Hey guys,

I was reading some threads and a lot of people tried to do creative things with CTS V, CTS V2, C7Z51, C7Z06, C6ZR1 calipers, rotors, etc... even I think someone mentioned mustang GT 14.5" or 15" rotors that are cheap or something like that.

However nothing 'quite' fit or happened working...

Then it got me thinking, for more rotor choices, one way to open up doors is using hub adapters, the stuff drift crowd uses to run 5x114.3 wheels and rotors. They redrill. But what if there is a large enough rotor that is native to 5x114.3 that could be cost-effective?

Just a thought that popped in my head... I guess it always comes down to the need for caliper brackets at the end of the day if we consider any other brembo oem option, porsche, bmw, audi, etc...

I know as in the other threads, people mention "too much brakes" but... there can never be too much brakes... just the negative added weight which probably can down the line be reduced with 2 piece rotors.

 

Well, a somewhat common upgrade for C5s is to run C6 Z06 brakes. All the parts play nicely, but you will need different front wheels to fit the larger caliper (as you will with most BBKs). You can sometimes find great deals on C6 brakes from C6 guys selling their parts after upgrading their own cars. You can also buy all the parts directly from Rock Auto. You get the benefit of knowing you're buying new (or at least freshly rebuilt) parts vs used parts with unknown history, but you're going to pay a good bit more than you probably would for a used set.

Aftermarket BBKs are priced pretty competitively with OEM options, and most OEMs are using brakes from those manufacturers (Brembo, etc) already. If you're serious about making the move, start pricing up your options. There are plenty of aftermarket options for Corvettes at a wide range of price points.

And yes, there is such a thing as "too much brake". You're correct that larger brakes bring additional unsprung weight. This can have negative effects on handling. You will be limited by tire friction. Once you have the ability to lock the wheels at will (or get into the ABS to prevent lock) you have sufficient braking force available, and the negatives of the added weight come along with no additional benefit. The only other advantage from that point is heat absorption/dissipation capability. Larger brakes are generally able to handle more heat before fading, but won't provide additional stopping capability.

Factory brakes are more than capable for street driving, as well as autocross and light track use. You can get a lot more capability out of factory brakes by upgrading the pads and fluid before you need to start worrying about going larger. If you're finding yourself at the limits of factory brakes then you can start looking at your options, but it's not just about fitting the biggest set of brakes under the wheel that you possibly can.