i know there are some nice systems for hte C4 like wilwood, bear, and brembo. But i also know you can put C5 brakes on C4s as well. does this mean that any aftermarket brake system i see for sale that fits a C5 will fit my 96 as well? any input would be appreciated

 

Found this. Hopefully this will get you started.


You WILL NEED a special adapter bracket kit in addition to the GM caliper mount brackets to make the C5 brakes work on ANY C4. There are a few manufacturer for these bracket kits one of which is a company called Electro-Dynamics. I have followed Gene's posts on the corvetteforum and he seems quite knowledgeable and eager to help anybody considering the C5 brake upgrade. You can visit their website by clicking here. I included P/N's for both regular C5 and Z06 calipers. They are the same price and if there is any physical difference besides color I sure can't tell by looking at them.

Click here for pic showing difference between 13" C4 front brake pad and C5 front brake pad.

Click here for pics showing difference between 13" C4 front rotor and C5 front rotor.

NOTE: Information added on 1-04-02: We have added information for the rear C5 brake parts too since we we're getting quite a few requests for information on them also. The usage of rear C5 calipers on a C4 will also require special brackets and some fabrication to get the parking brake to work. Check with the non-GM bracket supplier for recommendations. We have also added ceramic Durastop brake pads as an option for both front and rear. We've had excellent luck with them.
Front
First, a list of all the part numbers involved and their prices (Click here for image showing P/N's):
Calipers
Part Number Description Price
12530682 Reg C5 Caliper - RH $100.80
12530683 Reg C5 Caliper - LH $100.80
88895129 Z06 C5 Caliper - RH $97.65
88895128 Z06 C5 Caliper - LH $97.65



Rotors
Part Number Description Price
10445857 C5 Rotor - LH $55.83
10445856 C5 Rotor - RH $55.83
88926732 C5 Rotor - LH (Durastop Performance) $44.40
88926731 C5 Rotor - RH (Durastop Performance) $44.40




Caliper Brackets
Part Number Description Price
12455799 Caliper Brkt - 2 required $31.67



Misc Parts
Part Number Description Price
12530697 Caliper Guide Pin (4 reqd.) $3.95
12530703 Caliper Guide Pin Seals (4 reqd.) $3.30
10139097 Brake Hose Gasket (Copper Washer - 2 per caliper) $0.42
12530681 C5 Brake Pads $65.87
88909667 C5 Ceramic Durastop Pads $54.87

*Prices current as of 1/04/02
Here's the parts required list I've put together (don't forget you'll also need the non-GM special bracket kit):

C5 Brakes on C4
Qty Needed P/N Description
2 12455799 Caliper Bracket
1 88895129 -or- 12530682 Caliper
1 88895128 -or- 12530683 Caliper
1 10445856 Rotor
1 10445857 Rotor
4 10139097 Hose Gasket
4 12530697 Pin
4 12530703 Seal
1 12530681 -or- 88909667
(Or Non-OEM) Pad Kit




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rear
First, a list of all the part numbers involved and their prices:
Calipers
Part Number Description Price
12530684 Reg C5 Caliper - RH $72.93
12530685 Reg C5 Caliper - LH $72.93
88895131 Z06 C5 Caliper - RH $71.08
88895130 Z06 C5 Caliper - LH $71.08



Rotors
Part Number Description Price
10445859 C5 Rotor - LH $60.49
10445858 C5 Rotor - RH $60.49
88926733 C5 Rotor - LH (Durastop Performance) $44.78
88926734 C5 Rotor - RH (Durastop Performance) $44.78



Caliper Brackets
Part Number Description Price
12455800 Caliper Brkt - 2 required $31.67



Misc Parts
Part Number Description Price
12530698 Caliper Guide Pin (4 reqd.) $5.02
12530703 Caliper Guide Pin Seals (4 reqd.) $3.30
10139097 Brake Hose Gasket (Copper Washer - 2 per caliper) $0.42
12530688 C5 Brake Pads $52.22
88909668 C5 Ceramic Durastop Pads $54.87

*Prices current as of 1/04/02
Here's the parts required list I've put together (don't forget you'll also need the non-GM special bracket kit):
C5 Brakes on C4
Qty Needed P/N Description
2 12455800 Caliper Bracket
1 88895130 -or- 12530685 Caliper
1 88895131 -or- 12530684 Caliper
1 10445858 Rotor
1 10445859 Rotor
4 10139097 Hose Gasket
4 12530698 Pin
4 12530703 Seal
1 12530688 -or- 88909668
(Or Non-OEM) Pad Kit

 

Thats ONE of my winter projects:


If you go to superior chevy (online) they have the complete listing of all parts required for the conversion... only thing missing is the adapters...

 

The C5 brakes require an adaptor to mount on C4s, as mentioned above.

This adapter however, will not always work with aftermarket C5 kits. The bolt holes line up, but the aftermarket caliper may have interference with the adapter bracket.

The C6Z06 brakes are a good example, bolt right on to a C5, but will not fit the C5 adapter brackets on a C4.

The upgrade brackets are hard to come by lately. I would only consider Electrodynamics if you absolutely can't find them anywhere else.

 

I have heard alot and have been looking into upgrading my brakes soon. From what I've heard the C5 upgrade isn't a big enough improvement over the 13" HDs to justify the costs.

On my 96 I'm just going to go with HPS pads, Powerslots, and SS lines. Should give me performance very close to the C5 conversion, for a WHOLE lot less $$

 

You also need to consider clearance to your wheels. The C5's won't fit standard 17" Sawblades without a spacer. That may be an issue with the more exotic Brenbo's, Wilwoods, Movit and others as well.

 

If you can fab the brackets by yourself ... here is a drawing for 88-96 Vettes

 

1996's have 13" rotors. If you don't have the braking power you want, upgrade to new rotors (quality) and Hawk HPS pads. They will stop you on a dime and cost a lot less.

 

There was a post in here that got edited/deleted.

 

Who? What? Where?

 

What do you plan on doing with your car?
Track? autocross?

 

well first and foremost i am tired of my buddys silverado being able to stop faster than my vett! I want to improve the braking capabilities in general. I have drag raced and road raced in teh past and continue to do so once in a great while. i have changed the pads a couple times. i guess i need to see if putting in different rotors will help.

 

Your Vette should easily out brake a Silverado, even with stock brakes.
Don't overlook the basics like fresh brake fluid. Bleed out the old while filling the master cylinder with new. Stop bleeding when you get fresh clean fluid out on all four corners. This will give you a nice firm pedal. Then go for new rotors and pads. I like Performance Friction. You don't need as much heat in them to get them to work good.

 

The stock pads are junk, meant to last the length of the warrenty.

I put PFC's in there and it was like night & day.

Get the stock units working before looking into aftermarket brakes.

Change the fluid, most people just bleed them.

Check the hoses, they could be the originals, mine still are.

 

I agree. Corvette brakes are great from the factory and are only hampered by their weakest link, the cheap factory brake pads. Spending a lot of money and time on aftermarket setups is not money well spent and that includes rotors.
There is a lot of literature on drilled and vented rotors. All they do is help vent brake pad gasses and are marginal at doing this. Purchase a set of Hawk HP plus brake pads and install them yourself. No other changes except bleed your system and refill with a good fluid such as ATE super blue or Castrol or other. You will be very satisfied with your brakes and save a lot of money to be spent elsewhere.
I regularily flog my car on race tracks and have no fade and great stopping power. Only if I was to compete once again in road racing would I consider a further upgrade.

 

I said it first

 

the car has just had all the fluid changed by me and i guess its my fault for just buying the best thing they had at car quest. the rotors are a factory replacement. and like i said the pads are the top of the line that carquest had. when i changed the pads i flushed and changed all teh brake fluid as well. i guess i need a higher quality pad than what car quest has to offer.