C7 knuckles and brakes
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 368
Likes: 16
C7 knuckles and brakes
Anyone actually done it? Seems like an easy upgrade.
To be clear, I don't have ABS or traction control...
Heck, don't have most of that stuff. It's an aluminum CJ2 that has been widened and lengthened... and uses fron and rear Corvette cradles and an LS2.
I needed to reaplce the ball joints anyway.
To be clear, I don't have ABS or traction control...
Heck, don't have most of that stuff. It's an aluminum CJ2 that has been widened and lengthened... and uses fron and rear Corvette cradles and an LS2.
I needed to reaplce the ball joints anyway.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 368
Likes: 16
Yeah, I like the C7 options for better and more common Brembo brakes.
I think the fronts will go right on, may keep the rear C6 and put front C5 calipers on the back.
To be clear, this is C7 arms and knuckles on a C6 geometry based sub frame that was built for a Camaro we did. Yes, the steering arms are cut off and we use a bump steer corrected arm. Not rocket science. It bolts to the unit bearing bolts, plenty strong.
Last edited by hairymeister; Jun 15, 2018 at 12:34 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 368
Likes: 16
These are the cradles I am building for a different, all aluminum CJ2A with an LS2.
Yeah, I know, not a C5.
On the last feew Camaros we did, with C7 arms and spindles we used Baer brakes for a C7 in front.
To be clear, the suspension geometry and all the pick points are pure C5/6.
Seems like in the front, a C7 knuckle gives you common brake mounting points for a nice 6 piston caliper and big rotor.
I also think moving the front C5 caliper to the back or using a front C6 caliper in the back would give you decent brakes.
I am also looking at some of the other Brembo variants that use more common caliper pick points.
Yeah, I know, not a C5.
On the last feew Camaros we did, with C7 arms and spindles we used Baer brakes for a C7 in front.
To be clear, the suspension geometry and all the pick points are pure C5/6.
Seems like in the front, a C7 knuckle gives you common brake mounting points for a nice 6 piston caliper and big rotor.
I also think moving the front C5 caliper to the back or using a front C6 caliper in the back would give you decent brakes.
I am also looking at some of the other Brembo variants that use more common caliper pick points.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 368
Likes: 16
Have not bolted my sub frames in and i have no ride hieght point of reference
May swap out the rear C7 bushings for C5 ones and run the C7 upper arms.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 31,977
Likes: 487
From: Guinness Its whats for B'fast JAWGA
CI 3-4-5-9 Veteran
It would be interesting to know if the C7 knuckles use a late C6 bearing pack. The late C6 bearing uses a different sensor than the C5 but bolt on to the knuckle without modification. So if the C7 bearing pack is the same as the late C6 then the C5 would bolt on to retaining ABS, active handling etc.
The new Brembos are nice but you can get some nice Wilwoods very reasonably priced or a used Stoptech or Essex designed AP kit. My last car had a MovIt Brembo caliper kit with 13" rotors using the old Brembo Big Reds which worked amazingly well on the street. In my opinion you would need to be on track to notice a change with the bigger brake setup and if you are doing that go with a kit designed for track use.
Last edited by 93Polo; Jun 29, 2018 at 09:30 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 368
Likes: 16
The later C6 knuckles were basically C5 knuckles using a better forging process. C5 knuckles have failed under track use. I have done the swap and it is a complete bolt on. I have read that the steering arm changed slightly for a slightly quicker turn it.
It would be interesting to know if the C7 knuckles use a late C6 bearing pack. The late C6 bearing uses a different sensor than the C5 but bolt on to the knuckle without modification. So if the C7 bearing pack is the same as the late C6 then the C5 would bolt on to retaining ABS, active handling etc.
The new Brembos are nice but you can get some nice Wilwoods very reasonably priced or a used Stoptech or Essex designed AP kit. My last car had a MovIt Brembo caliper kit with 13" rotors using the old Brembo Big Reds which worked amazingly well on the street. In my opinion you would need to be on track to notice a change with the bigger brake setup and if you are doing that go with a kit designed for track use.
It would be interesting to know if the C7 knuckles use a late C6 bearing pack. The late C6 bearing uses a different sensor than the C5 but bolt on to the knuckle without modification. So if the C7 bearing pack is the same as the late C6 then the C5 would bolt on to retaining ABS, active handling etc.
The new Brembos are nice but you can get some nice Wilwoods very reasonably priced or a used Stoptech or Essex designed AP kit. My last car had a MovIt Brembo caliper kit with 13" rotors using the old Brembo Big Reds which worked amazingly well on the street. In my opinion you would need to be on track to notice a change with the bigger brake setup and if you are doing that go with a kit designed for track use.
You can put C6 bearings on the C7 knuckles. It's what's on my front cradle. The rear cradle is a C7/C7 combo, as I needed 33 spline hubs.
I think these brakes will be fine on this car... it's 1950lbs all in and will be raced after SEMA.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 31,977
Likes: 487
From: Guinness Its whats for B'fast JAWGA
CI 3-4-5-9 Veteran
Very cool project.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 874
Likes: 107
From: Detroit MI
I had a Cadillac ATS with the 4-pot Brembo brakes on it, and they were some of the best brakes I've ever driven for a street car. They use the same mounting pattern as the C7, and the calipers can be had for dirt cheap. If you can simply swap to C7 knuckles and reuse the C5 bearings, that would be a fantastic cheap brake upgrade. I might try this...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 368
Likes: 16
I had a Cadillac ATS with the 4-pot Brembo brakes on it, and they were some of the best brakes I've ever driven for a street car. They use the same mounting pattern as the C7, and the calipers can be had for dirt cheap. If you can simply swap to C7 knuckles and reuse the C5 bearings, that would be a fantastic cheap brake upgrade. I might try this...
I have em.You can swap on C7 knuckles. Easily done.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 31,977
Likes: 487
From: Guinness Its whats for B'fast JAWGA
CI 3-4-5-9 Veteran
I had a Cadillac ATS with the 4-pot Brembo brakes on it, and they were some of the best brakes I've ever driven for a street car. They use the same mounting pattern as the C7, and the calipers can be had for dirt cheap. If you can simply swap to C7 knuckles and reuse the C5 bearings, that would be a fantastic cheap brake upgrade. I might try this...
