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Need advice I'm thinking I want to put on some slotted rotors and braided brake lines on my car. My question is is it worth spending the money on a stock car. I'd like to paint my calipers and make that area look better. Does anybody have suggestions on a good brand to go go with that doesn't break the bank. All suggestions welcome.
Brake Motive rotors and Power Stop pads. Stop tech hoses. Best bang for the buck. Any engine or brake caliper paint will work just fine. It comes to down to color and brand preference. I brushed my C5 calipers and sprayed the C4's.
It's purely a cosmetic change, does not offer any real performance benefit, and may reduce rotor/pad life. That being said, it's a popular cosmetic upgrade, and one that I've done, even though I am usually not into mods with little functional gain.
If you like red calipers, you can find a set of take-offs from a Z06 and it's a direct bolt-on. Plenty of aftermarket rotors with slots or holes, RockAuto has a few to choose from.
I swapped on the C6 Z51 package which gives larger rotors front and rear, slightly more rigid front calipers, in addition to rotors being cross-drilled. Again, little performance benefit, but it looks nice to me.
Rusty in this pic due to recent washing and sitting but once around the block and they're shiny again.
I would recommend getting your calipers power coated. This is more durable than paint. I have a set of Powerstop Z23 rotors that came with ceramic pads that I got from Amazon. I later upgraded the pads, but givin the way you use the car, the pads that come with that set will be fine. They look good, and the pads are low noise and low dust.
Braided brake lines have always improved the brake feel on my sport and touring motorcycles.
They came on my car so i would think it was an improvement over stock.
Brake Motive rotors and Power Stop pads. Stop tech hoses. Best bang for the buck. Any engine or brake caliper paint will work just fine. It comes to down to color and brand preference. I brushed my C5 calipers and sprayed the C4's.
TC
Brakemotive kits come with Power Stop pads already in the box. Z24 I believe. At least for the last 3 years they have. I actually have a youtube video showing this.
Not directed at you but I am dumbfounded at how many people I see on this board that insist on buying a Power Stop full brake kit for 3 times the cost of the Brakemotive kits when it's the same thing.
If you want the look, go for it. A few things to note, though.
90% of the "firmer pedal" and "better feel" that braided stainless lines deliver is from the fresh new fluid you put in. New rubber hoses with the same fresh fluid will feel about the same as new braided stainless lines, and both are much better than old worn out rubber hoses with neglected fluid. Of course, braided stainless lines do look cool, and they are more resistant to damage. That last point is why every race car I've owned where the rules allowed for it had braided steel lines on the front, where the potential for damage is highest. At the rear, it depended on the design of the brakes, but if the lines were where they could be hit by debris from an exploding tire, they were also braided stainless, and if the lines were well away from the wheels and tucked in the bodywork, well protected, then rubber hoses were just fine.
Slotted and/or drilled rotors drastically reduce pad life.
If you get adequate pads for your driving (even racing), and keep the pads within their designed operating temperature limits, there aren't any benefits to braking power or stopping distance from slots and/or holes in the rotors. For many years I raced on flat faced rotors with no holes or slots (and in some cases, I could outbrake cars/drivers with slotted and/or drilled rotors).
Every drilled and/or slotted rotor I've seen in the past 20 years or so was purely decorative. There is a right way to arrange the slots and/or holes. ATE used to have some good slotted rotors with a "pentagram" design for the slots, and those worked well, maintained even pad wear and were actually better if you were exceeding the max temp for your pads and had pad compound fade issues. The closest thing I've seen to correct drilling patterns in the past 20 years or so was the left rotor on the C6 J55 (Z51) brakes. That one was very close to right. Too bad they never made a right hand version of it, and all the C6 cars with those brakes have two left rotors.
If you want to stop shorter/quicker, tires are probably the most important element. If you can lock all 4 wheels (or fully engage the ABS), your tires are the limiting factor. Brake system changes can change the feel of things and possibly increase driver confidence in the brakes, but until you get the tires to the point where the brakes can't lock them up, you won't be able to actually stop shorter.
If you decide to get braided stainless lines, be sure the ones you get are DOT compliant if you plan to drive on public roads.
Purely cosmetic. I’ve put the C6 Z51 brake rotors and brackets on my last C6 and my current C5. Unless you’re tracking the car, the cross drilled rotors will last forever with no problems and personally, I like the look more than slotted. Facebook Marketplace is a great place to source the rotors, I’ve bought two brand new sets from owners who never got around to installing them. Even with shipping they were around half the price of new. There’s a vendor on ebay that sells aftermarket Z51 caliper brackets for $35.00 each and they’re good quality. If it’s in your budget, get in touch with Dave at Renewed Finishes about powder coating your calipers, he’s second to none and even took the time to grind down all of the imperfections and casting marks on mine.
Purely cosmetic. I’ve put the C6 Z51 brake rotors and brackets on my last C6 and my current C5. Unless you’re tracking the car, the cross drilled rotors will last forever with no problems and personally, I like the look more than slotted. Facebook Marketplace is a great place to source the rotors, I’ve bought two brand new sets from owners who never got around to installing them. Even with shipping they were around half the price of new. There’s a vendor on ebay that sells aftermarket Z51 caliper brackets for $35.00 each and they’re good quality. If it’s in your budget, get in touch with Dave at Renewed Finishes about powder coating your calipers, he’s second to none and even took the time to grind down all of the imperfections and casting marks on mine.
[QUOTE=Napoleon_Tanerite;1604876634]Don't buy drilled rotors. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING says "I'm a poser who wants people to think I drive my car fast, but don't" like drilled rotors.[/
Yeah, if you’re on the same maturity level as a 16 year old 🤣
They know who their customers are. Go to a track one day. You'll be hard pressed to find drilled rotors. They reduce effectiveness of the brakes, and are prone to cracking under high stress/heat.
Brake advice please.
