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I have no doubt this inquiry has been beaten to a pulp, however I "tried" to search for threads and came up empty handed. I'd like to upgrade my C5 stock brakes to something that candidly looks more robust. Any suggestions for and upgrade that doesn't break the bank, I don't need track performance, being honest we just want something that looks a little more stout than the stock C5 brakes in the front and rear. Appreciate your thoughts and guidance.
Sounds like you can do a mild brake upgrade for relatively inexpensive: you keep your existing calipers and pads (or replace pads, your choice), and use C6 Z51 rotors + C6 Z51 caliper carriers. The rotors are a larger diameter and the carriers space the calipers out further.
I'm not sure how this impacts the ability to use stock wheels.
Sounds like you can do a mild brake upgrade for relatively inexpensive: you keep your existing calipers and pads (or replace pads, your choice), and use C6 Z51 rotors + C6 Z51 caliper carriers. The rotors are a larger diameter and the carriers space the calipers out further.
I'm not sure how this impacts the ability to use stock wheels.
If you use the base calipers in Z51 brackets the brake bias gets changed. The one difference in the base/Z51 calipers is the piston diameter in the rear calipers.
Bigger rotors to make it look more robust includes bigger wheels, if you like to keep stock rotors the 4 piston calipers from Wilwood could be it.
I have C6Z51 front and C6Z06 back rotors with retained emergency brake with stock C5 calipers and 18/19 wheels is a must, not cheap and much work to get it together but a great upgrade.
What problem are you trying to solve by upgrading your brakes? The answer to the question you pose cannot be answered before this one.
Originally Posted by MetalMan2
Sounds like you can do a mild brake upgrade for relatively inexpensive: you keep your existing calipers and pads (or replace pads, your choice), and use C6 Z51 rotors + C6 Z51 caliper carriers. The rotors are a larger diameter and the carriers space the calipers out further.
I'm not sure how this impacts the ability to use stock wheels.
In any case, for a car that sees anything less than a handful of track days a year, MetalMan2 has given the answer. And stock wheels will fit over these brakes.
Thanks All,
I will take a look at some of the options suggested. Good news is I do have larger wheels 18" front 19" rear (ZR1 Clone) for the C5. The existing brakes work fine, they simply look too small to my liking behind the new larger wheels. The car is not tracked. Thanks for your direction!
Thanks All,
I will take a look at some of the options suggested. Good news is I do have larger wheels 18" front 19" rear (ZR1 Clone) for the C5. The existing brakes work fine, they simply look too small to my liking behind the new larger wheels. The car is not tracked. Thanks for your direction!
C6Z51 front brake rotor 13.4 inch on C5 18 wheel C6Z06 rear brake rotor 13.4 inch on C5 19 wheel with retained hand brake, front C5/C6 caliper switched sides, modified front bracket.
MatsA - Looks good. To clarify, you did use C6 rotors and calipers all the way around the car? I was reading some other threads where it was stated the C6 either Z51 or Z06 setup was a direct replacement and would bolt up with no changes required.
But then also read some threads saying there is some additional modification required, brackets, lines, etc.
Might you have any guidance on what you did/didn't have to do to get your setup to work? Hoping to only have to do things once and have all the parts required before I start tearing things down.
Yes - I would absolutely want the larger rotors and calipers, pure aesthetics for me.
C6Z brakes are probably the most effective way to get brakes that look appropriately sized to fill up 18" or 19" wheels. They're not great for the track, but you already know this.
I vote for C6 Z06 brakes as well. Here is my 04 CE Z06 with stock 18” Speedlines front and rear.
Bought pads/calipers/rotors/pins/fluid on Amazon, brake lines from DRM motorsports.
Great visual upgrade and very good brake feel for a street car. Can you do better, sure, but for the price and basically direct bolt on...hard to beat.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
c6z brakes do look a lot better in my opinion but you need to make sure your wheels will clear... they also come with a weight penalty, on a stock or lightly modded car you will notice it but you can always add power to overcome this... there are some 2 piece rotors that will bring the weight down closer to stock c5 rotors but they are not cheap
Last edited by StingrayRebel; Jan 24, 2020 at 12:31 AM.
MatsA - Looks good. To clarify, you did use C6 rotors and calipers all the way around the car? I was reading some other threads where it was stated the C6 either Z51 or Z06 setup was a direct replacement and would bolt up with no changes required.
But then also read some threads saying there is some additional modification required, brackets, lines, etc.
Might you have any guidance on what you did/didn't have to do to get your setup to work? Hoping to only have to do things once and have all the parts required before I start tearing things down.
Yes - I would absolutely want the larger rotors and calipers, pure aesthetics for me.
Thanks all.
First a word on brake bias i have a 2002 where there are the updated brake bias controlled by the computer this update on 2001 and later.
Front is just the brackets and rotor C6Z51 no hardware modification.
Back is where the hardware work is needed first of all get a pair of C5/C6 front calipers any will work, get the same brackets as for the front so you need 4 brackets in total, the rotors in the back you need is the C6ZO6 this will retain your hand brake function, slightly longer brake line could be needed but if your car is lowered and no advanced driving jumping standard length is ok.
Work to be done is switch side of calipers RF in BL and LF to BR, the bracket needs to be cut like this see picture where one is cut and one is still stock this will line up the caliper, with this mod you will then run stock front brake pads in the back also, i use my car on the track and this setup is great and no problems with braking bias but observe only on 2001 and later otherwise you should change the spring in braking unit.
I can get you part numbers if you need.
I did C6 Z51 brakes with SS lines on my 97. I have 18” wheels at all 4 corners. Rear rotors spec 13” and fronts spec 13.40. Pretty cheap setup.
Question - When you switched your setup to the C6 brakes. Did you buy stainless C5 or stainless C6 lines? I'm guessing there is a difference but don't know for sure. Can you share what lines worked for you? Or anyone else what lines you may suggest upgrading to? (If any fittings need to be changed or additional parts to purchase?)
C5 Brake Upgrade
