Brake upgrade 12" > 13"
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 726
Likes: 1
Brake upgrade 12" > 13"
Can the standard 12" brakes on a '92 be upgraded (all four wheels) to the 13" GS brakes? I know the front are dual pistons vs the single piston rears but I would imagine the 13" GS kits could be installed on all four wheels.
Any reasons why they couldn't?? Wheels would remain stock sawblades.
Any reasons why they couldn't?? Wheels would remain stock sawblades.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,733
Likes: 0
From: Sarasota FL
Re: Brake upgrade 12" > 13" (linkschamp)
I have heard that you can move the 12" front brakes to the rear. Of course you lose the parking brake that most states check during Safety Inspections.
The opinion of most is that for street use, the single piston 12" rear are OK. Using a new bias spring in the master cylinder to put more effort to the rear wheels is supposed to help.
You might want to look into C-5 brakes for the front. I am happy with the improvement on my car, and you can get everything new for $1000 or less. Most of the GS or ZR1 kits are $750 or more.
Do a search, we have been beating this issue for a while. There are a lot of posts out there.
Good luck.
The opinion of most is that for street use, the single piston 12" rear are OK. Using a new bias spring in the master cylinder to put more effort to the rear wheels is supposed to help.
You might want to look into C-5 brakes for the front. I am happy with the improvement on my car, and you can get everything new for $1000 or less. Most of the GS or ZR1 kits are $750 or more.
Do a search, we have been beating this issue for a while. There are a lot of posts out there.
Good luck.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,161
Likes: 1,733
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Re: Brake upgrade 12" > 13" (Hi-psi)
on a later C4, i dont see why the C5 brakes wouldnt fit inside your wheels
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 42,935
Likes: 20
From: Sydney, Australia
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-‘17, '22
Re: Brake upgrade 12" > 13" (DON M)
The only problem that I think you may have with equal size rotors front and rear (assuming calipers are equal also) might be related to too much bias on the rear making the car less than friendly in heavy braking situations. I don't recall having seen or read about anyone with such a setup on a C4.
Straying from your original question, if you shop around you should be able to go with GS or ZR1 calipers and 13" front rotors for much less than $750. You might just have to buy the parts seperately to do this though.
The rear bias spring makes a definite difference in high speed braking in that your car stays flatter and is much more stable (they are cheapest from DRM). I have the 13" fronts and haven't suffered from lack of brakes at the track so far (touch wood) but then again we only do five or six lap sessions over here...
HTH
[Modified by Red 90 L98 Coupe, 3:50 AM 6/4/2002]
Straying from your original question, if you shop around you should be able to go with GS or ZR1 calipers and 13" front rotors for much less than $750. You might just have to buy the parts seperately to do this though.
The rear bias spring makes a definite difference in high speed braking in that your car stays flatter and is much more stable (they are cheapest from DRM). I have the 13" fronts and haven't suffered from lack of brakes at the track so far (touch wood) but then again we only do five or six lap sessions over here...
HTH
[Modified by Red 90 L98 Coupe, 3:50 AM 6/4/2002]
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 726
Likes: 1
Re: Brake upgrade 12" > 13" (Red 90 L98 Coupe)
I'm a bit puzzled - perhaps I'm starting with the wrong information but I thought the stock brakes on the '92 were 12" all around with dual-pistons in the front, single pistons in the rear. I thought GS/ZR1's had 13" all around or is that wrong info?? the GS do have the black "Corvette" caliper on all four wheels don't they??
My son won't race, his reason for wanting the GS black calipers on all four corners is so they'll show through 5-spoke wheels (he has sawblades now). I believe I only need the calipers (C ring/pin), rotors & bracket to make the change, no other spacers or accesories are required. And I thought they came in front/rear sets... :confused:
My son won't race, his reason for wanting the GS black calipers on all four corners is so they'll show through 5-spoke wheels (he has sawblades now). I believe I only need the calipers (C ring/pin), rotors & bracket to make the change, no other spacers or accesories are required. And I thought they came in front/rear sets... :confused:
Pro
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 707
Likes: 77
From: Round Rock Tx
Re: Brake upgrade 12" > 13" (linkschamp)
I am pretty sure the 13s are only on the front on a GS because the rear brake calilper is the same on all vettes, 12". When you do a GS upgrade, all you get is 13" rotors and the bigger calipers for the front. The GS calipers fit the 13" rotor and bolt to the same mounts as the 12 " calipers. If you look in the photos, only the front calipers say "CORVETTE". the rears are plain black stock 12s.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 726
Likes: 1
Re: Brake upgrade 12" > 13" (ralexand)
Ok, that's what I've been looking for! I also just plowed through the GM shop manual - the std brakes are 12" all around with HD 13" only in the front. Kinda sad they don't make the black "Corvette" calipers for the 12" rotors.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 7,411
Likes: 253
From: Little Elm TX
Re: Brake upgrade 12" > 13" (linkschamp)
As for the C5 brakes, they won't fit behind sawblades. It's not the offset, it's that there's to much material back there and they hit the caliper. :eek:
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 362
Likes: 0
From: In
Re: Brake upgrade 12" > 13" (linkschamp)
Sorry to side track this, but...... does anyone know if the 13" hd rotor can be used with the stock standard brake caliper on a 94, and how does the fitment work?
thanks david
[Modified by hotwilzz, 12:47 PM 6/4/2002]
thanks david
[Modified by hotwilzz, 12:47 PM 6/4/2002]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,031
Likes: 1
From: Republic of Texas
Re: Brake upgrade 12" > 13" (hotwilzz)
I think you need a new bracket to move the caliper out 1/2 inch. I think the 12" and 13" calipers are the same, mid-america has them listed as the same for whatever that's worth.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,178
Likes: 2
From: Windermere FL
Re: Brake upgrade 12" > 13" (DON M)
My C5 front upgrade was under $800 with everything shipped. It works out to be about an extra $200 than GS brakes but well worth the difference. The C4 rears are as good or better than the C5 rear brakes and only account for 20% of your stopping power so I would skip the upgrade on them opting for maybe better rotors, pads and paint to match the front.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 7,411
Likes: 253
From: Little Elm TX
Re: Brake upgrade 12" > 13" (92TripleBlack)
My C5 front upgrade was under $800 with everything shipped. It works out to be about an extra $200 than GS brakes but well worth the difference. The C4 rears are as good or better than the C5 rear brakes and only account for 20% of your stopping power so I would skip the upgrade on them opting for maybe better rotors, pads and paint to match the front.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 726
Likes: 1
Re: Brake upgrade 12" > 13" (92TripleBlack)
Ok, if my son decides to by a set of C5 5-spoke wheels, then I understand he can go with the C5 brake upgrade. But I don't understand what the benifits are of the C5 vs the GS upgrade - can anyone quickly review? Is it size, looks...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 7,411
Likes: 253
From: Little Elm TX
Re: Brake upgrade 12" > 13" (linkschamp)
Ok, if my son decides to by a set of C5 5-spoke wheels, then I understand he can go with the C5 brake upgrade. But I don't understand what the benifits are of the C5 vs the GS upgrade - can anyone quickly review? Is it size, looks...
1. Replacement costs. For some reason the C5 parts are cheaper. ie....rotors are almost 1/2 as much.
2. Though the rotors are about the same size (C4 GS 13" = C5 12.8") the C5's are thicker.
3. The C5 brake pad is almost 1/2 as much bigger than the C4's.
Check these links for the differences:
http://www.superchevyperformance.com/misc/C5brakes.html http://www.superchevyperformance.com/misc/GSbrakes.html
Thanks again to Jeff Kopp! :yesnod:
[Modified by R94 LT 1, 10:22 PM 6/4/2002]
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 42,935
Likes: 20
From: Sydney, Australia
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-‘17, '22
Re: Brake upgrade 12" > 13" (hotwilzz)
Sorry to side track this, but...... does anyone know if the 13" hd rotor can be used with the stock standard brake caliper on a 94, and how does the fitment work?
thanks david
[Modified by hotwilzz, 12:47 PM 6/4/2002]
thanks david
[Modified by hotwilzz, 12:47 PM 6/4/2002]
Having said that, weren't the late C4's all equipped with 13" front brakes??? :confused: Can't recall.