Not sure if it's true, but I heard you can run C5 front brakes on a C4.

If this is possible is there a conversion kit and what's the best one?

Thanks!

 

There is some consideration based on the exact wheel you plan to use. The sawblades won't fit, I think the old A-Mold style work.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...c5-brakes.html

Here is an earlier thread: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-question.html

If you use the advanced search function you should find a lot of threads on this topic. It was a popular conversion in its time.

 

Thanks for info!

I plan on upgrading rims to 19" aftermarket.

 

You need these - http://www.vansteel.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=shop.showItem&subgr oup=1981&ID=3361&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIu76l6 dXi4wIVGMJkCh2bkg-yEAQYASABEgKNcPD_BwE
or these if you have an older C4 - http://www.vansteel.com/index.cfm?fu...&title=FB-304K


And a set of C5 Calipers, pads and rotors. Had them on my car for a decade and it was the best mod I made to my 85. Newer C4's it's not nearly as big of an improvement but the older C4's brakes suck!

 

Been running them for years, its a worthwhile upgrade for early C4s. Not so much if your later C4 car came with J55 brakes.

You need all the C5 parts, the adapter for your year, and I recommend upgrading to SS lines. In that case, you need the SS lines for your year car.

 

Why do all this work for old technology

how about c6 z06 brakes on a c4 ?

or wilwood 13.5” rotors (if you wanna keep the stock 17” wheels)

 

if you're going to a larger wheel, consider the c6 z06 brakes. when my 96 makes its way back home, i am putting the c6 z06 brakes on it all the way around. i have the adapter brackets from van steel for the fronts and the adapters from the street shop for the rears which get rid of the parking brake-in-the-caliper.

 

For the same price as C5 brakes you can also run C6 Z51 brakes (13.4in) vs 12.7in for C5/base C6 brakes. Here's mine:

Regardless whether you get the 12.7 or 13.4 in rotor I would suggest you get the C6 caliper they are suppose to be 25% stiffer and cost about the same. The 13.4in Z51 setup uses a different caliper bracket and 13.4in rotor vs the base 12.7in rotor. Stock brake lines will work.

You will also need some adapter brackets, I used the cheapest Ebay ones I could find ($90) and the apporiate length bolts for the caliper and adapter bracket (fastnel is a good source for cheap bolts).

I think the 13.4 C6 Z51 bakes require 18in wheels the C5/base C6 brakes should fit fine under 17in wheels.

One other thing to consider is since you are improving the front brakes but proabbly leaving the rear ones, you need to add more rear brake bias to keep the braking balance...DRM makes a brake bias spring with more rear brake bias for C4 corvettes. less than 30min job to install in your master cylinder. On my setup with C6 Z51 front brakes and stock C4 Z51 rear brakes the DRM bias spring makes the front/rear brake balance very good.

If you want more info you can look up my DMITTZ corvette build vol.2. I detailed the conversion somewhere in that thread.

-DMITTZ

 

Forgot to mention one nice benefit of the conversion is C5/C6 brake pads and rotors are very readily avaliable and quite inexpensive.

 

They don't suck, the problem is the engine is far to strong for them.
Seriously, I always shifted my automatic to neutral when braking, otherwise always felt She did NOT want to stop.
Upgrade to C5 brakes was a very nice change. Only problem I have is brake dust is bad, might be my rims cause that though.

 

Even with the later C4 brakes C6 brakes are a noticable upgrade.

I went from 13in C4 Z51 brakes to 13.4in C6 Z51 brakes, same type of pads in both system (my C4 brakes were in decent shape too) and it was very noticable that the C6 Z51 brakes are better.

For the money the C6 base or Z51 is a good upgrade. If you have more to spend I hear C7 brakes pretty much bolt up... or thier is C6 Z06 and wilood brakes if you want to get really serious about brakes

 

The problem with C6 Zo6 calipers would be the cost. Most are about a grand for a used set which would likely be overkill for those running L98s or even Ltxs.
Dont need a parachute on a geo metro.
🤷*♂️

 

 

My time installing something like this is more valuable.

I in no way agree that its a geo metro.

IF it is, then the c6 corvette they came off must be the same (as a geo metro) bc the comparison makes no sense (ie. Inferring the c4 is a geo metro compared to the c6 which got better brakes).

ive said it many times over, if you havent modd your c4 to beat the new corvettes then dont complain about it or infer that its slow

Look at user 383vett. He uses his c6 z06 as an ‘ice cream getter’. When he wants to beat cars at the dragstrips he brings out his heavily modd c4 👍

 

I don't think slowzo6 was saying a c4 is like a Geo metro.

I think he was just meaning that for most people upgrading to a really serious setup like the C6 Z06 or wilwood brakes is overkill.

Also don't forget that if you go more than C6 brakes on the front of your C4 you will proabbly have to also do the rear brakes as well to keep a reasonable brake bias. The other issue is when you go to a really big caliper like the C6 Z06 the realatively small master cylinder in our cars will mean you have a longer brake pedal throw to full active the brakes. I hear you can install a 2002 camaro Master (it has a larger bore) if you change the brake fittings or I guess do something full custom with the master. But again how much time and money do you want to spend? For some doing all that is worthwhile but for most C4 owners it would be overkill.

I can tell you my C6 Z51 brakes are plenty adequet for any street or autocross driving you'll do and my car is nowhere near stock. I can easily active the ABS if I hit the brakes so the tire grip is the limiting factor, and I have 315 Rival S tires all around (so lots of tire grip). I figure if I ever need more brakes ducting is the next step.

Now from a looks point of view its hard to beat the look of C6 Z06 brakes if that's what your after...

 

Well said.

Diz, in other threads, you've lambasted the C5 upgrade as adding unnecessary weight. Now you're advocating C6 Z06 brakes or better on cars that are 300 horse or less??

The C5 (or C6, they're about the same) brake upgrade will out perform 99.9% of the forum users needs. And it's CHEAP. So...it's a high value mod, if you're already overdriving/overheating your stock brakes.

 

I finally submit to your point that the c5 brakes have more swept area vs. c4 j55 and that (c5 brakes) is the better braking system.

i was able to look in a road and track - and find some numbers proving c5 brakes were better than j55 c4 brakes. I cant quote how much better, but remember they do that 80-0 test or something ,

my point on this thread is when i have to put my TIME into something, thats a factor too. If it costs me an extra $500-1000 to go to better c6 z06 brakes thats what im going do if gotta ruin a wknd working on it. Its gonna be worth it

 

Fair enough dizzy. I can respect the do it once and do it with the best avaliable parts attitude.
I took that view when I did my full banski rear suspension and designed a bolt on splined front sway bar for my car etc...budget was a consideration for my brake upgrade but I can understand if you want really, really good brakes.

I'd say a C6 front brake upgrade and DRM bias spring can be done in an afternoon if you are mechanically inclined and have all the parts ahead of time.

The C6 Z06 brakes will take a bit longer as at least for the 88-96 C4's you have to also get a rear e-brake kit from street shop inc. (may now be discontinued) and install all that stuff, then get the bigger bore F-body master to really do it properly as well as some longer brake hose. At that point you could also consider getting a C5 Wilwood brake kit with carbon ceramic rotors or putting C6 ZR1 brakes too if you want to get really high-end with the brakes. Lots of options depending on budget and priorities.

 

Not me. I seek the optimal part for the task. Here is an example; My '92 had base brakes. I tracked the car and it boiled Motul Rbf 600 brake fluid in 5 laps. I spent $500 on C5 brakes, adaptors and the DRM spring. Put 'em on...no more overheated brakes at the track. The right part, right price, right...weight, too!
Now I got the 'Vette Kart which weighs 2280 right now. It also has base brakes. I've thought about the C5 upgrade but you know what? OVERKILL. It's wasted money, added weight...and you know, I'd have to put my TIME into it too. No, on the 2280 lb Kart, the small 12" brakes are way better than good enough, for street, auto-x and track days.
Diz, your time must be REALLY valuable. IDK...maybe it is. But how long does it take to do a C4 > C5 front brake swap? A: About the same amount of time as it takes to do pads and rotors -about 45 minutes? Being generous, let's say an hour including the brake bias spring.

Conclusion? The TIME investment value of the C5 swap is also...incredibly good. especially so if you're already needing to replace your brakes...you're talking an additional maybe 15 minutes to add the adaptor brackets and bleed. Fast. Easy. Effective....High value.



As for the swept area, I don't recall citing that as the benefit over J55. What I recall saying was something like this:
Most people don't have J55 brakes and so the C5 upgrade is cheaper and more readily available than J55.
Comparing J55 and C5, the C5 rotor carries a lot more mass (one of your original gripes), has direction al cooling vanes, and a much beefier caliper. The result (on the track), is better heat management than the J55 is capable.

So you get more heat capacity, better caliper, easy-to-get and cheaper parts, for lower initial investment than the J55. High value.

 

Tom,

i dont always agree with your time estimates.

i think its you that claims you can do an optispark in 2 hrs. For me, its an 6 hr affair. Which is why I want the optispark that wont fail on me (which tends to be the OEM one - from my experience).

Im not saying Im less of a person bc it takes me longer, but the fact is it does. Im OCD, i clean up everything when im in there, change fluids, get at stuff thats easy to repair with stuff moved out of the way.

i will agree with the example of the lightweight car. Why add mass to it - unsprung mass (which is the worse kind) especially if not needed. Thats a good example.