J55 vs. C5 upgrade?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 1
J55 vs. C5 upgrade?
Been thinking about the C5 front rotor and caliper upgrade but already have the J55 option. Will there be a difference? Could I upgrade to a better pad and rotor combo on my current setup? I already have PF pads on the car but need new rotors. Would SS lines help?
Thanks for your input.
Thanks for your input.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,408
Likes: 13
From: Dayton, Ohio
Stainless lines will definitely help! While you have it apart,
contact
http://www.dougrippie.com/
I got one of their brake bias springs and it works well also.
Even under hard braking, the nose dives less and the car stops flatter.
Well worth the 13 bucks for the spring. You might want to ask them how they put them in as it is a PITA, but well worth the time/cost/trouble.
contact
http://www.dougrippie.com/
I got one of their brake bias springs and it works well also.
Even under hard braking, the nose dives less and the car stops flatter.
Well worth the 13 bucks for the spring. You might want to ask them how they put them in as it is a PITA, but well worth the time/cost/trouble.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 5
From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
I don't know about those pads you are running. Maybe a pad and lines upgrade with Syn Power fliuid would be all you need. I have J55's that are stock on mine and they are pretty good.
Last edited by BADDUCK; Jul 11, 2006 at 09:29 AM.
Racer
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
I did an upgrade to the J55 and it made a noticeable difference. Not sure how much better the C5 upgrade would be.
On the plus side the C5 pads are larger and the rotors are cheaper. It would seem that the C5 brakes would be better, given the larger pad surface.
On the negative side, you can't use the standard saw blade rims unless you use spacers.
On the plus side the C5 pads are larger and the rotors are cheaper. It would seem that the C5 brakes would be better, given the larger pad surface.
On the negative side, you can't use the standard saw blade rims unless you use spacers.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,295
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From: I'm the walkin dude I can see all of the world...
St. Jude Donor '03
Originally Posted by Gary96LT4
I believe if you go with the C5 combo, you will need new rims, your stok ones won't clear the calipers.
IMO There probably isn't enough difference in the C5 combo than the J55 to warrent the cost.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 6,303
Likes: 714
From: Bartlett IL
I did my C5 upgrade on my 84 Z51 several years ago. I got a heck of a deal on lo mile C5 calipers and rotors. Along with my ZF-6 Transplant, it was the best upgrade I have done. Plus it was my excuse to put ZR-1 wheels on the car.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 1
I've got AR TTII rims so I don't think space would be a problem. Maybe if I went back to my origional 12 slot directional rims but I like the look of the ARs too much.
So J55 is pretty good and I wouldn't get much of an increased bennefit? I think the SS lines sound like the best option for me. Maybe a good set of new rotors would help too. Any options there? Thanks!
Here's a pic of the wheels.
So J55 is pretty good and I wouldn't get much of an increased bennefit? I think the SS lines sound like the best option for me. Maybe a good set of new rotors would help too. Any options there? Thanks!
Here's a pic of the wheels.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 658
Likes: 1
From: Centerville OH
I switched the J55's on my '89 for C5 brakes. I wasn't unhappy with the brakes, but I got brand new C5 rotors, calipers, and caliper brackets for free so it ended up being cheaper than new pads and rotors for the J55's.
Outright stopping power isn't any better with the C5 parts, but the pedal feel is better because the calipers and brackets are stiffer. The only real advantage to doing the swap, IMO, is the fact that the rotors are quite a bit cheaper than J55 parts. If you do any track time with your car, this can potentially save you some money in the long run.
Outright stopping power isn't any better with the C5 parts, but the pedal feel is better because the calipers and brackets are stiffer. The only real advantage to doing the swap, IMO, is the fact that the rotors are quite a bit cheaper than J55 parts. If you do any track time with your car, this can potentially save you some money in the long run.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Loveland CO
If you had 12" rotors like Dominic had on his '84, then the C5 brake upgrade would be great. Since the J55 and the C5 brakes both have 13" rotors, the benefit/$ would be negligible and there may be more complications.
IMHO, spend the money upgrading your shocks and/or sway bars for the best benefit!
Dave
IMHO, spend the money upgrading your shocks and/or sway bars for the best benefit!
Dave
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
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From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Originally Posted by BADDUCK
I don't know about those pads you are running. Maybe a pad and lines upgrade with Syn Power fliuid would be all you need. I have J55's that are stock on mine and they are pretty good.
Ceramic pads, new rotors, and SynPower work fine on mine. It took awhile to arrive at this combo (and I tried the PF pads, in my search for braking performance), but they can lock the wheels at will (ABS allowing, of course), and don't fade. What more could you want?
SS lines will not increase fade resistance or decrease stopping distances, but they will give you better pedal feel....which may help you perform better on the whoa pedal.
Larry
code5coupe
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,928
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Tell me more about the Ceramic pads. No brake fade? That's great. What brand do you use? I won't be using the car for track events but maybe once a year.
I'd like a better brake feel and it would look pretty cool to have the SS lines on there.
As for suspension, I'd love to replace all the bushings with either new or polyurethane. I'd also like to lower the car.
I'd like a better brake feel and it would look pretty cool to have the SS lines on there.
As for suspension, I'd love to replace all the bushings with either new or polyurethane. I'd also like to lower the car.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
Likes: 233
From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
I use SBS ProTouring Ceramic pads all around. I like 'em.
There are two types of brake fade: that caused by boiling fluid (soft pedal fade), and that caused by pads operating at temperatures beyond their design temps(hard pedal fade).
Uncontaminated brake fluid (e.g. SynPower or other high-performance fluid), changed regularly, will take care of the first issue. Proper choice of pads will take care of the second.
Remember; there is no one pad that is best for the street and best for the track....it's all a compromise. The ceramics are very good street pads and okay track pads (depending on the track, the car, driving styles, etc.), but if you want the best pad for your track, be prepared to experiment/research and to swap out pads and rotors for your track days.
This website has a wealth of information on performance brakes. I would suggest anyone interested in getting the most from their brakes read this site, cover-to-cover, so to speak....
http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/te...e_papers.shtml
Good luck.
Larry
code5coupe
There are two types of brake fade: that caused by boiling fluid (soft pedal fade), and that caused by pads operating at temperatures beyond their design temps(hard pedal fade).
Uncontaminated brake fluid (e.g. SynPower or other high-performance fluid), changed regularly, will take care of the first issue. Proper choice of pads will take care of the second.
Remember; there is no one pad that is best for the street and best for the track....it's all a compromise. The ceramics are very good street pads and okay track pads (depending on the track, the car, driving styles, etc.), but if you want the best pad for your track, be prepared to experiment/research and to swap out pads and rotors for your track days.
This website has a wealth of information on performance brakes. I would suggest anyone interested in getting the most from their brakes read this site, cover-to-cover, so to speak....
http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/te...e_papers.shtml
Good luck.
Larry
code5coupe
Last edited by rocco16; Jul 12, 2006 at 05:34 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
Likes: 233
From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
I use SBS ProTouring Ceramic pads all around. I like 'em.
There are two types of brake fade: that caused by boiling fluid, and that caused by pads operating at temperatures beyond their design temps.
Uncontaminated brake fluid (e.g. SynPower or other high-performance fluid), changed regularly will take care of the first issue. Proper choice of pads will take care of the second.
Remember; there is no one pad that is best for the street and best for the track....it's all a compromise. The ceramics are very good street pads and okay track pads (depending on the track, the car, driving styles, etc.), but if you want the best pad for the track, be prepared to swap out pads and rotors for your track days.
This website has a wealth of information on brake systems and components. I would suggest anyone interested in getting the most from their brakes read this site, cover-to-cover, so to speak.
http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/te...e_papers.shtml
Good luck.
Larry
code5coupe
There are two types of brake fade: that caused by boiling fluid, and that caused by pads operating at temperatures beyond their design temps.
Uncontaminated brake fluid (e.g. SynPower or other high-performance fluid), changed regularly will take care of the first issue. Proper choice of pads will take care of the second.
Remember; there is no one pad that is best for the street and best for the track....it's all a compromise. The ceramics are very good street pads and okay track pads (depending on the track, the car, driving styles, etc.), but if you want the best pad for the track, be prepared to swap out pads and rotors for your track days.
This website has a wealth of information on brake systems and components. I would suggest anyone interested in getting the most from their brakes read this site, cover-to-cover, so to speak.
http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/te...e_papers.shtml
Good luck.
Larry
code5coupe
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,564
Likes: 6
From: Woodstock Georgia
Originally Posted by 89Corvette6spdFX3
Tell me more about the Ceramic pads. No brake fade? That's great. What brand do you use? I won't be using the car for track events but maybe once a year.
I'd like a better brake feel and it would look pretty cool to have the SS lines on there.
As for suspension, I'd love to replace all the bushings with either new or polyurethane. I'd also like to lower the car.
I'd like a better brake feel and it would look pretty cool to have the SS lines on there.
As for suspension, I'd love to replace all the bushings with either new or polyurethane. I'd also like to lower the car.
No brake dust on my rims, NONE! Stopping power is fantastic (I call it my passenger eject system--PES) no pulling, no wet problems, and no fading. I do not autoX, so don't think I am recommending these for the track. I drive it hard as much as possible, but track use is something else.
