Need Brake Help........help
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 455
Likes: 11
From: Clovis CA
Need Brake Help........help
okay, may seem silly but.......
recently bought my 98 C5 and the brakes are starting to squeek. i need some new brakes all the way around, and am going to upgrade the rotors and pads, just not right now. so what i need to know are two things.
first, how do i compress the calipers? is there a special tool for corvettes, or can i use a normal caliper compressor going back and forth between pistons? (one or two turns at a time. a little time consuming but i dont know another way.)
second, since i will be upgrading in the not to distant future, i dont want to spend a butt-load on pads right now, but i also dont want some piece of crap parts house pads. what is a good, yet affordable brand and type of pad?
any thoughts out there??? (like there wouldnt be!!)
recently bought my 98 C5 and the brakes are starting to squeek. i need some new brakes all the way around, and am going to upgrade the rotors and pads, just not right now. so what i need to know are two things.
first, how do i compress the calipers? is there a special tool for corvettes, or can i use a normal caliper compressor going back and forth between pistons? (one or two turns at a time. a little time consuming but i dont know another way.)
second, since i will be upgrading in the not to distant future, i dont want to spend a butt-load on pads right now, but i also dont want some piece of crap parts house pads. what is a good, yet affordable brand and type of pad?
any thoughts out there??? (like there wouldnt be!!)
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
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One of the best (easiest) ways to compress the pistons is to just use the old pads and a C-clamp. Just lay the pad in and use the clamp to compress both pistons at the same time. Piece 'o cake! 
Stock pads will give you good service, plus there has been a price reduction from GM in the last year or so. Buy from a forum vendor like Fichtner Chev and get a better price too.
HTH,
Robert
Stock pads will give you good service, plus there has been a price reduction from GM in the last year or so. Buy from a forum vendor like Fichtner Chev and get a better price too.
HTH,
Robert
Team Owner
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Oklahoma City OK
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Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
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From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
sportbrakes rotors coupled with AC Durastop Ceramic pads from Fred Beans
Re pushing back the pistons, I crak open the bleeding screws and let sthe old fluid out...
I don't like forcing dirty fluid back through the ABS unit.
I just use a long screw driver as a lever to push on the old pads and drive the pistons back into the caliper.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 455
Likes: 11
From: Clovis CA
dang, i love this site. everyone is so knowledgeable and helpful. makes me not so worried about screwing something up. being as that im used to thrashing on 35 to 40 year old junk that you can only make better, going to my vettes makes me a little wary!!! thank you for all the tips......keep em coming.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 455
Likes: 11
From: Clovis CA
hey, i just realized that the link for the brake job only talks about the fronts.....only the fronts. i just slapped the pads on the front, cake. as simple as any disc brakes ive ever done. but now, i need to do the rears, are they just as straight forward??? any tips or tricks i need to know?? im going to pick up the rear pads right now (the store i got the fronts from were out of the rears) so any info before i get back would be greatly appriciated. 
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,394
Likes: 6
From: Melbourne FL
Originally Posted by red88L98convert
hey, i just realized that the link for the brake job only talks about the fronts.....only the fronts. i just slapped the pads on the front, cake. as simple as any disc brakes ive ever done. but now, i need to do the rears, are they just as straight forward??? any tips or tricks i need to know?? im going to pick up the rear pads right now (the store i got the fronts from were out of the rears) so any info before i get back would be greatly appriciated.
This car is a blast to work on compared to an import which always left me trying to contort my body and limbs into positions they didn't want to go in order to reach the bolts. 
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 455
Likes: 11
From: Clovis CA
Originally Posted by Z06ufgrad2002
The rears are just ast straight forward as the fronts. This car is a blast to work on compared to an import which always left me trying to contort my body and limbs into positions they didn't want to go in order to reach the bolts.
This car is a blast to work on compared to an import which always left me trying to contort my body and limbs into positions they didn't want to go in order to reach the bolts. yeah, imports....made by tiny people, for tiny people (to work on!!)