J55 Brake swap
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: SoCal California
J55 Brake swap
I've been wanting to upgrade my brakes on my 86 to the larger brake system either J55 or C5. The thing is, I have a new set of J55 13" rotors and calipers already off of another vette. So to save me the cost of buying a complete "big brake" conversion kit, is there an aftermarket caliper carrier that will boltup to my 86 spindles that will allow me to use the J55 parts that I already have, or will a stock J55 carrier work with my spindles?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: SoCal California
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,441
Likes: 1
From: Woodway TX
From the Chevy Dealer should be parts #10181207 & 10181208 $68.23 ea. I get a 10% disc. w/the Vette Club I belong to so they were $61.40 ea. You can double check the part numbers, these were for an 89 I think they will work.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: SoCal California
I don't think those will bolt up to my spindles since I have the small brakes on my 86. I need the adapter plate that attaches to the carier.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 506
Likes: 12
From: Savannah GA
There are 2 ways you can go.
1. if you have the brackets and calipers you can get adapters from DRM or other places.
2. Corvette Central has custom caliper brackets for the early spindles that need no adapters. They are somewhere over $200
(Then you can sell the brackets you have)
I have the one piece adapters. I think they are made by Stainless Steel Brake Corp.
FYI the J55 setup will just barely fit under the 9.5in wheels on an 87. Had to do a little filing on the top of the caliper fins.
Light years better than the orginal 12" single piston setup
The best deal I found on rotors and pads was from Carbotech. Got a set of Bobcat pads and rotors around $150.
If you have 17" wheels or are going to get them go to a C5 setup. The rotors are cheaper like $30 at NAPA and used calipers and brackets are easy to find used and still cheaper than J55 parts. An adapter bracket will be about the same price. You will end up with even more brake. Although most who have run both C5 and J55 say either one is adaquate on the street.
JS
1. if you have the brackets and calipers you can get adapters from DRM or other places.
2. Corvette Central has custom caliper brackets for the early spindles that need no adapters. They are somewhere over $200
(Then you can sell the brackets you have)
I have the one piece adapters. I think they are made by Stainless Steel Brake Corp.
FYI the J55 setup will just barely fit under the 9.5in wheels on an 87. Had to do a little filing on the top of the caliper fins.
Light years better than the orginal 12" single piston setup
The best deal I found on rotors and pads was from Carbotech. Got a set of Bobcat pads and rotors around $150.
If you have 17" wheels or are going to get them go to a C5 setup. The rotors are cheaper like $30 at NAPA and used calipers and brackets are easy to find used and still cheaper than J55 parts. An adapter bracket will be about the same price. You will end up with even more brake. Although most who have run both C5 and J55 say either one is adaquate on the street.
JS
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,729
Likes: 62
From: South Lyon MI
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Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 23
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From: KC MO.
J55 brakes
Just did a J55 upgrade to my 85 this past Oct. Like yourself I already had most of the parts so I used them rather than going with a set of C5brakes. What a difference it made. It is an easy swap. I use a set of Doug Rippie adapters. Had to do a good bit of grinding on the spindle to get them to fit inplace, but once that was done it was no problem.
During the bleeding process, figured out that my mastercylinder wasn't much count as it was leaking by so also changed it out. Got an unbelievable amount of crap out of the brake lines. I had heard that they would be full of crappy fluid but had no idea it would be as bad as it was. Glad I did it.
DW
During the bleeding process, figured out that my mastercylinder wasn't much count as it was leaking by so also changed it out. Got an unbelievable amount of crap out of the brake lines. I had heard that they would be full of crappy fluid but had no idea it would be as bad as it was. Glad I did it.
DW
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 141
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From: SoCal California
I know I could probably do better with the C5 setup. I'm just trying to recycle some good parts I have just laying around here collecting dust.
The thing is I just put brand new calipers and rotors on the 86 that I'll unload once I do the swap, so I'll probably brake even once I'm done.
