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My 2K base model auto is in need of a brake refresh, including rotors. As I am planning on participating in HPDE's I have been looking for budget/easy to do upgrades. It is my understanding a C6 J55 front rotor and caliper mount will allow me to use my current C5 caliper while getting a larger diameter rotor. Seeing I need to replace rotors anyway I would like to do this if it in fact works, has anyone done this or can confirm it is possible? Thanks
My 2K base model auto is in need of a brake refresh, including rotors. As I am planning on participating in HPDE's I have been looking for budget/easy to do upgrades. It is my understanding a C6 J55 front rotor and caliper mount will allow me to use my current C5 caliper while getting a larger diameter rotor. Seeing I need to replace rotors anyway I would like to do this if it in fact works, has anyone done this or can confirm it is possible? Thanks
All MY 2000 C5s were base, only separated by convertible, FRC, and coupe.
I see what you did there... I meant between different suspension packages. New to C5's, still learning the options, when they were available and what was included with them. I will post the thread in the recommended forum. Thanks.
Good call out by MetalMan2, you will need 18" wheels to run the C6 Z51 setup. However, some nice Centric or KNS blank rotors, stainless braided lines, Dot 4 fluid, and a set of track pads (I've used Raybestos ST43s) will have you feeling very very confident at the beginner/early intermediate stages of HPDE on your stock setup. You could g a little further and upgrade to DRM stainless pistons, but not necessary at all when getting started.
KNS plain brake rotors, dot 4 hawk HP600 fluid, and Hawk HP+ pads. It’s all you need, you can daily drive, do auto cross, or HPDE with this setup. Hawk HP+ pads make some noise and dust, but any compound that you want for an HPDE will all make noise and dust. You can probably daily drive on carbotech XP8, I haven’t though. Hawk pads just fit my budget better. Rockauto has raybestos track pads, I haven’t tried those either.
I used the Hawk HP+ pads for low speed autocross and they worked well; good initial bite and easy to modulate. However, for HPDE they would overheat and fade in high speed braking zones. I switched to the Hawk DTC-30 pad for HPDE with good results. I was running 200TW street tires and no aero. Both pads are noisy and produce a lot of dust.
Hawk HP+ work for me, I’m a newb driver at HPDE, I can only go like once a year. I’ve never used 200TW tires, I heard there great. Best I’ve used is summer only 360TW tires. I can tell that a 200TW tires work better when I watch other cars fly by me. If you’re going to max out the brakes, I guess going with a better hawk pad would be better, for HPDE. I’ll keep that in mind for myself. Daily driving the hawkHP+ is scary and nice at the same time. If I brake hard with someone behind me, those pads stop the car so fast, I’ll get rear ended. They saved me once already when someone decided to make a u-turn right in front of me on a two lane country road. Initial bite and stopping power is great with HP+ pads. The noise and dust just suck.
I appreciate the feedback. I do have an 18/19 set up now. If I didn't have to replace the rotors as well I would just run stock. However if I have to buy new rotors anyway why not upgrade. I already have the C6 Z51 caliper brackets, seems the only cost over stock is whatever a set of C6 J55 rotors cost over C5. This is all part of my over winter things to do list. I need to put a trans cooler on it first, good brakes do no good with a fried trans. With the temps I saw the cooler is first priority. Then the brakes.
C6 Z51 rear calipers have a smaller piston, 41mm vs 44mm, than C5 rear calipers. It's possible you will be shifting the brake bias towards the rear with this mod. Probably not a huge deal on the street, but at the track it could show. Maybe some more experienced with this mod can chime in.
Brake upgrade
I meant between different suspension packages. New to C5's, still learning the options, when they were available and what was included with them. I will post the thread in the recommended forum. Thanks.
