with 2nd post by wvzr-1
j-55 brakes
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,135
Likes: 226
From: Roanoke Indiana
j-55 brakes
can I upgrade to J55 brakes if I replace the calipers (including the brackets), pads and rotors on the front of my 89? It has 17" wheels.
are the rears the same?
are the rears the same?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,381
Likes: 2,735
The rears are the same on all of the '88+ rears regardless of the fronts.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 14,668
Likes: 749
From: NEwhere Ohio
Don't do the c5 brakes. These are smaller in diAmeter.
Some say they are thicker and heavier - which I guess is good if you LIKE unsprung weight.
Hawk HP+ pads, braided stainless lines and j55 brakes with eradispeed 2 piece front rotors is what I do for mine. Oh and bleed the brakes as this gets rid of water that lowers the brake fluid boiling temp.
If you want to upgrAde brakes go to c6 z06 but don't monkey around with c5 stuff.
Some say they are thicker and heavier - which I guess is good if you LIKE unsprung weight.
Hawk HP+ pads, braided stainless lines and j55 brakes with eradispeed 2 piece front rotors is what I do for mine. Oh and bleed the brakes as this gets rid of water that lowers the brake fluid boiling temp.
If you want to upgrAde brakes go to c6 z06 but don't monkey around with c5 stuff.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,381
Likes: 66
From: SF bay area C.A.
C4 of the Year Finalist
When I upgraded I went the J55 route and they are so much better, no fading and shortened the stopping distance a lot. My friend went to the c5 upgrade and they felt no diff and this was on a road course. Depends what you want to do.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,264
Likes: 3
From: Orchard Park NY
Don't do the c5 brakes. These are smaller in diAmeter.
Some say they are thicker and heavier - which I guess is good if you LIKE unsprung weight.
Hawk HP+ pads, braided stainless lines and j55 brakes with eradispeed 2 piece front rotors is what I do for mine. Oh and bleed the brakes as this gets rid of water that lowers the brake fluid boiling temp.
If you want to upgrAde brakes go to c6 z06 but don't monkey around with c5 stuff.
Some say they are thicker and heavier - which I guess is good if you LIKE unsprung weight.
Hawk HP+ pads, braided stainless lines and j55 brakes with eradispeed 2 piece front rotors is what I do for mine. Oh and bleed the brakes as this gets rid of water that lowers the brake fluid boiling temp.
If you want to upgrAde brakes go to c6 z06 but don't monkey around with c5 stuff.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 14,668
Likes: 749
From: NEwhere Ohio
C5 brakes were something people USED to do when everything c5 was thought to be 'superior'. Turns out that's not the consensus anymore.
The pads you use on the j55 will have a huge effect. I know this because I stupidly put EBC green stuff pads on one time. Total garbage. Would start to fade before you hit 0 on a single 80 to 0 stop.
I put hawk HP+ pads on and it was like a different car again. Most people here won't like the squeaky when cold, dirty HP+ pads and prefer hawk HPS.
Im suspicious of the ceramic pads. I believe if your pad doesn't dust, it doesn't stop as well.
Hawk is the best brake pad there is.
The c6 z06 stuff, yes it is superior, but you will need bigger wheels/tires also.
The pads you use on the j55 will have a huge effect. I know this because I stupidly put EBC green stuff pads on one time. Total garbage. Would start to fade before you hit 0 on a single 80 to 0 stop.
I put hawk HP+ pads on and it was like a different car again. Most people here won't like the squeaky when cold, dirty HP+ pads and prefer hawk HPS.
Im suspicious of the ceramic pads. I believe if your pad doesn't dust, it doesn't stop as well.
Hawk is the best brake pad there is.
The c6 z06 stuff, yes it is superior, but you will need bigger wheels/tires also.
Last edited by dizwiz24; Jun 18, 2015 at 08:01 PM.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,264
Likes: 3
From: Orchard Park NY
C5 brakes were something people USED to do when everything c5 was thought to be 'superior'. Turns out that's not the consensus anymore.
The pads you use on the j55 will have a huge effect. I know this because I stupidly put EBC green stuff pads on one time. Total garbage. Would start to fade before you hit 0 on a single 80 to 0 stop.
I put hawk HP+ pads on and it was like a different car again. Most people here won't like the squeaky when cold, dirty HP+ pads and prefer hawk HPS.
Im suspicious of the ceramic pads. I believe if your pad doesn't dust, it doesn't stop as well.
Hawk is the best brake pad there is.
The c6 z06 stuff, yes it is superior, but you will need bigger wheels/tires also.
The pads you use on the j55 will have a huge effect. I know this because I stupidly put EBC green stuff pads on one time. Total garbage. Would start to fade before you hit 0 on a single 80 to 0 stop.
I put hawk HP+ pads on and it was like a different car again. Most people here won't like the squeaky when cold, dirty HP+ pads and prefer hawk HPS.
Im suspicious of the ceramic pads. I believe if your pad doesn't dust, it doesn't stop as well.
Hawk is the best brake pad there is.
The c6 z06 stuff, yes it is superior, but you will need bigger wheels/tires also.
That's debatable. I'd say for consumer grade, Carbotech is #1. Then stoptech would be somewhere up there too.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,188
Likes: 13
From: Wallingford Vermont
Caliper Specs:
J55 piston dia. 1.5" (x2), Total piston area 3.53"
C5 piston dia 1.75" (x2) Total piston area 4.81"
As far as rotor size goes:
J55 13" x 1.11"
C5 12.79" x 1.25" (oops I orginally wrote C6)
So the actual diameter is larger on the J55 but the thermal mass is much greater (better) for the C5 (yes unsprung weight is greater too; anybody got the actual weight difference?) I'm not sure if .21" of an inch is really enough to brag about especially when calipers don't contact the outer diameter surface.
In a nutshell, we're splitting hairs here. I went with C5s because at the moment I did mine, I couldn't locate adapters for J55 calipers for my '86. (and I already had later calipers sitting under my bench) The C5 parts were cheaper in the long run, and I have Zero regrets.
Last edited by DanZ51; Jul 1, 2015 at 12:35 PM.