors, 2 piston calipers in the front). When finished it will have stainelss steel brake lines and will use this brake booster set up:
http://www.angryamerica.com/chevelles/hydroboost.html
I've read all I can here about brake fade and it still leaves me shaking my head. I believe that the brakes are THE most important part of the car, period, so i need to make sure I get the stuff that will stop me when I ask it to. Also, I don't drive like a maniac and the car will be a driver, not a trailer queen. Sooooooo, will the stock C4 12" brakes with first rate Hawk pads and brake fluid, matched to Eradispeed rotors provide me with safe and consistent stopping power? Exceptional, perhaps?
There are a couple of other items riding on this. If I need to move to larger rotors/calipers then my choice of wheels will have to change as well from 16" TT2s to 17" tt2s. I really want the 16" wheels but not if I compromise safety.
What set up will give me what I need with 16" wheels? Is there such an animal?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
wow.
lemme put it this way... compared with the stock C2 brakes, any C4 brake will be a revolutionary improvement.
If you want good C4 stopping power, consider 13" rotors up front and the DRM bias spring, but other then that, you will be fine.
Short of track days, I don't see you cooking these brakes on the street.
My 92 has the GS brake upgrade (13" rotors, GrandSport calipers), NAPA ceramitalix(sp) and SS lines with stock mastercylinder and booster. It stops fine. I do need to cut the rotors, tho...
Another consideration is the use of C5 calipers, but gee, that's getting pricy for a minimal improvement. You will see great performance leaps with the right tire... something sticky like Kumho MXs or similar.
The real performance limiting problem with C4 (and C5) calipers is the design itself. There is no heat venting on the top of the calipers (and I would not suggest adding any!). This causes heat to trap inside the caliper, causing the caliper to soften and spread apart. However, this happening on the street would be beyond rare. Ecklers sells a brake duct kit, might want to consider that, too. But you would have to drive this thing at 9/10ths all day long to hurt these brakes.
I hope this helps.
lemme put it this way... compared with the stock C2 brakes, any C4 brake will be a revolutionary improvement.
If you want good C4 stopping power, consider 13" rotors up front and the DRM bias spring, but other then that, you will be fine.
Short of track days, I don't see you cooking these brakes on the street.
My 92 has the GS brake upgrade (13" rotors, GrandSport calipers), NAPA ceramitalix(sp) and SS lines with stock mastercylinder and booster. It stops fine. I do need to cut the rotors, tho...
Another consideration is the use of C5 calipers, but gee, that's getting pricy for a minimal improvement. You will see great performance leaps with the right tire... something sticky like Kumho MXs or similar.
The real performance limiting problem with C4 (and C5) calipers is the design itself. There is no heat venting on the top of the calipers (and I would not suggest adding any!). This causes heat to trap inside the caliper, causing the caliper to soften and spread apart. However, this happening on the street would be beyond rare. Ecklers sells a brake duct kit, might want to consider that, too. But you would have to drive this thing at 9/10ths all day long to hurt these brakes.
I hope this helps.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,161
Likes: 1,733
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Exceptional? neh, its not Wilwood or Baer.
Good and consistent? yes, i wouldnt be worried about it.
Its unlikely that they'll clear a 16" rim though, they dont always clear the early C4's 16" rim. You might have to grind something down so it doesnt rub, or add some type of adapter.
Good and consistent? yes, i wouldnt be worried about it.
Its unlikely that they'll clear a 16" rim though, they dont always clear the early C4's 16" rim. You might have to grind something down so it doesnt rub, or add some type of adapter.
