C5 brake job
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,431
Likes: 3
From: Iowa City Iowa
C5 brake job
Going to put drilled/slotted rotors and Hawk pads on my 2000 Convert next week. I've done several brake jobs ( not Vettes) in the past. Is there a step by step process posted anywhere? If not, anything unique about the C5 brakes I should be aware of. Thanks in advance. Ron
Last edited by RSchleder; May 1, 2009 at 09:30 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,904
Likes: 29
From: Vancouver Washington
And remember to monitor the fluid level of the brake reservoir when you're compressing the caliper pistons to install the new pads.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,602
Likes: 20
From: Palm City Florida
Going to put drilled/slotted rotors and Hawk pads on my 2000 Convert next week. I've done several brake jobs ( not Vettes) in the past. Is there a step by step process posted anywhere? If not, anything unique about the C5 brakes I should be aware of. Thanks in advance. Ron
Since you are doing Rotors.. the Caliper Brackets must come off.. Trust me when I tell you those Bigger Bolts are a pain to break loose if its the first time..
this tool made it a piece of Cake.. because the flex head allowed for different positions..
If you have something like this.. it will go easy..
Pushing down on it is easy.. But if you need to push up and cannot get enough leverage.. Slide a floor jack under it to break it loose..
No magic... But as mentioned before.. Make sure you watch the resevior as you compress the caliper pistons or it may overflow..
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 1
From: Morganton, NC, USA
Chuckster is correct about the caliper bracket bolts being hard to loosen. Not only are they torqued to about 100 ft.lbs at the factory, but they have a type of Loctite on them. What I've done is heat the "knuckles" the bolts are threaded into for 2 minutes with a propane torch. Watch your rubber flexible brake lines. This softens the Loctite and they come loose easier. The fronts are easier because you can turn the wheels to start your wrench horizontal; one side you lift and the other you push down. The rears would be easy if you had youre C5on a lift, but who has a lift? You can re-use the bracket bolts, but wire brush the threads to remove the old Loctite residue, clean with alcohol and apply new Red Loctite. Now is a good time to clean the caliper pin bolts and re-lube with caliper pin grease. Make sure you orient the rotors the correct way. If they're marked "R" and "L", no sweat.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,904
Likes: 29
From: Vancouver Washington
[QUOTE=chuckster;
Since you are doing Rotors.. the Caliper Brackets must come off.. Trust me when I tell you those Bigger Bolts are a pain to break loose if its the first time.. ..[/QUOTE]
Turn the wheels hard left to do the right caliper bracket and hard right to do the left caliper bracket. This makes the front bracket bolt very accessible without having to get under the car. When you get to the rears - you're on your own.
Since you are doing Rotors.. the Caliper Brackets must come off.. Trust me when I tell you those Bigger Bolts are a pain to break loose if its the first time.. ..[/QUOTE]
Turn the wheels hard left to do the right caliper bracket and hard right to do the left caliper bracket. This makes the front bracket bolt very accessible without having to get under the car. When you get to the rears - you're on your own.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
This article is worth a look Ron
I have exactly the same parts waiting to go on when I get some time. Post up how it goes.:
http://www.vetteweb.com/tech/vemp_07...ade/index.html
I have exactly the same parts waiting to go on when I get some time. Post up how it goes.
:http://www.vetteweb.com/tech/vemp_07...ade/index.html
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,602
Likes: 20
From: Palm City Florida
If anything.. the first spot to give out is going to be the smaller Caliper guide pin bolts..
There is a Road Course Racer here.. John Shields.. He told he has reused the caliper bolt dozens and dozens of times..
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 45,085
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From: I was a young troubadour when I rode in on a song, and I'll be an old troubadour when I'm gone.
St. Jude Donor '08
There is nothing special you need to be aware of.
I've never put brakes on any vehicle before, but I managed to successfully put new pads and rotors all the way around my Corvette a few weeks ago.
You'll be fine.
I've never put brakes on any vehicle before, but I managed to successfully put new pads and rotors all the way around my Corvette a few weeks ago.
You'll be fine.
