Front calipers on rear?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 476
Likes: 1
Front calipers on rear?
I just bought my first vette, its a 99 C5. I got some spyder wheels and i think the rear calipers look kinda cheap. I found a set of front calipers with brackets, I was wondering if they would bolt up to my rear as a replacement. I just wanna do it for looks and I'm sure they would work better than the factory rears. Would I need to install a brake bias valve to
compensate? Thanks
compensate? Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
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Fairly certain they will bolt right up, but the problem is..........you may not be able to use your existing rotors. If you then bolt on a set of front rotors, then you'll have to say bye bye to your parking brake, since they have no "brake drum" in the hub.
It's been awhile, but I remember lots of threads about his very topic several years ago and as I recall, the problem I mentioned above was what stopped a number of guys.
Another solution would be to buy a rear-only set-up from Baer. It moves the rear caliper out (includes the correct brackety) and also includes a larger (much larger) rear rotor that also has the small "brake drum" in the hub that allows you to keep your factory parking brake. Straight bolt-on, no hacking. You WILL however need to check on which rear wheel you use. Most 18" or larger will work, but you still need to double check on that to ensure there's no interference with the caliper. Maybe someone else can offer a comment or two.
HTH
It's been awhile, but I remember lots of threads about his very topic several years ago and as I recall, the problem I mentioned above was what stopped a number of guys.
Another solution would be to buy a rear-only set-up from Baer. It moves the rear caliper out (includes the correct brackety) and also includes a larger (much larger) rear rotor that also has the small "brake drum" in the hub that allows you to keep your factory parking brake. Straight bolt-on, no hacking. You WILL however need to check on which rear wheel you use. Most 18" or larger will work, but you still need to double check on that to ensure there's no interference with the caliper. Maybe someone else can offer a comment or two.
HTH
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
It can work, but three things:
- need to use front rotors on the rear
- will not have e-brake
- What are you going to put on the front?
same caliper on all four corners does NOT work. Too much rear brake bias
- need to use front rotors on the rear
- will not have e-brake
- What are you going to put on the front?
same caliper on all four corners does NOT work. Too much rear brake bias
Resident moron
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,746
Likes: 20
From: Assachusetts
Couple easy ways:
Baer sells +1 and +2 size rear rotors (and corresponding brackets) to run larger brake rotors on the rear. This is handy for larger/open wheels and helps fill the gap. However, you utilize the stock caliper and you don't seem to like that.
You can also use C6 Z51 rear rotor + bracket to achieve the same effect, but again, it's the same caliper.
You can run front rotors/calipers on the rear, but you lose the ebrake (has no provision for the ebrake drum). You will gain the nice big front caliper though. Brake bias isn't as big a deal as it seems, the stock bias is very heavily balanced towards the front. Worst case, run nastier brake pads on the front (or worse ones on the rear). Just my opinion - you could run an adjustable bias valve if you wanted to.
Dope
Baer sells +1 and +2 size rear rotors (and corresponding brackets) to run larger brake rotors on the rear. This is handy for larger/open wheels and helps fill the gap. However, you utilize the stock caliper and you don't seem to like that.
You can also use C6 Z51 rear rotor + bracket to achieve the same effect, but again, it's the same caliper.
You can run front rotors/calipers on the rear, but you lose the ebrake (has no provision for the ebrake drum). You will gain the nice big front caliper though. Brake bias isn't as big a deal as it seems, the stock bias is very heavily balanced towards the front. Worst case, run nastier brake pads on the front (or worse ones on the rear). Just my opinion - you could run an adjustable bias valve if you wanted to.
Dope
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,314
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From: Tallahassee Florida
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 226
From: Locust Valley NY USA
i HAVE FRONT CALIPERS ON THE REAR. i ALSO HAVE 19" WHEELS/ THE FIT BUT YOU WILL NEED A SPACER TO ACCOMODATE THE SWITCH. NEED TO MOVE THE WHEEL OUT TO CLEAR THE CALIPERS. sTILL HAVE MY E-BRAKE TOO.
i WAS SKEPTICAL AT THE BEGINNIG BUT VETTE DR WERE ABLE TO COME THRU.
I LIKE THE LOOK.
FRED
i WAS SKEPTICAL AT THE BEGINNIG BUT VETTE DR WERE ABLE TO COME THRU.
I LIKE THE LOOK.
FRED
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
You would also have to pull the wheel hub/bearing assembly out and remove the backing plate to be able to get a front rotor on the rear. I saw some posts where the person cut the backing plate off where clearance was needed but that's a crappy fix when you should be taking the time to just unbolt it. FYI, the spindles are the same cross corner, FR and RL or FL and RR so there's no physical reason the front brakes can't be bolted to the rear.
Peter
Peter
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,243
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From: Loveland CO
I would do one of 2 things....
* Z51 rears with C5Z calipers on all 4 corners (budget option) havnt priced this setup out but id guess $800-900 or less to redo all 4 corners with braided lines, fluid, rotors, pads, ect in all 4 corners. Painted Red from the factory and with a set of drilled/slotted rotors it would look nice.
* C6Z brake swap on all 4 corners (cheaper then other upgrade kits and looks good) ~$2500 incl pads, fluid, lines, rotors, calipers, brackets...
* Z51 rears with C5Z calipers on all 4 corners (budget option) havnt priced this setup out but id guess $800-900 or less to redo all 4 corners with braided lines, fluid, rotors, pads, ect in all 4 corners. Painted Red from the factory and with a set of drilled/slotted rotors it would look nice.
* C6Z brake swap on all 4 corners (cheaper then other upgrade kits and looks good) ~$2500 incl pads, fluid, lines, rotors, calipers, brackets...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 476
Likes: 1
thanks for all the replies it seems the z51 rotor would be the best option for me as i dont want to lose my ebrake. but i also dont want to hack up any brackets. the bias problem would be an easy fix with a cheap valve from jegs or summit. i think i may just paint the factory calipers and get some nice slotted and drilled rotors. the wheels i got are 18"/19" and they are nice and open to view the brakes just wanna make it purdy.
. this is a great site, lots of info, thanks alot guys
. this is a great site, lots of info, thanks alot guys
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,618
Likes: 5
From: Overland Park KS
thanks for all the replies it seems the z51 rotor would be the best option for me as i dont want to lose my ebrake. but i also dont want to hack up any brackets. the bias problem would be an easy fix with a cheap valve from jegs or summit. i think i may just paint the factory calipers and get some nice slotted and drilled rotors. the wheels i got are 18"/19" and they are nice and open to view the brakes just wanna make it purdy.. this is a great site, lots of info, thanks alot guys
. this is a great site, lots of info, thanks alot guysI have found the Z51 rotors to be more expensive online, than the larger C6 Z06 rotors. I HAVE NOT confirmed this but I believe the Z51 rotors are an odd size so 2-piece rotors or slotted may be more difficult to find in Z51 sizes.
Something you may want to consider long term....
C5 & C6 Rotors: Front: 12.8x1.26 Rear: 12x1
C6 Z51 (Performance model) Rotors: Front: 13.4x1.26 Rear: 13x1
bracket part numbers: 88964166 and 88964167 to install Z51 rotors on C5
Racer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 252
Likes: 2
I just bought my first vette, its a 99 C5. I got some spyder wheels and i think the rear calipers look kinda cheap. I found a set of front calipers with brackets, I was wondering if they would bolt up to my rear as a replacement. I just wanna do it for looks and I'm sure they would work better than the factory rears. Would I need to install a brake bias valve to
compensate? Thanks
compensate? Thanks
Chris
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 226
From: Locust Valley NY USA
You may be able to get the front calipers to bolt up to the rear with some mechanical wizardry, but the only way you could get them to "work" properly would be to also put the engine in the rear. In other words, the brake bias that GM tuned for you car would be way out of whack -- and unsafe.
Chris
Chris
Enjoy the look I do!!
Fred
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Some times ppl go for the looks not performance.
The C5 / C6 calipers are great brakes. They work better then most ppl think they can work.
part of this challenge may be that ppl dont want the noise or dust. Well guess what.
noise means the brakes are working.
dust means the brakes are working.
after driving many many BBKs on race cars, I am amazed at how well the stock C5 and now C6 caliper works with the stock rotors, and racing brake pads.
I can Whoa my car down from 135+ mph to 40+ in far shorter distance then most race cars with BBKs. Almost so quickly that the car feels like it is doing a motorcycle stoppie. ( rear wheels off the ground)
Key to great brakes are the brake pads and FRESH DOT 4 brake fluid, PLUS this part most ppl dont get, is wide fresh rubber up front.
The wider the front tire, the quicker the car stops.
Granted the C5 / C6 caliper does not look sexy as a BBK through a high polished wheel. But what the heck if YOUR DRIVING, and not sitting in a parking lot Who sees the brakes ?
The C5 / C6 calipers are great brakes. They work better then most ppl think they can work.
part of this challenge may be that ppl dont want the noise or dust. Well guess what.
noise means the brakes are working.
dust means the brakes are working.
after driving many many BBKs on race cars, I am amazed at how well the stock C5 and now C6 caliper works with the stock rotors, and racing brake pads.
I can Whoa my car down from 135+ mph to 40+ in far shorter distance then most race cars with BBKs. Almost so quickly that the car feels like it is doing a motorcycle stoppie. ( rear wheels off the ground)
Key to great brakes are the brake pads and FRESH DOT 4 brake fluid, PLUS this part most ppl dont get, is wide fresh rubber up front.
The wider the front tire, the quicker the car stops.
Granted the C5 / C6 caliper does not look sexy as a BBK through a high polished wheel. But what the heck if YOUR DRIVING, and not sitting in a parking lot Who sees the brakes ?
Pro
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 554
Likes: 12
From: southeast
They can be installed and are fine for normal street driving. I wouldn't take this setup to the track, though as there are much better options for that. JMO
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,857
Likes: 2
From: pawleys island sc
is there any manufacture in the world that puts the same size brakes on both axles ( including motorcycles)?
Of course you can get the fronts to fit on the rear, you could also get a set that's bigger than the fronts to fit on the rear. It is, after all your car. I just don't think that because something "can" be done it "should " be done. But ,like I said, if you think its a good idea its your car and you know how you drive it so go right ahead and do it.
Of course you can get the fronts to fit on the rear, you could also get a set that's bigger than the fronts to fit on the rear. It is, after all your car. I just don't think that because something "can" be done it "should " be done. But ,like I said, if you think its a good idea its your car and you know how you drive it so go right ahead and do it.
Last edited by 99 vett babycar; Mar 20, 2011 at 10:40 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 226
From: Locust Valley NY USA
My thoughts as well. For apperance purposes they look OUTSTANDING!!!I do not take my car to the track.
I love the lok and no issues with brake bias.
As far as maufactures go it is cost verses looks.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 50,808
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From: Buy USA products! Check the label! Employ Americans
First off the pistons are way bigger on a front caliper than the rear. More volume means more fluid to push and the master it is not designed for it. Then you get a long pedal. Later C5's don not have a bias spring so they may compensate the bias issue better than per 02 models. I think that was the year they changed.
As far as the size manufactures put on the rear sure money is a consideration but so is performance. When you have a thicker larger rotor it takes more HP to rotate it and it is more unsprung weight. Riding around the street and going to car shows it will matter little.
I have front rotors on the back but the caliper is not a front caliper it is Wilwood with near the same volume pistons as OEM. Little more braking bias on the back will take some dive out of the car which is nice. Front calipers bolt right on the rear after you can the e-brake. Front left goes on rear right and vice versa.
As far as the size manufactures put on the rear sure money is a consideration but so is performance. When you have a thicker larger rotor it takes more HP to rotate it and it is more unsprung weight. Riding around the street and going to car shows it will matter little.
I have front rotors on the back but the caliper is not a front caliper it is Wilwood with near the same volume pistons as OEM. Little more braking bias on the back will take some dive out of the car which is nice. Front calipers bolt right on the rear after you can the e-brake. Front left goes on rear right and vice versa.