Is this a crazy idea? :hat: I'm thinking of upgrading to Z06 brake pads in the front. I also have a brake bias spring upgrade from Mid-America to send more stopping force to the rears. Should this give me better 60-0 times? Or should I forget about the bias spring and just go with Z06 pads up front?
Fianl question, will i see any braking improvement on the street from installing Z06 rear cooling ducts?

 

Do the spring.

Pads no comment can I offer.

Ducts could bring longer pad life (from cool air) but no performance.

I welcome the thoughts here, IMHO the Z06 better braking distances come from bigger tires and lighter weight as the systems are the same except brake pad compound.


[Modified by Kenny94945, 8:41 AM 4/25/2003]

 

Another cheap and real improvement is stainless steel braided brake lines.
I have installed these in three of my other cars with good results, plus the brake pedal feel is improved. This makes the system just work faster in terms of initial brake application.

Bought mine for the Corvette from Summit, and they await installation.

 

Z06 brake pads were developed a little more toward track conditions. Z06 brake pads will fade noticeably less under frequent, repeated heavy use; They're engineered to perform better under extended, high temperature usage. For the street, you won't likely see appreciable reduction in 60-0 times.

You usually screw around with the brake bias only if the car isn't handling like you want it too. Sending more brake power to the rears will loosen the car up when turning and help to reduce understeer or pushing in the corners. But if you don't have a complaint with the handling, probably better to leave it alone for now.

I dunno if you can really appreciably reduce 60-0 times by changing the bias. If you're worried about emergency stopping, it might be worth it to try messing around in a large parking or deserted road to try out the anti-lock brakes. They don't stop you earlier, but they do allow you to steer around. I've had occasion to use ABS on the street twice (on another car) in an emergency, and it really saved my butt.

IMHO, the rear cooling ducts won't help your brake performance on the street. But they look cool.

 

On the street the only thing that will help you is better tires. That is the only reason the Z06 stops better, not because of the pads and not because of the weight. Put tires on and you will stop the same. The stock brakes are plenty strong for any street use.

 

Make sure to get the front pads for 2002 and later Z06's as these are even a little bit more aggressive than the earlier pads.

The brake bias spring is made by Doug Rippie Motorsports here in Minnesota. Call them and ask for Peter. He will be happy to help you with any questions you have. Everybody I have talked to that has incorporated this simple mod has been pleased, but they all run their cars on tracks. I plan to install the spring in the near future.

Air ducts do not decrease stopping distance. They just help to keep the pads, pistons and rotors cool so that you can keep stopping over and over just as well as the first couple of times. They are not needed unless you track your car.

Have fun!

 

:iagree: If your brakes are strong enough to force ABS to kick in, only better/larger tires, real downforce (won't really get it below 100 mph, even with a wing or aero kit) or lighter weight can help.

Brake venting, different brake pads/rotors and the like only come into play for repeated high speed applications that typically happen on a track.
:cheers:

 

Definately keep the brake bias spring. Got mine from Doug Rippie Motorsports and noticed an immediate change in equalization and less forward force (nose dipping) during hard braking.
:yesnod:

 

Actually I disagree with this. Causing the ABS to kick in just means you exceeded the friction the tires are able to generate, this bringing them to a halt. With some (undersized) braking systems, it is very hard to find the edge, so you are constantly going over it (locking up) or nowhere near it (not stopping fast enough). With a more linear/larger swept area braking system, you can get very close to the edge without going over, thus stopping faster with the same traction from the tires. Better pads help here too.

That said - better pads are an upgrade but keep in mind that "better" pads usually dust and squeak more too so you should temper your decisions with the compromises that come with that decision.

Just my $.02.

 

Quote:
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Actually I disagree with this. Causing the ABS to kick in just means you exceeded the friction the tires are able to generate, this bringing them to a halt. With some (undersized) braking systems, it is very hard to find the edge, so you are constantly going over it (locking up) or nowhere near it (not stopping fast enough). With a more linear/larger swept area braking system, you can get very close to the edge without going over, thus stopping faster with the same traction from the tires. Better pads help here too.
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If you exceed the friction of the tires and ABS kicks in, then you prove your weak link is the tires not the brake system. Just an fyi larger swept area does nothing but decrease pad wear and help spread heat on severe duty, doen not help street braking.

I know many aftermarket brake systems claim better 60-0 stopping, most of those claims are not true. There is possible small gains from changing the balance but these are small maybe gains. I have seen stopping distances as short as 88 feet claimed, that is not possible on stock tires. They had to be using really sticky tires. I actually inquired to one company as to what tires and how they proved this. Well they never got back to me following their day to prove this.

I upgraded to larger rotors and bigger calipers and I know it does not stop any shorter but it does buy me lots on a track day and only at a track day.