What size rotors?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 805
Likes: 11
From: Hickory Flat Ga
First, welcome to the club. Brakes are a big topic and you can get everything you need to know here to have a properly functioning and safe system.
Your choice is to stay stock with 12" rotors and pads, go to J55 Heavy Duty 13" front rotors and calipers or C5 front rotors, calipers and pads.
The C5 upgrade will not fit behind sawblades (stock wheels).
How many miles are on your car? Do you plan to auto-cross/drive the heck out of it? Is this a DIY thing? What's the budget? You ask a simple question and get this...but that's why the Corvette Forum is so great. You have the experience and guidance of many thousands of owners that have done almost everything to these cars.
You might just need new pads and good brake fluid flush. If you want to send your eyeballs through the windshield we can make that happen, just get the wallet loosened up.
Welcome to the C4 group therapy/support network!
Your choice is to stay stock with 12" rotors and pads, go to J55 Heavy Duty 13" front rotors and calipers or C5 front rotors, calipers and pads.
The C5 upgrade will not fit behind sawblades (stock wheels).
How many miles are on your car? Do you plan to auto-cross/drive the heck out of it? Is this a DIY thing? What's the budget? You ask a simple question and get this...but that's why the Corvette Forum is so great. You have the experience and guidance of many thousands of owners that have done almost everything to these cars.
You might just need new pads and good brake fluid flush. If you want to send your eyeballs through the windshield we can make that happen, just get the wallet loosened up.
Welcome to the C4 group therapy/support network!
Last edited by tlong; Jan 4, 2007 at 08:30 PM.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Merritt Island Florida
Not sure what I have now. I think I have 12 inch. My baby has 126,000 on her. She`s still tight and strong. There is alot I want to do to her . I`m very lucky to live 10 miles from Ecklers. I want to get into auto cross.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 281
Likes: 0
From: overworld
I would first make sure everything on the car currently is up to spec and working correctly. After that the cheapest alternative I know of is to upgrade to the 13" C4 brakes. I thought it was option JL9 but appearently it is J55 from what has already been mentioned. That is a good system and it works very well.
Couple other suggestions if you do upgrade. Cross drilled rotors are for show only, they offer nothing over a blank rotor. If anything they are worse because they are prone to heat cracking. Slotted rotors are ok. I like to use Valvoline Synpower brake fluid because it is readily availible at autozone and it works very well. It is also not terribly expensive. For brake pads I like Hawk HPS pads. They are a good street pad with nice grip and low dusting. If you get serious on a track you may need to get a more aggressive pad though.
First things first though, get that current system up to par.
Couple other suggestions if you do upgrade. Cross drilled rotors are for show only, they offer nothing over a blank rotor. If anything they are worse because they are prone to heat cracking. Slotted rotors are ok. I like to use Valvoline Synpower brake fluid because it is readily availible at autozone and it works very well. It is also not terribly expensive. For brake pads I like Hawk HPS pads. They are a good street pad with nice grip and low dusting. If you get serious on a track you may need to get a more aggressive pad though.
First things first though, get that current system up to par.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: Seattle WA
I would first make sure everything on the car currently is up to spec and working correctly. After that the cheapest alternative I know of is to upgrade to the 13" C4 brakes. I thought it was option JL9 but appearently it is J55 from what has already been mentioned. That is a good system and it works very well.
Couple other suggestions if you do upgrade. Cross drilled rotors are for show only, they offer nothing over a blank rotor. If anything they are worse because they are prone to heat cracking. Slotted rotors are ok. I like to use Valvoline Synpower brake fluid because it is readily availible at autozone and it works very well. It is also not terribly expensive. For brake pads I like Hawk HPS pads. They are a good street pad with nice grip and low dusting. If you get serious on a track you may need to get a more aggressive pad though.
First things first though, get that current system up to par.
Couple other suggestions if you do upgrade. Cross drilled rotors are for show only, they offer nothing over a blank rotor. If anything they are worse because they are prone to heat cracking. Slotted rotors are ok. I like to use Valvoline Synpower brake fluid because it is readily availible at autozone and it works very well. It is also not terribly expensive. For brake pads I like Hawk HPS pads. They are a good street pad with nice grip and low dusting. If you get serious on a track you may need to get a more aggressive pad though.
First things first though, get that current system up to par.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,621
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
Good info so far. I recently did a J55 brake upgrade and am real happy. I had poor breaking or what you might call brake fade. Spare you the details but worked on the system and changed many things thinking the 12’’ brakes just couldn’t be that bad, but they are. 
The increase in performance on the J55 was tremendous, more than I expected. The car stops really well now and also did the DRM bias spring replacement.
The increase in performance on the J55 was tremendous, more than I expected. The car stops really well now and also did the DRM bias spring replacement.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
Size IS important....
The size of the rotors (13" vs 12") is meaningful, but a good compound in the pad is also very important. I have the J-55's and tried several pad and rotor combinations. What I'm using now is flat great.
13" Power slots and Hawk hps.
I think the key is the rotor AND pad combination.
Good luck.
13" Power slots and Hawk hps.
I think the key is the rotor AND pad combination.
Good luck.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 805
Likes: 11
From: Hickory Flat Ga
The J55 HD setup works fine with stock 17" wheels. You will need the rotors, calipers, brackets and pads to switch. I suggest new stainless brake lines all around while the wheels and calipers are off too.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 59,243
Likes: 0
From: Driving a hybrid in Hipsterville
Where do people get the brackets? I've seen the rotors and rebuilt calipers all over the place but not the brackets.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,971
Likes: 9
From: The reason time exists is so everything doesn't happen at once
Lots of info and links here:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1587128
including something about the brackets.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 59,243
Likes: 0
From: Driving a hybrid in Hipsterville
Lots of info and links here:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1587128
including something about the brackets.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1587128
including something about the brackets.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: Seattle WA
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 59,243
Likes: 0
From: Driving a hybrid in Hipsterville
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 281
Likes: 0
From: overworld
It wasn't that long ago that the dealer still had all these parts. Have you tried them by chance? $67 may seem like a lot but if you go look at Baer's track kit, which is the J55 brakes with nicer rotors and a Baer engraved caliper, you'll think $67 isn't so bad.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 805
Likes: 11
From: Hickory Flat Ga
The relative low cost for the rest of the stuff offsets that. I would consider the GS black calipers with CORVETTE across them. They are $285. Rotors about 200-250, brackets $60 pads $100-$150. It will look fantastic and stop great. I would think this is the high side. There are kits that are around $800 with everything.
Used prices would be half of that.
Used prices would be half of that.
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 281
Likes: 0
From: Urbana OH
The size of the rotors (13" vs 12") is meaningful, but a good compound in the pad is also very important. I have the J-55's and tried several pad and rotor combinations. What I'm using now is flat great.
13" Power slots and Hawk hps.
I think the key is the rotor AND pad combination.
Good luck.
13" Power slots and Hawk hps.
I think the key is the rotor AND pad combination.
Good luck.
Semper Fi
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,572
Likes: 3
From: South Eastern MN
I have a set of adapters to go from c4 to c5 if anyone needs them.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1594994
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1594994
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,729
Likes: 62
From: South Lyon MI
You're better off going with the C5 upgrade for an auto-x application. it will keep your rotor size smaller but the pad contact area will increase quite a bit. There was a post on it earlier but I can't seem to find it. If you are serious about your auto-x then you will want to go with the C5 kit by far. I used to drive in formula SAE and used to auto-x alot in both that car and my old Prelude. Brakes and suspension and keeping your car in its power band is EVERYTHING in a road coarse. Off topic in a way is also you will want the R&D x-frame brace to keep your body from flexing at all. Doesn't matter how good your suspension components are if your body twists like a hoola dancer.
Semper Fi
Semper Fi
Al