I"m looking to upgrade the brake rotors on my base 2008 C6 A6. Stock rotors perform fine. I don't track the car but would like to dress up the wheels. I have ZR-1 aftermarket chrome wheels. Any recommendations on a drilled/slotted rotor - break pad combo?
I drive about 2k miles/yr. Don't want squeaky brakes or an inferior product that will crack prematurely. Not looking to upgrade the calipers.

Thx - Flatbush862

 

I put these on mine about a month ago. Got them from another forum member here but he did not know the brand.

 

For what you need, PowerStop or BrakeMotive will be a good choice...try ebay, or rock auto. they are good rotors, good price.

 

I am not a fan of drilled and slotted rotors, but with a 25% off through advance auto parts and free delivery to my door, PowerStop was hard to beat. They have been performing well. I have a C5 but I imagine the prices would be similar on a C6. They do look very nice.

 

Wilwood brakes are awesome!

 

Brakemotive $165... good product at a great price point.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Front-Rear-....m46890.l49292

 

Start with changing out the brake caliper brackets, to Z51 brackets, to be able to run the larger Z51 sized rotors in the first place. The base and the Z51 calipers are the pretty much the same, short of the difference in piston size so either can be used on either bracket to match the rotor size in play. Also, with the 19/20" rims, the larger diameter z51 rotors will help to fill the inner barrels out better (not as much as the Zr1 calipers and rotors, but a hell of lot better than the base rotors.

Now that you can run the larger z51 rotors, pick your poison, hence either just drilled, or just slotted. The drilled rotors work better for off gassing, but they have a problems with spider cracking at high speed road course temps, and where just slotted rotors work better for off gassing since they don't spider crack from the excess race heat. Hence drilled and slotted rotors, are the worse of the worse, since they are not a trade off of anything positive.

As for rotors, check around, but you can get deals on OEM drilled Z51 rotors on the cheap, and are machined without run-out to start with. On some of the cheaper knock out rotors, may have to either send them back for replacements if run-out it too bad, or may have to take them down to be turned to true them up before they can be used.

So instead of buying a package deal of z51 brackets and rotors (that are no deals even on ebay), check pricing at say rockauto for the brackets and the rotors on piece part pricing isntead.

The last thing that comes in play if you want better stopping power, really boils down to the pads in play. Myself, tend to favor the OEM HD pads since they are more aggressive, but there are other pads that have the same initial bite, pedal feed back as the HD pads, but slightly lower working temps ranges isntead (1521's come to mind).

 

For a high quality low dust performance street brake pad take a look at the Carbotech 1521 brake pad 100% non-corrosive dust will not harm your wheels, paint or rotors. Carbotech brake pads are 100% made in the USA and contain NRS Technology Here is a link to explain further what NRS technology is exactly: http://www.nrsbrakes.com


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The Carbotech Bobcat 1521™ is our high performance street compound that is our most successful compound. The Bobcat compound is known for its awesome release and modulation, along with unmatched rotor friendliness. Like our AX™ & XP™ line of compounds, Bobcat 1521™ is a Ceramic based friction material offering minimal rotor damage and non-corrosive dust. Bobcat 1521™ offers outstanding performance, even when cold, low dusting and low noise with an excellent initial bite. This compound’s virtually perfect linear torque production provides incredible braking force without ABS intervention. Bobcat 1521™ operating range starts out at ambient and goes up to 900°F. Bobcat 1521™ is suitable for ALL street cars, perfect for your tow vehicle, police cruiser. The Bobcat 1521™ compound has been found to last two-three times longer than OE pads you can purchase at a dealership or national retailer. That’s one of the beauties of Carbotech Ceramic brake compounds. Bobcat 1521™ is NOT recommended for any track use.
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Here's another thread...

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...on-rotors.html

 

I find it strange that no response questioned the OP as to which OEM brakes he currently has on his base '08.

So which is it? The JL9 or J55 brakes?
There is no such thing as Z51 brakes, despite some people referring to the J55 brakes in that way.

The RPO code will be listed on the label on the left side panel of the glove box. That assumes the OP is the original owner and has never changed the brakes. A better method is to also measure the diameter of the rear rotor (JL9 rear rotors are 12" vs J55 rotors at 13"), because lots of owners have changed out the original brakes for something else, including myself and is what the OP plans to do.

 

I like the idea of the z51 upgrade. I have the calipers up front that have “Corvette” on them. So if I read it correctly:
- z51 rotors will fit base model with z51 brackets
- base calipers can be utilized with z51 brackets
- z51 pads required or base pads?
- I have base stock size rims 18 “ and 19 “ respectively with stock offset - no clearance issues with upsized rotors?

thx Flatbush 862

 

Check if you have the J55 option on the sticker in the glove box. If you do, you have the brakes used in the Z51 option which may also be listed in the glove box and do not need to order brackets.

You are correct on you conclusions and the pads are the same fitment between the JL9 (base) and J55 (Z51) brakes.

 

Once you and several other people understand that "Z51" was simply a performance option on all base cars between 2005 and 2009 and not a model designation, it'll make things seem much clearer.
The Z51 option did include the J55 brakes among many other parts, but so did the '07-'13 F55 mag ride option, and the J55 brakes were even a stand-alone option for all base cars that didn't have either the F55 or Z51 option.
Anybody who still refers to the J55 brakes as Z51 brakes is ignorant of the facts.

All the base C6 Vettes OEM front calipers are identical, regardless of year or options. The rear calipers "look" identical, however the OEM rear ones used with the J55 brakes, have a 42mm piston vs the 45mm piston on the JL9 brakes. While the braking ability is slightly different, the real difference is in the pads and the condition of the tires and especially the ability of the driver.

The OEM pads used on all J55 brakes were more aggressive than those supplied on the JL9 brakes. Although lots of aftermarket pads have different qualities.

All OEM C6 base wheels, irrespective of year, style, or brake package, are identical in size and offset.

So once you confirm exactly which brake package you currently have, you'll be better equipped to know how to proceed.

 

How are they for brake dust compared to the stock brakes?

 

The brake dust is better than the J55 brakes and worse than the JL9 (base) brakes.

If I were doing it again I'd go with BrakeMotive Rotors and a different pad. Maybe the Duralast Gold pads if I was only using the car on the street.

A set of JL9 drilled and slotted Rotors without pads are only $130. They look amazing and because they are zinc coated they will not discolor like OEM.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Front-Rear-....m46890.l49292

If you have JL9 brakes and upgrade to the J55 brakes you will find the brackets are the high dollar item (approximately $250) and for a street driven car you will never feel or see the difference if using the same pad.

That's my two cents.

 

As far as the stock rotors and brake pads on 2005 base Corvette Coupe I went 75,000 miles on first brake job front and rears. I don't know if slotted or cross drilled rotors would last as long. But I don't track the car so those kinds of rotors and pads would be a waste of $$$ for me.
In street daily driving I don't think those kinds of brakes would be useful.

 

I agree a daily driven street car will see no real performance benefits, but there is also no downside to running them.

For under $200 looks alone are reason enough for many to upgrade, especially if you are replacing worn pads and rotors as the price difference is pennies.

 

I think @CamarosRus got some off ebay that he is real happy with. He's got some pretty forged open wheels in front of them too.

 

When my original Z51 rotors wore thin, I replaced them with Baer Eradispeed drilled & slotted rotors. Larger than stock, and a new bracket will be required for the rear brake caliper. Baer removes the iron core of each rotor and replaces it with a riveted aluminum center that's two pounds lighter and won't rust. Combined with Carbotech Bobcat 1521 ceramic pads, you have beautiful dust free brakes that will meet your street needs for many years.

 

I went with the R1 Concepts drilled/slotted rotors and ceramic pad kit for my 2005 base convertible. Installation went smooth and they are performing great. Excellent stopping power and no squeaking. Photos are right after install before break-in process.