c6 Base Brake Questions
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 461
Likes: 131
From: Costa Mesa CA
c6 Base Brake Questions
Ok, I am pretty new to car mechanics so you will have to bare with me. I have heard that a majority of a c6's stopping power comes from the front brakes. I was wondering if I could swap the front brake rotors with some Baer eradispeeds and install standard z51 rotors on the back? This would save me a bundle of money and theoretically radically increase my stopping power. Is this something that is not recommended? Pro's and con's would be great.
Greg
Greg
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,253
Likes: 50
From: Sandy Eggo Calif.
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12, '16
I hate to say it, but the Baer's won't increase your stopping power. The majority of the difference in stopping between the Z51 and the base is due to the Z51's stickier tires. If you want to increase the stopping power, Wilwood sells a six/ four piston kit that will fit the stock wheels.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 461
Likes: 131
From: Costa Mesa CA
Cost?
That's weird, they state on the website that stopping power is noticeably better. THe stock braking system is pretty crappy, I am not impressed at all.
How expensive is that willwood kit? Isn't it like $3000+ dollars? I wanted to increase my braking around the streets not for track competition.
Greg
How expensive is that willwood kit? Isn't it like $3000+ dollars? I wanted to increase my braking around the streets not for track competition.
Greg
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,089
Likes: 14
Originally Posted by Muscles
That's weird, they state on the website that stopping power is noticeably better. THe stock braking system is pretty crappy, I am not impressed at all.
How expensive is that willwood kit? Isn't it like $3000+ dollars? I wanted to increase my braking around the streets not for track competition.
Greg
How expensive is that willwood kit? Isn't it like $3000+ dollars? I wanted to increase my braking around the streets not for track competition.
Greg
You won't see any advantage with racing brakes on the street. Their claim to fame is less fade in a racing situation where you're doing maximum effort braking again and again around the track. They're designed to handle very high heat loads. Street driving almost never gets brakes that hot. Racing brake pads don't work well until they are hot, so they'll give you worse performance than stock on the street.
Note that the Z51 brakes use the same calipers as the base, and have drilled rotors that create stress risers which will cause the rotors to crack if you were to get them as hot as racing brakes. The base brakes can glow red without any danger of cracking. All in all, aside from cosmetics, the base braking system on the C6 is better than the Z51 brakes, even on the track. On the street, they're actually better than racing brakes because they stop better when cold.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
If the Bear caliper is a two pistion caliper it is also made by PBR just like the corvette caliper. Identical excpt the name on the caliper.
the Bear 4 and 6 pistion calipers are ALCON caliper and are very good and expeisive.
The Corvette PBR caliper was designed to be as good if not better then almost all 4 piston calipers.
To get better stopping put on better pads, DOT 4 brake fluid and wider and sticker front tires.
To give you an idea I use Wilwood H pads ( race pads) Castorl SRF brake fluid ( best and most expensive in the biz), DRM brake cooling ducts, Stainless steel pistions. When coming down the front straight at VIRginia International raceway at 140 mph I can almost have my ABS lock up ( dont want three flat spots ) and the car almost does a stoppie ( rear wheels get real light) to slow down to 50 mph to make a 180* right hand corner. That is 140 down to 50 mph in about 200 feet also on 12" wide front race slicks. Stock pads and brake fluid on stock tires takes 450 feet to do the same.
BBKs dont always stop better or faster, just prevent brake fade and the equipment last longer.
a few pictures:
Cracked D/S rotors:
Cracked D/S rotor off a Porsche GT3 race car - rotor cracked with 4 hours of race use.
and a 1400* stock Raybesos rotor Nice orange glow
the Bear 4 and 6 pistion calipers are ALCON caliper and are very good and expeisive.
The Corvette PBR caliper was designed to be as good if not better then almost all 4 piston calipers.
To get better stopping put on better pads, DOT 4 brake fluid and wider and sticker front tires.
To give you an idea I use Wilwood H pads ( race pads) Castorl SRF brake fluid ( best and most expensive in the biz), DRM brake cooling ducts, Stainless steel pistions. When coming down the front straight at VIRginia International raceway at 140 mph I can almost have my ABS lock up ( dont want three flat spots ) and the car almost does a stoppie ( rear wheels get real light) to slow down to 50 mph to make a 180* right hand corner. That is 140 down to 50 mph in about 200 feet also on 12" wide front race slicks. Stock pads and brake fluid on stock tires takes 450 feet to do the same.
BBKs dont always stop better or faster, just prevent brake fade and the equipment last longer.
a few pictures:
Cracked D/S rotors:
Cracked D/S rotor off a Porsche GT3 race car - rotor cracked with 4 hours of race use.
and a 1400* stock Raybesos rotor Nice orange glow
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 56,381
Likes: 79
Originally Posted by Muscles
That's weird, they state on the website that stopping power is noticeably better. THe stock braking system is pretty crappy, I am not impressed at all.
How expensive is that willwood kit? Isn't it like $3000+ dollars? I wanted to increase my braking around the streets not for track competition.
Greg
How expensive is that willwood kit? Isn't it like $3000+ dollars? I wanted to increase my braking around the streets not for track competition.
Greg
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 461
Likes: 131
From: Costa Mesa CA
Originally Posted by MAJ Z06
Pretty crappy? It worked for me on the autobahn and around the Nurburgring. You say yourself that you are new to this, so take our advice.
Greg
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,259
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From: Monroe Township New Jersey
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
St. Jude donor in memory of jpee '14
I agree with Tommy V and shopdog. But you may want to consider replacing your stock brake lines with stainless steel brake lines. The stock lines expand as you brake, reducing the efficiency of the system. Steel lines do not expand. The steel lines will give you a improved pedal feel or quicker pedal response.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,707
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles
Originally Posted by shopdog
TommyV has it right. Even the base brakes could lock the wheels if ABS would let them. Brakes can't do more than that. It is the stickier tires that make the difference in stopping distance between the base and Z51.
You won't see any advantage with racing brakes on the street. Their claim to fame is less fade in a racing situation where you're doing maximum effort braking again and again around the track. They're designed to handle very high heat loads. Street driving almost never gets brakes that hot. Racing brake pads don't work well until they are hot, so they'll give you worse performance than stock on the street.
Note that the Z51 brakes use the same calipers as the base, and have drilled rotors that create stress risers which will cause the rotors to crack if you were to get them as hot as racing brakes. The base brakes can glow red without any danger of cracking. All in all, aside from cosmetics, the base braking system on the C6 is better than the Z51 brakes, even on the track. On the street, they're actually better than racing brakes because they stop better when cold.
You won't see any advantage with racing brakes on the street. Their claim to fame is less fade in a racing situation where you're doing maximum effort braking again and again around the track. They're designed to handle very high heat loads. Street driving almost never gets brakes that hot. Racing brake pads don't work well until they are hot, so they'll give you worse performance than stock on the street.
Note that the Z51 brakes use the same calipers as the base, and have drilled rotors that create stress risers which will cause the rotors to crack if you were to get them as hot as racing brakes. The base brakes can glow red without any danger of cracking. All in all, aside from cosmetics, the base braking system on the C6 is better than the Z51 brakes, even on the track. On the street, they're actually better than racing brakes because they stop better when cold.
