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Base brake upgrade

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Old Apr 4, 2009 | 09:42 PM
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Default Base brake upgrade

I would like to upgrade the brakes on my base 06 C6 to the Z 51 brakes, what would be involved and is it worth it? I have allready upgraded to slot rotors and ceramic pads.
Thanks

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Old Apr 4, 2009 | 09:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Rada 1
I would like to upgrade the brakes on my base 06 C6 to the Z 51 brakes, what would be involved and is it worth it? I have allready upgraded to slot rotors and cremic pads.
Thanks
You need brackets and new rotors. Based on what you have already done, I would leave it alone.
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Old Apr 4, 2009 | 10:44 PM
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Originally Posted by timd38
You need brackets and new rotors. Based on what you have already done, I would leave it alone.
I agree. Larger drilled rotors are not an "upgrade". If you want the looks of drilled rotors, that's another thing altogether.

San
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Old Apr 4, 2009 | 11:49 PM
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SS lines is where it's at, by far the best upgrade for the money, if you use your brakes hard.
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Old Apr 4, 2009 | 11:56 PM
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Originally Posted by FRANKENSTEIN4x42000
SS lines is where it's at, by far the best upgrade for the money, if you use your brakes hard.
Lines only improve brake feel. They are a decent upgrade for the money, but they don't make a big difference.

San
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Old Apr 5, 2009 | 10:26 AM
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Originally Posted by oldmansan
Lines only improve brake feel. They are a decent upgrade for the money, but they don't make a big difference.

San
If they don't make a difference, how can they be a decent upgrade? I've read and heard they do make a difference in hard braking.
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Old Apr 5, 2009 | 11:24 AM
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Stainless lines do help reduce swelling and stretching that can happen in rubber OEM lines (creating a more firm, responsive feel) that I believe also relates to some level of increased stopping power when they get HOT.

The idea is that the rubber lines will expand more under high heat - even if only a bit. That increase in volume reduces the hydraulic pressure than would have been applied to the calipers/brakes.

Also, I believe they also help to reduce H20 seepage.
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Old Apr 5, 2009 | 01:42 PM
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Thanks for the info, i guess I will just stay with what I have!:o
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Old Apr 5, 2009 | 02:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Keith N
If they don't make a difference, how can they be a decent upgrade? I've read and heard they do make a difference in hard braking.
In my opinion they are similar to a master cylinder brace. It improves brake feel for a firmer pedal (and better feedback) but I don't know that either equates to actually improving stopping distances. I have stainless lines and a master cylinder brace on my other car and feel they were worth the money. I hope that makes sense.

San
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Old Apr 5, 2009 | 08:01 PM
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Originally Posted by oldmansan
Lines only improve brake feel. They are a decent upgrade for the money, but they don't make a big difference.

San
I must disagree, rubber hoses will swell under hard braking big time, i used to race superbike back in the day and ss lines were the biggest improvement you could do, if you don't drive your car hard and never do hard stops as in track days then your are right it's just a feel thing, i in the other hand drive my car pretty hard sometimes and i love them.
JMHO
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Old Apr 5, 2009 | 08:07 PM
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Originally Posted by FRANKENSTEIN4x42000
I must disagree, rubber hoses will swell under hard braking big time, i used to race superbike back in the day and ss lines were the biggest improvement you could do, if you don't drive your car hard and never do hard stops as in track days then your are right it's just a feel thing, i in the other hand drive my car pretty hard sometimes and i love them.
JMHO
Opinions vary. I've smoked Motul RBF600 at the track, but I obviously don't drive my car hard. Any changes you can make to affect feel and modulation are important in my opinion. I've never seen a test where a comparison of brake lines changed stopping distance. Not to say there isn't one, I just haven't seen one. I do feel lines and master cylinder braces are good upgrades, I just don't know that they provide quantifiable results. JMHO.

San
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Old Apr 6, 2009 | 12:33 AM
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Originally Posted by oldmansan
Opinions vary. I've smoked Motul RBF600 at the track, but I obviously don't drive my car hard. Any changes you can make to affect feel and modulation are important in my opinion. I've never seen a test where a comparison of brake lines changed stopping distance. Not to say there isn't one, I just haven't seen one. I do feel lines and master cylinder braces are good upgrades, I just don't know that they provide quantifiable results. JMHO.

San
Like i said IF you don't drive your car hard you will not see the benifit of ss lines, i agree with you modualtion is very important, unfortunatly with the 4 channel ABS on our cars you donn't have to be a Formula 1 drive to push the pedal hard, and that is the quickest way to stop a new vette.
One last thing my 79 Honda CBX with rubber hoses couldn't even lock the front wheel on dry pavement, it was state of the art in it's day, with the ss lines it will lock it very easily, not that locking a front wheel on a motorcycle is a good idea but it proves the point, it gives you that extra breaking power you will need on the 4 or 5 laps. Lastly when was the last time you saw a race car using rubber hoses?
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Old Apr 6, 2009 | 12:42 AM
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Originally Posted by FRANKENSTEIN4x42000
Like i said IF you don't drive your car hard you will not see the benifit of ss lines, i agree with you modualtion is very important, unfortunatly with the 4 channel ABS on our cars you donn't have to be a Formula 1 drive to push the pedal hard, and that is the quickest way to stop a new vette.
One last thing my 79 Honda CBX with rubber hoses couldn't even lock the front wheel on dry pavement, it was state of the art in it's day, with the ss lines it will lock it very easily, not that locking a front wheel on a motorcycle is a good idea but it proves the point, it gives you that extra breaking power you will need on the 4 or 5 laps. Lastly when was the last time you saw a race car using rubber hoses?
When was the last time a 30-year old motorcycle was relavent?

San
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Old Apr 6, 2009 | 12:44 AM
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Originally Posted by oldmansan
I agree. Larger drilled rotors are not an "upgrade". If you want the looks of drilled rotors, that's another thing altogether.

San
don't larger diameter rotors have more "leverage and mass" which all things being equal would equate to better braking?
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Old Apr 6, 2009 | 01:06 PM
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Originally Posted by oldmansan
When was the last time a 30-year old motorcycle was relavent?

San
It only shows the basic system has not changed!!!!!! i can see this is going into the stupid side of things i will bow out.
thank you are right, have a nice day.
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Old Apr 6, 2009 | 01:13 PM
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Originally Posted by bosco 08
don't larger diameter rotors have more "leverage and mass" which all things being equal would equate to better braking?
Larger rotors give you more brake torque = better stopping power. Z06 rotors are larger than Z51 which are larger than base. Z51 caliper and base calipers are the same. Z51 calipers are on a bracket to make them fit the larger diameter rotor (front).
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Old Apr 6, 2009 | 02:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Rada 1
I would like to upgrade the brakes on my base 06 C6 to the Z 51 brakes, what would be involved and is it worth it? I have allready upgraded to slot rotors and ceramic pads.
Thanks
I am willing to bet that you would be happy with a more aggressive brake pad.

And if you want to read about ss lines versus rubber go to stoptech page.

http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp...teel_Q&A.shtml
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