Hi all,
I'm thinking to upgrade my brakes in the2008 Z51 I got.
As I'm considering going for one of those big brakes package for the front I was wondering if I can then retrofit the current fronts 13.8x1.25 on the Rear without affecting stability or giving braking issues??

Is it worth it, will it brake much better? as anyone done this before?

thank you

 

Z06 brakes are better than the z51's, but will require a different rim off sets or spacer to get the needed clearance between the inside spoke of the rim and the outside of the calipers. Same goes for Wilwood and Bembo, stoptech upgrade brake kits.

Hands down, the Zr1 are even better so long as you get enough heat in the brakes for them to work correctly, but due to the size of the rotors, one size up rim are needed (19 front/20 back).


The downside to having a narrow body car, is that the Z06 and ZR1 rims are off set for the wider fenders, so upgrading to a set of those brakes, and just slapping on a set of those rims are not going to work (would give you the clearance in front of the caliper, but the tires will now stick out the wheel wells, hence one hard dip, and kiss your fenders good by).

Brakes systems are balanced front to back, so there is a balance between front and back rotor sizes, and even the grip that the calipers will have to the front/back rotors. Not sure, but would bank that reusing your front rotors on the back is not going to work with any brake kits. Plus to add, if you are going to trouble of upgrading your brakes for high speed use, a solid one piece rotor is will be the last thing that you want. The two piece rotors handle heat a great deal better that a solid rotor, and tow piece rotors be on the list if you are really going to upgrade to that point. Also to point out, with braking, your stopping distance will only be as good as the tires on the car. Yes, the larger calibers and rotors will grab better, but once the grip limit on the tires has been eached and they start to lock up, the ABS is going to kick in and you just hit the limit of how fast you can stop the car.


Now having said all this, for DD, the stock z51 brakes are very, very good brakes when you are running stock size street tires. No there not going to take heat on a high speed course like a set of upgraded brakes with race pads and race slicks will, but lets face it, if you are setting up for such high speed heat, such brakes/pads set up is going to blow for DD anyways. The reason for this, heat is the name of the game here (what the pads need to get up to before they start to work their best), and on track pads, they do not work as well until they get up to heat.

Lastly to point out, there is a huge difference between base pads, and the z51 pads. The z51 pads have a lot more bite than the OEM pads, and with that, comes a lot more dust, and the rotors wearing out faster. I mention this, since some will change the pads out with lower dusting, longer wearing pads, and most of the time, at a cost to braking performance. Yes the Z51 pad is a street pad, meaning that it works well cold and mod warm, and for most street driving, will hold it own.

To sum it up, before you do anything to the brakes, figure out what you are aiming after. As stated, in high speed course brakes where you are going to be glowing the discs and need pads that will not melt under hard braking with race slicks, then track pads and rotors are a must. If you are going to be using the car for street instead, then the temp range for track pads are all wrong. If for street use, then the Z51 brakes work very well since they are a street temp range pad, and even with larger rotors and piston calibers, your still on the limit of what the tire is going to allow for braking distances anyway.


Bluntly, if you are driving the car hard enough now to feel brake fade or melting the pads, then it time to upgrade the brakes. If not, then you are dropping $6K worth of brake kit, rims and tires, all to maybe stop shorter by a few feet instead (depending, since if you are running race pads, and they are not up to temp, will take longer to stop that then if you left the stock OEM Z51 brakes on the car) .



Almost forgot, if you are just pimping your ride for show (Ricer special), and not actual functionality (seems to be a common theme around here), then disregard everything thing that I just work, and you Bling your car to your hearts content!!!!!!

 

Great post. Answered a lot of my questions I also had.
In language I could understand
Thanks
2008 coupe z51 brake package added at time it was ordered

 

Are you taking the car to a road course?

 

You do realize that if you move the front calipers to the rear you will lose your parking brake????

People who take their cars to the track are doing this all the time as parking brakes aren't essential although can come in handy.

Bill