I have a 1994 LT1 (everything stock) with 80000 miles and it is time to do the front brakes. I usually replace all my parts with original equipment when possible but am open to uprades if it makes sense. So, I am interested in what everyone is experiencing when replacing brakes. I do not race the car but drive it normal and frequently.

1. Brake pads. Since 1994 a lot of technology has been put into brake pads. Stick with original GM? or look to ceramic, metallic, etc.

2. Rotors. I know that mine are in bad shape and will need to be replaced. I think they are past machine shop fix.......Purchase original? or is it really worth investing in slotted rotors or something similar?

3. Calipers. I am not sure if they are leaking but my brake light just went on and I am suspicious that I am low in brake fluid. I will check tonight. If I am low in brake fluid, I will inspect calipers but not sure how obvious a leak will be. Anyway, if calipers are leaking, is it smarter to buy refurbished calipers or purchase a rebuilt kit and do it myself? Or upgrade?

4. I will check with local Chevy dealership for parts. Any recommended alternatives?

Overall, I am rather impressed with the cars ability to stop quickly and not sure I need to invest a lot of money in upgrades only to gain a 5% improvement.....but open to ideas.

I assume replacing these brakes are typical and straight forward, but if there are any tricks that I should be aware of before beginning, please pass on.


Thanks

kc

 

I put ceramic pads on my 1992 and 2002 Z06 simply because they make much less brake dust. It was a very simple procedure. Ceramic pads are very good for street use but I would not recommend them for use on a track. If the calipers are leaking it should be fairly obvious. I think buying rebuilt calipers, or new, would be the way to go.

 

It may be that you have worn the pads far enough to indicate a fill is needed. If the pistons are pushed back out, it would be full.

Are you going to flush the system? This is something I am thinking of doing, too .

 

Get rebuilt calipers from your favorite auto parts place or rockauto.
Get Hawk HPS or Carbotech street pads.
Flush your entire brake system - I use Valvoline Syntech fluid, a quart is around $8 at your favorite auto parts place.
Use stock type replacement rotors. Again Rockauto or your favorite auto parts place.
Your brake light might be on for two reasons:
Pads worn to the point where fluid is now low
you bumped the parking brake handle

 

Bosch ceramic brake pads and sold rotors from Advance Auto Parts and a fluid flush and you should be good for years.

 

Stock 12" or J55 13" brakes?
If J55 , genuine OEM rotors here @#20 ea

http://www.corvetterecycling.com/C4_...p/10052204.htm
http://www.corvetterecycling.com/C4_...p/10052203.htm

 

You remind me of military officers.

 

What is involved in going from 12-inch to 13-inch rotors?

A. New calipers?
B. New ??????

 

Both
Is a bolt on swap
Pads are the same

Most popular and cheaper upgrade these days is to the
superior C5 front brakes.
Requires a custom caliper adapter

 

C5 brakes may not clear your wheels though. J55's definitely will clear the factory wheels. You could probably buy some low-mile J55 calipers for fairly cheap from someone who went larger, and you are getting new rotors anyway.

The J55 rotors are both larger in diameter, and also wider than the base (JL9? JL6? whatever) brakes. They aren't the biggest brakes out there, but they aren't too shabby, and should be a good upgrade.

 

IIRC either 94 or 95 J55 became stock.

To convert to J55 you need new rotors, calipers, caliper brackets.

Unless you are spending 20 minutes or more driving on a race track the J55 is adequate. Now if you are spending 20 minutes or more driving on a race track a big brake upgrade makes more sense than the C5 brakes.

 

Kc, for a quality brake pad check out the Carbotech 1521.


The Carbotech Bobcat 1521™ is our high performance street compound that is our most successful compound. The Bobcat compound is known for its awesome release and modulation, along with unmatched rotor friendliness. Like our AX™ & XP™ line of compounds, Bobcat 1521™ is a Ceramic based friction material offering minimal rotor damage and non corrosive dust. Bobcat 1521™ offers outstanding performance, even when cold, low dusting and low noise with an excellent initial bite. This compound’s virtually perfect linear torque production provides incredible braking force without ABS intervention. Bobcat 1521™ operating range starts out at ambient and goes up to 900°F. Bobcat 1521™ is suitable for ALL street cars, perfect for your tow vehicle, police cruiser, and has won multiple SCCA Solo 2 and Prosolo National Championships. The Bobcat 1521™ compound has been found to last two-three times longer than OE pads you can purchase at a dealership or national retailer. Bobcat 1521™ compound has also been found to extend the life of your rotors 2-3 times. That’s one of the beauties of Carbotech Ceramic brake compounds. Bobcat 1521™ is NOT recommended for any track use.

 

I beg to differ.
The PBR calipers are identical in all aspects except for the internal width ;
the J55 caliper has a wider throat to accommodate the thicker J55 rotor

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...duction+Brakes

 

The pads are definitely the same. If you ever bought an AC Delco pad set you'd notice they come with two sets of retainer pins, one for J55 calipers and one for the JL9 ones.

Also it was 1995 that J55's became standard.