1986 brake upgrade
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 20
Likes: 1
1986 brake upgrade
I'm trying to upgrade the braking on my 1986 track car without going to larger, non-stock wheels. I've found slotted rotors but have not been able to find better calipers.
Any suggestions?
Tom Urani
Any suggestions?
Tom Urani
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Put some hi performance pads on there, a bias spring, turn your rotors, and use high temp fluid. There's no practical brake upgrades I know of that will fit under your 16" wheels. 12" brakes from a 88+ C4 could probably be made to work but that's hardly an upgrade.
Race Director
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 17,101
Likes: 4
From: No more yankee my wankee, the Donger is tired!
The decrease in cooling ventilation because you are blocking off more vents on the rotor. And the enormous amount of fade that sets in.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Simple answer is a stop with one caliper vs two calipers is going to generate about the same amount of heat or more, but cool less. Dual calipers with no other changes would also turn your brake bias to **** and make the rear brakes useless and making the front rotors do almost all the work. I'd be surprised if it helped in any way at all.
Last edited by CentralCoaster; Dec 4, 2007 at 02:00 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 15
From: backwoods upstate ny
your 86 has ''single'' piston calipers...''dual'' piston calipers will help a bit.
later c4's had d/p, final years (98-02 IIRC) f-body, c5, some late chev pik-up, some late micetangs...all made by PBR in 'stralia...you'll need to make adapters to bolt the 'baskets'' to your steering knuckle, and '' brake pad spacers'' due to your c4's thin rotors (pad spacers add a little weight, but some floggers insist pad spacers keep the calipers cooler and reduce brakepad flex)
note that ''final years'' f-bods had 16'' wheels, calipers/baskets will accept c5 brake pads if ''rattle clips'' are not used...$60 should get both front calipers/baskets at j-y, ''rebuild'' kits for c5 calipers fit....thought about but not tried= transplant same f-bod rotors for better cooling.
later c4's had d/p, final years (98-02 IIRC) f-body, c5, some late chev pik-up, some late micetangs...all made by PBR in 'stralia...you'll need to make adapters to bolt the 'baskets'' to your steering knuckle, and '' brake pad spacers'' due to your c4's thin rotors (pad spacers add a little weight, but some floggers insist pad spacers keep the calipers cooler and reduce brakepad flex)
note that ''final years'' f-bods had 16'' wheels, calipers/baskets will accept c5 brake pads if ''rattle clips'' are not used...$60 should get both front calipers/baskets at j-y, ''rebuild'' kits for c5 calipers fit....thought about but not tried= transplant same f-bod rotors for better cooling.
Last edited by redrose; Dec 4, 2007 at 04:48 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,614
Likes: 163
From: Davis CA
I agree that you should try a better brake pad first, like HP Plus or better. You might be pleasantly surprised. I switch to these when I use my car on the track but change to something much less aggressive for road use. Track car or track day car? If purely for the track, then you will want to do something very different and spend much more money.
I left the HP Plus on my car for a few days before their first track appearance to bed in and they created enough dust that my ABS was acting up. Otherwise, I would use them more often.
I left the HP Plus on my car for a few days before their first track appearance to bed in and they created enough dust that my ABS was acting up. Otherwise, I would use them more often.
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