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Brake conversion C4->C5->C6 Z06?

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Old Oct 15, 2007 | 09:03 AM
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Default Brake conversion C4->C5->C6 Z06?

Hi,

If I understand correct you can buy adapter brackets to fit C5 calipers to a 88-96 C4? Further more I also understood that you could fit C6 and more specific the Z06 calipers on a C5 straight on? Giving that I understood this correct I guess that you should be able to use those adapter brackets to fit C6 Z06 calipers on a C4 if you don’t take into account the wheels and fender issues?

If so, where could I find those adapter brackets and are they available for the rear calipers as well?

Cheers,

Last edited by EVOVII_SWE; Oct 15, 2007 at 11:32 AM.
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Old Oct 15, 2007 | 11:11 AM
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Vette Brakes and products manufactures c5 to c4 brake conversion kits.
I don't think they have the c6 to c5 conversion. Check them out at VBandP.com.
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Old Oct 15, 2007 | 11:14 AM
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Ok, but I was under the impression that C6 calipers bolted straight on to the C5? So if I get C4->C5 adapters the C6 should fit as well?

Last edited by EVOVII_SWE; Oct 15, 2007 at 11:32 AM.
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Old Oct 15, 2007 | 11:29 AM
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Originally Posted by EVOVII_SWE
Ok, but I was under the impression that C6 callipers bolted straight on to the C5? So if I get C4->C5 adapters the C6 should fit as well?
I have also heard that the C6 caliper will bolt to the C4 using the adapter. I'm not sure about the C6 Z06 though. Maybe the guy who makes the adapters could assist you.


Last edited by rickneworleansla; Oct 15, 2007 at 11:44 AM.
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Old Oct 15, 2007 | 11:31 AM
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I think JeffVette has them , the C6 ZO6 brakes etc on a C4. It may be a ZR1 but the ZR1 has no better brakes than any C4 with the HD brakes.
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Old Oct 15, 2007 | 11:37 AM
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I'm not sure about the c6 to c5. If you want an answer right now, Vette Brakes and products can absolutely answer your question, send them an email or call them at 727-345-5292 , Cheers!
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Old Oct 15, 2007 | 11:38 AM
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Ok, quick lesson in C5/C6 brakes.

First off, C5 and non C6 Z06 calipers are interchangeable. They aren't EXACTLY the same, as the C6 has a smaller window on top of the caliper, and they don't use the top anti-rattle clip. However, a lot of people run C5 calipers without the top clip so it's not a big deal.

With the C4-C5 adapters, you can put C5 or non C6 Z06 calipers on your C4. You have to have 17" wheels. You don't want C6 Z06 brakes. I don't think they fit, and they don't work all that great anyway. The 6 little padlets are expensive and can wear very quickly.

If you want to use C6 Z51 14" rotors, you can use C4-C5 adapters with a C5 or base C6 caliper. All you need is the C6 Z51 pad bracket and the C6 Z51 larger rotor. Uses the same pads as a base car. You will most likely need 18" wheels for this (some get them under 17's, but no promises).

C4 rear brakes are fine, and don't need to be changed. Unless you have massive front brakes and do a lot of hardcore road racing, the stock C4 rear brakes are TOTALLY FINE!


Any questions?
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Old Oct 15, 2007 | 11:38 AM
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I sent VBandP a mail asking about this. I'll get back with their reply.

I'll be using a 1992 ZR1 front and rear suspension anyway so if it's been done I'll do it again
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Old Oct 15, 2007 | 11:44 AM
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Originally Posted by Mojave
Ok, quick lesson in C5/C6 brakes.

First off, C5 and non C6 Z06 calipers are interchangeable. They aren't EXACTLY the same, as the C6 has a smaller window on top of the caliper, and they don't use the top anti-rattle clip. However, a lot of people run C5 calipers without the top clip so it's not a big deal.

With the C4-C5 adapters, you can put C5 or non C6 Z06 calipers on your C4. You have to have 17" wheels. You don't want C6 Z06 brakes. I don't think they fit, and they don't work all that great anyway. The 6 little padlets are expensive and can wear very quickly.

If you want to use C6 Z51 14" rotors, you can use C4-C5 adapters with a C5 or base C6 caliper. All you need is the C6 Z51 pad bracket and the C6 Z51 larger rotor. Uses the same pads as a base car. You will most likely need 18" wheels for this (some get them under 17's, but no promises).

C4 rear brakes are fine, and don't need to be changed. Unless you have massive front brakes and do a lot of hardcore road racing, the stock C4 rear brakes are TOTALLY FINE!


Any questions?
Thanks for the lesson but I read in the C6 forum that people upgrade their C6 with C6 Z06 calipers and that they bolt straight on except for wheel and fender issues. Then if C5 and C6 calipers are interchangable I don't see why the Z06 calipers wouldn't fit?
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Old Oct 15, 2007 | 11:52 AM
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Originally Posted by Mojave
Any questions?
I have one. Does anyone know the weight difference between the 13" J55 C4 rotors, 13" C5 and C6 rotors, and the 13.4" C6 Z51 rotors? I'd like better braking but I'd also like to know how much rotating weight I'd be adding.

Thanks

Last edited by rickneworleansla; Oct 16, 2007 at 10:17 AM.
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Old Oct 15, 2007 | 12:30 PM
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Originally Posted by EVOVII_SWE
Thanks for the lesson but I read in the C6 forum that people upgrade their C6 with C6 Z06 calipers and that they bolt straight on except for wheel and fender issues. Then if C5 and C6 calipers are interchangable I don't see why the Z06 calipers wouldn't fit?
While I don't have an exact answer for you, I seem to remember reading the Z06 caliper will hit the adapter bracket. The C4-C5 bracket was not designed with Z06 calipers in mind, and they are shaped significantly differently that the base calipers.

A better question would be why do you want Z06 calipers?
Originally Posted by rickreeves1
I have one. Does anyone know the weight difference between the 13" J55 C4 rotors, 13" C5 and C6 rotors, and the 14" C6 Z51 rotors? I'd like better braking but I'd also like to know how much rotating weight I'd be adding.

Thanks
That I don't know. I have never handled a Z51 rotor. Perhaps someone can get their hands on one and put it on scale.
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Old Oct 15, 2007 | 12:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Mojave
While I don't have an exact answer for you, I seem to remember reading the Z06 caliper will hit the adapter bracket. The C4-C5 bracket was not designed with Z06 calipers in mind, and they are shaped significantly differently that the base calipers.

A better question would be why do you want Z06 calipers?
Ok, that sounds like it could be a possible problem then.

The reson for the Z06 brakes is that I will be using the Z06 engine so I though the brakes would be nice as well

On the other hand my car will be around 2200lbs so they will probably be over kill but so will the engine
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Old Oct 15, 2007 | 12:44 PM
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Originally Posted by rickreeves1
I have one. Does anyone know the weight difference between the 13" J55 C4 rotors, 13" C5 and C6 rotors, and the 14" C6 Z51 rotors? I'd like better braking but I'd also like to know how much rotating weight I'd be adding.

Thanks

I don't know about the Z51 rotors, but I can tell you that the C5 13" rotors are lighter than the J55 13" rotors.

I actually weighed the calipers and rotors.
I don't remember the exact weights; but, I believe this is what I found:
1) C5 rotors are lighter than J55 rotors.
2) C5 calipers are heavier than J55 calipers.
3) The combination of J55 rotors, J55 brackets, with J55 calipers is very close to the weight of the C5 rotors, C5 brackets, with C5 calipers. So, adding the C4 to C5 adapters caused a weight gain when converting to C5 brakes.

I wouldn't be suprised if I put the actual weights in a post I did several years ago.

Tom Piper
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Old Oct 15, 2007 | 01:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Mojave
C4 rear brakes are fine, and don't need to be changed. Unless you have massive front brakes and do a lot of hardcore road racing, the stock C4 rear brakes are TOTALLY FINE!
But most don't give a **** about performance, they really just want it to "look" like it performs well.

Anyhow, the logic in the first post does mean the bolts would line up using the C5 adapter, except the caliper body is different and may interfere with the bracket. JeffVette knows the answer to this. PM him.
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Old Oct 15, 2007 | 04:00 PM
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Originally Posted by EVOVII_SWE
Ok, that sounds like it could be a possible problem then.

The reson for the Z06 brakes is that I will be using the Z06 engine so I though the brakes would be nice as well

On the other hand my car will be around 2200lbs so they will probably be over kill but so will the engine
If you are doing that much work, might as well get some 'real' brakes, aka Stoptechs or a Porsche based system.

How do you plan to get your car down to 2200lbs? I have never seen a C4 based car below 2500 or so.
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Old Oct 15, 2007 | 04:39 PM
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Originally Posted by CentralCoaster
But most don't give a **** about performance, they really just want it to "look" like it performs well.

Anyhow, the logic in the first post does mean the bolts would line up using the C5 adapter, except the caliper body is different and may interfere with the bracket. JeffVette knows the answer to this. PM him.

I'll drop him a PM
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Old Oct 15, 2007 | 04:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Mojave
If you are doing that much work, might as well get some 'real' brakes, aka Stoptechs or a Porsche based system.

How do you plan to get your car down to 2200lbs? I have never seen a C4 based car below 2500 or so.
It's an AC Cobra replica with a custom made frame at about 260lbs. Front and rear suspension is going to be from a C4 ZR1, it will have an LS7 crate engine with a stage 3 cam, TKO600RR transmission. It will be around 2200lbs in running order and above 600hp. I will also use stock Z06 wheels to fit over the brakes. I probably won't need them and there are better brakes but as CentralCoaster pointed out the Z06 brakes aren't bad and maybe the most imprerssive looking brakes for that kind of money
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To Brake conversion C4->C5->C6 Z06?

Old Oct 15, 2007 | 04:55 PM
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Well what are you planning on doing with this car? It seems to me that I would want "true" racecar brakes; something like a 6 piston radial mount caliper comes to mind....
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Old Oct 15, 2007 | 04:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Deakins
Well what are you planning on doing with this car? It seems to me that I would want "true" racecar brakes; something like a 6 piston radial mount caliper comes to mind....
Well, I really don't know, just wanted something out of the ordinary. I'm not gonna race it or anything professionally. Just something with really sick performance and with that weight I think the Z06 brakes will be more than enough.
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Old Oct 15, 2007 | 05:23 PM
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Originally Posted by EVOVII_SWE
Hi,

If I understand correct you can buy adapter brackets to fit C5 calipers to a 88-96 C4? Further more I also understood that you could fit C6 and more specific the Z06 calipers on a C5 straight on? Giving that I understood this correct I guess that you should be able to use those adapter brackets to fit C6 Z06 calipers on a C4 if you don’t take into account the wheels and fender issues?

If so, where could I find those adapter brackets and are they available for the rear calipers as well?

Cheers,
The C6 Z06 brakes will not come close to fitting with the typical c5 brake adapters, even though you can directly bolt on the brakes to the C5. It all comes down to making sure the caliper and lines fit around the existing C4 spindle hub. I have gone through and made a bracket to work, but after talking to a couple of Corvette engineers regarding the Blue Devil/SS/ZR-1 car, I am not going to release the C6 Z06 kit. I do have a rear kit available, but it will also be mounted to one car and then never thought of again.






Originally Posted by Mojave
If you want to use C6 Z51 14" rotors, you can use C4-C5 adapters with a C5 or base C6 caliper.
The Z51 front rotor is 13.4" The C6 Z06 is 14"
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