Sorry for the frazzled yarn but I have want the best looking best performing brakes I can have. Here goes.

Recently purchased a full set of c5 calipers, rotors, ss brake lines, and ed salinas brake adapter kit. Also purchased two brand new C4 rear calipers.

1) What else do I need to make this work? In the super chevy parts list they discuss an additonal adapter, is this required also.
2) There are a few expensive C4 to C5 rear brake adapter kits.(approx. $550+). Is this the best option or would the NEW (not 18years old) C4 calipers work well? Losing the Oh S*** brake is also a concern.
3) Should I upgrade to a double reservoir master cylinder?
4) Does the metal brake booster make a difference?(is this an amateur mechanic, sunday afternoon dooable?)
5) Has anyone any thoughts on the brake bias spring?(is this an amateur mechanic, sunday afternoon dooable?)

Thanks
Roger

 

Cheers

I have done the conversion and maybe I can help

Let me start at the end!

The "brake bias" spring is a very worthwhile improvement! The existing front/rear ratio of brake stopping ignored the effect of ABS. You can safely (with ABS) put more pressure on the rear brakes without fear of locking them up and the DRM spring does that

c5 Rear Brakes? Not worth the money! They are virtually the same as C4 rear brakes in terms of swept area and roter diameter. The C5 roters are a little thicker but there is no advantage. Depending on which C4 rear brake set up you have, converting the rear brakes can be expensive with no gain

C5 fronts...very worthwhile! Actually the standard C5 solid roters are the best for stopping power (unless you want to spend thousands) with Hawk pads.

I have the drilled and slotted durastops, they look cool but when I burn them up I am going back to solids

I like the dual reservoir Master Cylinder. If you have a system leak, you will notice it quicker (assuming you check these things)


Jack

 

If you really want the best looking best performing brakes they are not going to come from GM, and they are going to cost $$$$. Look for a post from about a week ago.

 

Roger has an 86 and I think he also needs a factory GS caliper bracket plus the Ed S. adapter.
Can some verify this for us.

I'm thinking of upgrading my 86 brakes too.

 

Any thoughts on metal brake booster?

How hard is it to install brake bias spring?

Roger

 

The caliper part I think that is needed in addition to the ed salinas bracket it part 12455799 on www.superchevyperformance.com

Roger

 

Well I would like to interject here with my thoughts on this.

I never really seriously considered looking into brakes on my vette. I have been more interested in going faster and faster and not so much the stopping part. However, while the stock brakes for normal use, have served me well. occasionally at the track I get to take the turnoff road a little quicker than planned, and in comparison to my newer vehicles - the vettes brakes SUCK.

Well that all became MUCH more apparent when I recently drove a C4 (Jerkyboys) that had the C5 calipers. (front only).

I almost put myself through the windsheild when I hit the brakes the first time. I could not believe how much BETTER they felt and worked. I did not do any real power stopping, but it was like night and day in normal street driving.

As I said, I am not into the stopping performance game, but this mod definately bumped its way to the top of my list, next time I get some extra $$.

I would HIGHLY recommend the upgrade to any and ALL. Its a HUGE difference.

 

If you don't put in the bias spring, the C5 upgrade will actually increase your stopping distances.

It displaces more fluid than the stock fronts, and thus takes away 10% braking effort from the rear.

The bias spring should get you back towards the original bias. How much, I have no idea, as I've never been able to get any technical data on it, not even from DRM.

 

Roger,

I did a C5 brake upgrade on my 84 a year ago. Outstanding. One of the least expensive and best upgrades you can do for a C4. I have the stock C5 calipers and rotor on the fronts with the stock C4 brakes on the back. Also using the Doug Rippie Brake Bias spring. Car just plain STOPS. I use the EBC Greenstuff Pads all around. Car does not nose dive. It just stops flat. Can't say enough about the upgrade including the looks.

 

Roger...i love this mod as well!! easy to do.
here goes
1) yes. you need two of these brackets. as the old ones don't fit the c5 calipers. (the bracket mounts to eds bracket and then the caliper mounts to it.) (there is a name for these but it escapes me at the moment.)
2)last time i checked...only the older model vettes (around the pre Al head yrs...pre 87 i think) had rear adapter brackets. so if you have the newer style j55 brakes you'll have to stick with em. (unless some one has made abracket that works for the later models.)
3)It should help. and like previously stated it helps for detecting irregularities in fluid levels. i have a double reservoir master cylinder on my 90 though i figure your car is a little earlier model since you asked this (in which case you may be able to get the rears converted.) mostly for looks i've heard.
4) My booster went out on me a few months back and i replaced it with the metal one (it was cheaper and i needed it!) i've heard mixed feelings about its performance... but i can't tell much difference since my brakes are so much better anyway!
as far as install: how big are you? it's a tight squeeze into the drivers side under-dash area!! i'm a little guy 5' 7" 130lbs so i had room but it was very annoying!! to reach the nuts. use a 6" ext and a universal ext. a magnetic pick up tool may help you too. i did it in 40 minutes. but take your time.
5)i havn't got one yet but i am looking into it...as i here great things. also it looks as do-able as the rest. if you're going with the dual res master...and you'll be bleeding anyways, you can easily take time out to put in a bias spring. if you can put in a master you should be fine. i'm a very inexperienced tinkerer (not yet weekend mech status) and i got it done.
BTW make sure you have a 12mm allen wrench and or a hex head socket to put on your torque wrench...for those bolts Ed sent you.
THANKS TO THE FORUM !!!!!
hope this consolidates the answers to your questions...
James