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Old Jan 11, 2011 | 08:26 PM
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Default Question for you brake technical experts

Why is it that the Z51 rear calipers for a C6 have smaller diameter pistons then the standard rear calipers?
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Old Jan 11, 2011 | 08:34 PM
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Because the rotors is larger.
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Old Jan 11, 2011 | 08:36 PM
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Originally Posted by timd38
Because the rotors is larger.
cha ching
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Old Jan 11, 2011 | 08:41 PM
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I'm sorry, but I don't understand. If you convert standard brakes to Z51, all you need is the larger brackets to push the calipers further away from the stock position to accomodate the larger rotors. And of course you would buy the larger size rotors. That is what I have done and it works fine. So why to the rear calipers need to have smaller pistons? I just don't get it.
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Old Jan 11, 2011 | 08:54 PM
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Originally Posted by mfquinn
I'm sorry, but I don't understand. If you convert standard brakes to Z51, all you need is the larger brackets to push the calipers further away from the stock position to accomodate the larger rotors. And of course you would buy the larger size rotors. That is what I have done and it works fine. So why to the rear calipers need to have smaller pistons? I just don't get it.
To reduce the clamping force in relationship to the front brakes to better balance the cars handling on the track.
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Old Jan 11, 2011 | 08:55 PM
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Originally Posted by mfquinn
I'm sorry, but I don't understand. If you convert standard brakes to Z51, all you need is the larger brackets to push the calipers further away from the stock position to accomodate the larger rotors. And of course you would buy the larger size rotors. That is what I have done and it works fine. So why to the rear calipers need to have smaller pistons? I just don't get it.
You don't NEED to change the rear calipers. You asked WHY the Z51 pistons where smaller. Plenty of people use the base rear caliper with Z51 mounts.

I'd give you my opinion that Z51 rotors aren't an upgrade, but that's another thread.

San
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Old Jan 11, 2011 | 09:06 PM
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Thanks. So it is for brake bias then.

And I agree that the Z51 rotors aren't much of an upgrade. However I went with the Z51 size DBA slotted rotors for the track. I figured the bigger the rotor, the bigger the area to disipate heat. For the street I just put on my HPS pads with the crappy drilled Z51 rotors.
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Old Jan 11, 2011 | 09:32 PM
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Originally Posted by mfquinn
Thanks. So it is for brake bias then.

And I agree that the Z51 rotors aren't much of an upgrade. However I went with the Z51 size DBA slotted rotors for the track. I figured the bigger the rotor, the bigger the area to disipate heat. For the street I just put on my HPS pads with the crappy drilled Z51 rotors.
Hey Mike

Yeah, the rotors are just heat sinks, so bigger should be better!!

The Z51 rotors are larger in diameter than the base C6 rotors:

Base.....front 12.8 inch rear 12 inch

Z51......front 13.4 inch rear 13 inch

I think the slightly smaller pistons in the Z51 rear calipers is for tweaking the bias, but I don't know why that's required at all.

The C6 has DRP (Dynamic Rear Proportioning) and that should easily be able to compensate without requiring a small difference in the pistons.

You shouldn't have any problems at all running the non-Z51 rear caliper with the Z51 rotors.

C'ya during the Rolex 24!!

Bob
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Old Jan 11, 2011 | 09:45 PM
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It's to make up for the badges
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Old Jan 12, 2011 | 01:30 AM
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Originally Posted by glenB
It's to make up for the badges
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