Help With Brakes!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: East Bridgewater Massachusetts
Help With Brakes!
Hey guys. I am running the original brake rotors and calipers. Yup, from 84. I really want to upgrade rotors and/or calipers. What is good on the market? I have seen the wilwoods and baers. (Real nice but Real Expensive) If I just upgrade the rotors, will there be a dramatic difference? Also, Summit has some slotted and drilled rotors for $80 a piece that will fit right in? Are they good?
What is a good combination?
Sorry for all the questions but I feel as though stopping is a big deal and is usually over looked.
What is a good combination?
Sorry for all the questions but I feel as though stopping is a big deal and is usually over looked.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,999
Likes: 14
From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '12
Do you have J55 brakes already?
Why do you think you have a brake problem?
First thing I would do is totally flush the brake fluid, don't forget the ABS (I think 84 had ABS). Use a good fluid.
Check the caliper boots and pistons move in and out without binding.
Buy some good pads and put them on.
I'll bet after that they will work a whole lot better for not a lot of money.
If you have to replace the rotors only use the drilled and slotted for BLING not for autocross or HPDE.
Why do you think you have a brake problem?
First thing I would do is totally flush the brake fluid, don't forget the ABS (I think 84 had ABS). Use a good fluid.
Check the caliper boots and pistons move in and out without binding.
Buy some good pads and put them on.
I'll bet after that they will work a whole lot better for not a lot of money.
If you have to replace the rotors only use the drilled and slotted for BLING not for autocross or HPDE.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
First, the 84 did not have ABS (didn't appear until the '86) nor was the J55 brakes available. Those were 13" front rotors and you need 17" wheels to clear the rotor.
Is there any sign of fluid leakage around the calipers? Are the hoses original? This might be a good time to install new or reman calipers, replace the hoses (you can use stainless lines for a little better pedal feel) and add new pads. A good street pad like the Hawk HPS will help with braking performance and not kill the credit card. Another good street pad is the Raybestos Brute Stop. Expect some dust with either of these pads.
If you want bling, you can use drilled and/or slotted rotors. They are fine for the street but the stock wheels don't really make them visible. You can go with stock rotors and save money and still be able to take the car out for a track day.
Do a complete brake fluid flush using a good DOT3 or DOT4 fluid. Castrol LMA, Ford HD Motrosports fluid, and Valvoline are good DOT3 fluids. You can use a DOT4 if the car will see some track use, but DOT3 will be fine for most all street and autocross use.
Is there any sign of fluid leakage around the calipers? Are the hoses original? This might be a good time to install new or reman calipers, replace the hoses (you can use stainless lines for a little better pedal feel) and add new pads. A good street pad like the Hawk HPS will help with braking performance and not kill the credit card. Another good street pad is the Raybestos Brute Stop. Expect some dust with either of these pads.
If you want bling, you can use drilled and/or slotted rotors. They are fine for the street but the stock wheels don't really make them visible. You can go with stock rotors and save money and still be able to take the car out for a track day.
Do a complete brake fluid flush using a good DOT3 or DOT4 fluid. Castrol LMA, Ford HD Motrosports fluid, and Valvoline are good DOT3 fluids. You can use a DOT4 if the car will see some track use, but DOT3 will be fine for most all street and autocross use.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 988
Likes: 7
From: Sarasota Fl
with C4cruiser. He did a really good write-up some time ago at http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...t=Blue+loctite. I'm not sure though if the procedures and torque specs apply to your year.
I have the Hawk HPS and NAPA rotors and they're great. Zero squeaks or squeals out of the Hawks and amazing bite. As for fluid, I know that for me the first two brake fluids are harder to find. Most autostores (Autozone, Advanced Auto Parts, etc) will have the Valvoline SynPower synthetic formula DOT 3 & DOT 4 brake fluid in stock. It should come in a gold bottle if they haven't repackaged it since I used it last time.
Order some authentic SpeedBleeders (unless you already have a power bleeder) from http://www.speedbleeder.com/ with the money you save from skipping the slotted and drilled. They make bleeding the brakes a much quicker, cleaner, and easier job.
Do you go to USF by any chance?
Good luck,
Jonathan
Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 746
Likes: 0
From: Rochester PA
I don't know how to do the link thing, but check out Brake Performance. They have lots of variations, such as drilled and slotted, dimpled and slotted, zinc coated silver or black, lifetime warranty on the dimpled ones, free shipping, and a set of free pads when you order rotors for all 4 corners.
You can do it all for under $400.00. That's the way I am going.
Rich K
You can do it all for under $400.00. That's the way I am going.
Rich K
