C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Smaller brake calipers

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 14, 2010 | 11:53 PM
  #1  
SpeedRacer61's Avatar
SpeedRacer61
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Huntsville Alabama
Default Smaller brake calipers

I am wanting to run 15" rims on the front of my 89 C4. I dont want to space them out I want to keep them tucked as much as possible. Does anyone know if there is an aftermarket kit or any other way to put smaller calipers on this car?
Reply
Old Dec 15, 2010 | 02:36 AM
  #2  
rodj's Avatar
rodj
Le Mans Master
25 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
Default

Originally Posted by SpeedRacer61
Does anyone know if there is an aftermarket kit or any other way to put smaller calipers on this car?
Most are trying to go bigger.
Only way would be with a smaller rotor ; rotor dia determines caliper position.
What width 15" do you want to run?
Reply
Old Dec 15, 2010 | 08:18 AM
  #3  
Aurora40's Avatar
Aurora40
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,413
Likes: 9
From: The Old Dominion
Default

http://aerospacecomponents.com/

I'm fairly certain if you search, people have fit these on C4's.
Reply
Old Dec 15, 2010 | 09:22 AM
  #4  
SpeedRacer61's Avatar
SpeedRacer61
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Huntsville Alabama
Default

Its for a drag racing application so I am wanting to run a 15x3.5 on front. I was hoping there would be a bolt on application out there somewhere
Reply
Old Dec 15, 2010 | 03:50 PM
  #5  
93 ragtop's Avatar
93 ragtop
Le Mans Master
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,713
Likes: 105
From: Manassas VA
Default

Originally Posted by SpeedRacer61
Its for a drag racing application so I am wanting to run a 15x3.5 on front. I was hoping there would be a bolt on application out there somewhere
I run 15 by 3.5 on the front of mine with no spacers etc. The wheels, I got from John Mackey a few years back. He used 5/16 spacers, but on the front I dont need them, the back I do, they are 15 by 10's
Do you have standard brakes on the front?
Reply
Old Dec 15, 2010 | 05:47 PM
  #6  
Powersmokin's Avatar
Powersmokin
Instructor
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
From: Pasadena MD
Default

c4's don't stop as it is i would not recommend going smaller if you are going to be drag racing.
Reply
Old Dec 15, 2010 | 06:37 PM
  #7  
rodj's Avatar
rodj
Le Mans Master
25 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
Default

Originally Posted by 93 ragtop
I run 15 by 3.5 on the front of mine with no spacers etc.

Cleared my stock brakes fine
Now have the big 13" J55 brakes with Weld 15 x 3.5's
Ground the outer corner of the caliper ribs off and 3/16th spacer
Reply
Old Dec 15, 2010 | 07:19 PM
  #8  
DarkBlue88's Avatar
DarkBlue88
Pro
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 721
Likes: 1
From: Charlotte NC, behind someone going 10 under the speed limit
Default

You may want to look into some front calipers/rotors from a 1998-up S-10 pickup. This was the first year the S-10 went away from the old rotor/hub design and old metric calipers. These calipers are dual piston and fit in most 15" wheels. I bet you could make these work. Also the calipers from a 1997-2004 Malibu are light as a feather, may be able to adapt them to the S-10 rotors as they are close to the same size as Malibu rotors, but MAlibu's had the wrong bolt pattern. HTH Brian
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-7

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Dec 15, 2010 | 09:23 PM
  #9  
ZRjaunt's Avatar
ZRjaunt
Advanced
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Default

I have the Aerospace 4 piston calipers on all four corners of my 90. The rotor is a lot smaller @ 11.75" dia but the car still brakes much better than stock. I run a manual MC and it does take a bit more effort but I think its worth it. It was a PITA to get this kit on the car. I had to send the spindles & stock brakes in to Aerospace and they made me billet brackets. They could probably cnc more now that they have the program worked out. The entire rear hub is basically a billet piece. Nice kit and now I can run any 15" wheel, weld, bogart, billet specialtis, etc. If you spend a lot of time on a road course Id recomend something else. These are more for drag racing than anything else.
Reply
Old Dec 19, 2010 | 11:22 PM
  #10  
SpeedRacer61's Avatar
SpeedRacer61
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Huntsville Alabama
Default

Thanks for all the suggestions, I will look into the different ideas! This is strictly for a drag car and all the tracks I run have long shut downs so smaller shouldnt be a problem at all.
Reply
Old Dec 19, 2010 | 11:29 PM
  #11  
SpeedRacer61's Avatar
SpeedRacer61
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Huntsville Alabama
Default

Originally Posted by Powersmokin
c4's don't stop as it is i would not recommend going smaller if you are going to be drag racing.
Most the time in drag racing superior braking is not needed. With my last car, at my home track, I could literally just get off the gas at the finish, coast and lightly brake and make the turn off road with no problem and this was in a a very low 5 sec car 1/8 mile car.

This car will not be near that quick and by the time it hits the track be much lighter than stock. I would think a good 15" brake system would be more than adequate in doing the job.
Reply
Old Dec 19, 2010 | 11:31 PM
  #12  
mackeyred96's Avatar
mackeyred96
Team Owner
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 32,782
Likes: 11
From: Former NCM Drag Racing coordinator, National director Corvette Challenge Spring Hill, Tennessee: Whiting, New Jersey
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Default

I've got small 4 piston calibers Strange brakes all a round on my 96 manual MC also. I run 140 mph in the 1/4 and it stops fine.....
Reply
Old Dec 21, 2010 | 02:49 PM
  #13  
SpeedRacer61's Avatar
SpeedRacer61
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Huntsville Alabama
Default

Originally Posted by mackeyred96
I've got small 4 piston calibers Strange brakes all a round on my 96 manual MC also. I run 140 mph in the 1/4 and it stops fine.....
Were these a bolt on replacement and will they also fit the 98? I know somewhere in there they changed the C4's to the bigger caliper and it is my understanding they are not interchangable.
Reply
Old Dec 21, 2010 | 03:11 PM
  #14  
mackeyred96's Avatar
mackeyred96
Team Owner
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 32,782
Likes: 11
From: Former NCM Drag Racing coordinator, National director Corvette Challenge Spring Hill, Tennessee: Whiting, New Jersey
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Default

Originally Posted by SpeedRacer61
Were these a bolt on replacement and will they also fit the 98? I know somewhere in there they changed the C4's to the bigger caliper and it is my understanding they are not interchangable.
I don't know about the 98 but my 96 uses the stock front spindles and custom made caliper brackets...
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Smaller brake calipers





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:22 PM.

story-0
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-2
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE