C4 race brakes
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 993
Likes: 3
From: Iowa
To be honest Wilwood probably makes the best radial mount caliper out there. They have all the options like vented titanium pistons but the price tag lets you know what you're buying. Last time I looked their high end caliper was something like $2500-$3000 each with the mount. That's probably a bit excessive for most of us since we will not be using the radial feature to change out our entire break package from a long fast track to a short one....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,253
Likes: 2
From: Castro Valley CA
The thermal mass of the caliper is a primary characteristic of all the Top Big brake kits. The more mass, given the same thermal input, will yield a lower steady state caliper temperature, lower thermal expansion; mechanical and physical properties of Aluminum decline at elevated temperatures resulting in loss of stiffness. Yield strength of 2024-T3 declines appoximately 20% at 200C, 40% at 250C(that is less than the dry boiling point of most brake fluids). I am not sure what alloy the PBR's are cast from, but I doubt it is even that good. Check out this ongoing thread and note the weight of the BBK vs. the C4.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1960166
All of the top BBK's are a fundamental improvement.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1960166
All of the top BBK's are a fundamental improvement.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Bayonne NJ
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,816
Likes: 2
From: Austin, TX
I have Wilwood GN3's on my '96. they use 13X1-3/8" rotors. They fit just fine with my 17" CCWs. The GN3's are an older design caliper, but they have huge pad area, are built very well, and have very large piston volume. DRM still sells them as a kit, but does require modifying your spindle because they're not radial mount.
For the rears I just use the J55 calipers and rotors with different mounting brackets.
I did install a higher-volume MC and external bias valve, but it actually worked fine with the stock MC -- just a bit of a soft pedel before.
For the rears I just use the J55 calipers and rotors with different mounting brackets.
I did install a higher-volume MC and external bias valve, but it actually worked fine with the stock MC -- just a bit of a soft pedel before.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,068
Likes: 1
From: Gig Harbor WA
Revolution brakes http://www.revolutionbrake.com/ (formerly Precision Brakes) offers Wilwood brake kits for all years of C4 Corvettes, both front and rear kits. I used one of their front kits on my 85 track car. Works well for me. Another option for you to check out.
Brian
Brian
They did me up a set of caliper mounts for 4 pot Wilwood SLs w the 1.75" calipers matched to the 13" C5 rotor and H pads.
I couldn't be sold on GT rotors for $750 per set when the C5 were $25 ea.
I wouldn't go that way again wo a custom master Cyl. but then again I wouldn't go that way again period.
305/35/17s on 11" A-molds, 400-450 HP C5 brakes,= well balanced/well mannered car
Same tires, 600 hp, wilwood 4 pots= monster power and brakes, same lap times
Last edited by DREGSZ; May 26, 2008 at 04:13 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,068
Likes: 1
From: Gig Harbor WA
Your one of the lucky ones and you can't be driving in the central valley of California in the summer. I ran C5 front calipers on my C4 race car with Hawk blue pads. I also had a Camaro master with a larger piston for a more solid pedal.
In summary;
1) The boot seals on the C5 calipers cooked in the first two minutes on track.
2) The C5 calipers clam shelled so badly the brake pads would taper so that the rear of the pad was on metal while the front still had half the lining left.
3) The factory rotors would check and crack so badly I had to check them after every session. If you had to come in without a cool down lap the rotors would crack in the pits after heat soaking. I even tried prototype GM racing rotors. I got the P/N from the GM Corvette racing team. Same problem.
The set up is cheaper than Wilwood but if I had kept the car upgraded brakes were a next step must. my $.02
Larry
In summary;
1) The boot seals on the C5 calipers cooked in the first two minutes on track.
2) The C5 calipers clam shelled so badly the brake pads would taper so that the rear of the pad was on metal while the front still had half the lining left.
3) The factory rotors would check and crack so badly I had to check them after every session. If you had to come in without a cool down lap the rotors would crack in the pits after heat soaking. I even tried prototype GM racing rotors. I got the P/N from the GM Corvette racing team. Same problem.
The set up is cheaper than Wilwood but if I had kept the car upgraded brakes were a next step must. my $.02
Larry
Long time friend.
Why do you think the C5 conversion worked on my car w HT10s and not yours?
Maybe I just kept my foot on the gas and not on the brake pedal.
I raced w2w 1 full season on C5 brakes w no problem, I just wished my ABS worked, that would have helped alot.
Evan
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Cruising
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 1
Baer have also come up with a new caliper P6, wich uses stock C5/C6 pads. Not sure how they will be out in the real life. Anyone tryed them yet?
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
From: Pasadena MD
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 13,911
Likes: 101
From: Manassas VA
NoVa Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '14
I have been looking for an upgrade on my 6 speed 91 coupe, and have been thinking of movit for a long time. I have spoken to Guido at movit myself, and he says there's no better brakes out there...? I know all want to sell their own stuff, telling that what they have is the best. Have you Bluwasp, or anyone else for that matter, tryed movit yourself, and if so, what size brakes/rotors and wheels do you have? They sure look good!!
Baer have also come up with a new caliper P6, wich uses stock C5/C6 pads. Not sure how they will be out in the real life. Anyone tryed them yet?
Baer have also come up with a new caliper P6, wich uses stock C5/C6 pads. Not sure how they will be out in the real life. Anyone tryed them yet?
I had a brembo/stillen kit using the F40 calipers before purchasing my MOVIT setup. The things I like most about the movit setup is the attention to detail, materials, and quality. For example, brembo powder coats their calipers and after a few track days the caliper's coating fades or burns. The calipers I had were black but they turned brown very quickly... Caliper color might seem trivial but the parts should look good too... This is a common problem with the coating brembo uses and it might not be a big deal for someone driving 55mph all the time vs someone using the brakes on the autobahn or during track days.
The brembo calipers available for C4 applications are cast calipers and much heavier then the MOVIT billet 6. Less unsprung weight... Another plus is movit rear kit keeps the C4 parking brake. Majority of the C4 rear kits don't accommodate a parking caliper.
Any big brake kit will improve the braking vs the C4 standard brakes. it all depends on how much $$ you want to spend. You should buy a brake kit to fit your needs. If you're just driving to and from work then a C5 caliper upgrade might be more then you'll ever need.
Last edited by Bluewasp; Dec 9, 2008 at 10:07 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 4,564
Likes: 110
From: Austin Texas
If they went to a billet system, designed by them, they did it for a good reason. They wouldn't back up in the performance category...
They are pricey...but hands down are the best "balanced" and engineered systems out there for a C4. Massive swept area, huge rotors with thermal mass, and a wide choice of pads make it THE choice for brakes if your budget can afford it.
What I always find exceptionally funny about MOST car guys is they will think nothing to spend $15k-$25k on engine mods, but won't pay $5k-$10k for brakes to STOP the car once it is flying like an unguided missile.
Always baffled me...
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,856
Likes: 293
From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
At a lot of tracks, brake improvement will get you better times than HP.regular C5/6 brakes are still slide rail calipers, and still have all their deficiencies. The C6Z06 brakes have a lot of issues as well.
Nice seeing a kit that retains use of a parking brake!
