Getting Bigger Brakes; Good or Not?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,371
Likes: 1
From: Somerset Kentucky
Getting Bigger Brakes; Good or Not?
I am thinking of putting larger/drilled/slotted brakes on my 04 cpe. I spoke with a gentleman at a car show last weekend who had them on his antique Impala. He said they were necessary since he had installed a much larger engine and needed the bigger brakes to stop safely. I was also told that drilled/slotted brakes are "just for show." Which is the honest truth from you that have them. My cpe has the stock brakes. What changes/adjustments have to be made to move to larger, drilled/slotted discs? 
Pro
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 627
Likes: 33
From: Omaha NE
I don't see any reason as to why you need larger brakes? Is there one? The C5 actually has pretty good brakes from the factory. Unless you're taking the car to the road course or autocross consistently the stock brake should more than meet your needs. If you're looking for increased stopping power you can do a few things.
1) Swap the fluid for a high performance fluid
2) Swap the stock rubber lines for braided metal
3) Upgrade the pads to a more agressive compound
4) New BLANK rotors.
Yes the drilled and slotted rotors are more for looks. In an high performance application they tend to crack faster than a blank rotor.
Check out the autocross/road course forum. There is a lot of good knowledge over there.
1) Swap the fluid for a high performance fluid
2) Swap the stock rubber lines for braided metal
3) Upgrade the pads to a more agressive compound
4) New BLANK rotors.
Yes the drilled and slotted rotors are more for looks. In an high performance application they tend to crack faster than a blank rotor.
Check out the autocross/road course forum. There is a lot of good knowledge over there.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 4,549
Likes: 30
From: Shenandoah Valley Virginia
What is the purpose for wanting the "Big Brake Kit" on the car ?? If you are just driving the car on the street, the stock brakes are way more than adequate. If you plan on tracking the car, there are MANY threads on the benefits of BBK's in the Autocross / Roadrace section of the forum, check them out. If appearance change with drilled slotted rotors ts the goal, there are several forum vendors that offer stock size rotors with the D/S configuration. If you want to go to a larger size rotor, there are many considerations involved, rotor/caliper to wheel clearance is the biggest concern. Talk with a knowledgable forum vendor for specifics with their product.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 65
From: Rochester Hills MI
The best thing for autocross would be to stick with the stock size and maybe get some 2 piece light weight drilled rotors. (although depending on class restrictions you may want to stay away from the 2 piece). Your brakes won't see much heat in autox due to the low speeds and short sessions, so you can get away with drilled rotors without cracking them or getting too much fade. Drilled rotors reduce the rotational mass. 2 peice rotors can reduce it even more (depending on what you get).
You will want larger blanks, slotted, or dimpled for road racing. Maybe 2 piece again depending on class restrictions. The 2 peice rotors are nice because you can get better airflow from the center of the friction disc. Then you can actually have a lighter rotor that cools better and fades less than the solid even though it doesn't have as much heat capacity.
I would only use the drilled rotors strictly for autox. I wouldn't use them on the street (if you drive like I do) or in road racing. Upgrading to larger discs and getting drilled rotors wouldn't gain you much except for some bling (which I'm sure will get you some points if you are trying to compete at a car show). Just depends on what you want to do with the car really.
You will want larger blanks, slotted, or dimpled for road racing. Maybe 2 piece again depending on class restrictions. The 2 peice rotors are nice because you can get better airflow from the center of the friction disc. Then you can actually have a lighter rotor that cools better and fades less than the solid even though it doesn't have as much heat capacity.
I would only use the drilled rotors strictly for autox. I wouldn't use them on the street (if you drive like I do) or in road racing. Upgrading to larger discs and getting drilled rotors wouldn't gain you much except for some bling (which I'm sure will get you some points if you are trying to compete at a car show). Just depends on what you want to do with the car really.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,371
Likes: 1
From: Somerset Kentucky
Thanks for all the quality information. It was just a passing thought and a purely cosmetic change was the reason I even considered it in the first place. Looks like I'm staying stock. Thanks again y'all.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,495
Likes: 332
From: USA
Why bigger brakes? Because they look sick...and come in handy for the occasional track day. High performance cars use slotted and/or cross drilled rotors for a reason. The practice of Slotting or drilling rotors is technology that was developed from racing to primarily reduce weight and stopping distances.
TPS Brake kit for sale:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-p...grade-kit.html
TPS Brake kit for sale:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-p...grade-kit.html
Last edited by MotoJB; May 1, 2013 at 06:01 PM.
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Advanced
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 93
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From: Florida
Hope this helped.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,371
Likes: 1
From: Somerset Kentucky
Why bigger brakes? Because they look sick...and come in handy for the occasional track day. High performance cars use slotted and/or cross drilled rotors for a reason. The practice of Slotting or drilling rotors is technology that was developed from racing to primarily reduce weight and stopping distances.
TPS Brake kit for sale:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-p...grade-kit.html
TPS Brake kit for sale:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-p...grade-kit.html
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,371
Likes: 1
From: Somerset Kentucky
I upgraded the brakes for no other reason than I wanted better brakes... That said, the +sized Baer Eradispeed rotors (and new caliper bracket) fit inside the stock rear wheels. I went with the stock sized front rotors (also Baer) so I can't really speak to that. I will say after the pads seated I noticed about 1/2 inch or so of the inner part of the rear rotor is unswept by the stock pads. Not a big deal to me.. but worth mentioning.
Hope this helped.
Hope this helped.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,495
Likes: 332
From: USA
Umm...you sure? Yes, that was my opinion, I didn't say it was yours. Regardless "the honest truth" is that bigger brakes do provide benefit to people that actually drive their cars (like I occasionally do at the track).
Lastly "the honest truth" is that anyone that says they wouldn't want larger, better looking rotors or calipers on their car is lying. Solely cosmetic or not.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 1
From: Orange County California
Now I think the big chunky blanks look "mean" because I know they don't look good but make the car more badass and hardcore.
Kinda like they are saying "I don't give a f*** if these look as good as drilled and slotted, because I'm hardcore faster..."
That looks meaner to me now ;-)
Give me a set of XP10 pads and a big cheap blank rotor with some decent tires and I'll be faster than any of the boojy $2,000 per rotor drilled and slotted GT3 of Ferrari carbon Ceramic setups all day long, and look "meaner" doing it lol
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,371
Likes: 1
From: Somerset Kentucky
Umm...you sure? Yes, that was my opinion, I didn't say it was yours. Regardless "the honest truth" is that bigger brakes do provide benefit to people that actually drive their cars (like I occasionally do at the track).
Lastly "the honest truth" is that anyone that says they wouldn't want larger, better looking rotors or calipers on their car is lying. Solely cosmetic or not.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 956
Likes: 12
From: Eastern PA
Just to be clear- "sick" is a good thing- he meant he likes the way they look as they fill in his case the larger diameter of the aftermarket wheels on his ride. As you mentioned in the OP, cosmetics do play a factor-C5 brakes are ok but upgrades look better (especially the rear brakes) and behave better in certain conditions.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,371
Likes: 1
From: Somerset Kentucky
I tell you what, let's forget the whole issue, I'm gone...
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
The practice of Slotting or drilling rotors is technology that was developed from racing to primarily reduce weight and stopping distances.
Drilled rotors were to allow out-gassing from the 1960s asbestos brake pads. the slots were to scrap the asbestos build up off the rotors.
since asbestos is no longer used, out gasses is not an issue in brake pads. Holes are not really needed.
slotted or now the j-hooks are still used to scrape the rotors of any brake pad material.
Drill and slotted rotors are more just for the cosmetic appearance, not really for racing anymore.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,585
Likes: 28
From: Cedaredge Colorado
In case we all forgot the original question; it was what adjustments/changes need to accompany a change to larger brakes; not if anyone else approved of my question or not. I don't speak pffft and I never mentioned C6 Z06 brakes in the first place. I tell you what, let's forget the whole issue, I'm gone...
I tell you what, let's forget the whole issue, I'm gone...