brake swap question
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,564
Likes: 31
From: Land O' Lakes/Tampa Florida
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
brake swap question
What would I need if anything to put front Z06 calipers and rotors on my 05 Z51 C6? The rims being 18" on both models shouldn't require new wheels I hope?
yeah i tried the search function, its hard to know what key words to use in search to bring up what you are specifically looking for.
yeah i tried the search function, its hard to know what key words to use in search to bring up what you are specifically looking for.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
Likes: 3,629
8mm spacers and ET lug nuts to give the needed clearance between the caliper and the rims.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...l-spacers.html
http://www.billetspecialties.com/e-t...g-nuts/999978/
http://www.rpidesigns.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=2968
If you are going to track the car, then forget the Et lugs, and get longer studs instead.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...l-spacers.html
http://www.billetspecialties.com/e-t...g-nuts/999978/
http://www.rpidesigns.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=2968
If you are going to track the car, then forget the Et lugs, and get longer studs instead.
Last edited by Dano523; Dec 28, 2014 at 08:02 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 78
Likes: 10
From: Decatur AL
Brake Options
What is your intention for the car? If just wanting bigger brakes, you can find Z06 brakes on ebay pretty cheap. They can dress the car up nicely but you're really not going to gain a ton of additional braking. Some, but not a lot. IF you go Z06 brakes, you can use the brakelets or there are full size pads you can use now that are a lot less frustrating.
IF you plan on tracking, then I recommend moving up to Wilwood, AR, Brembo, etc. Lots of options depending on your wallet. I use Wilwoods and am quite happy with them. Nice bang for the buck.
Whatever you choose, you'll need additional clearance (bigger wheels or spacers) to clear the non-floating nature of big brakes. I just posted pictures of Ace Alloy R666s that I got on sale (year-end) that have a ton of room.
If you're just going to drive the car, spacers are the easy route. I have spacers on my split-Y wheels for puttering around town. I have wheels that fit correctly for the track.
I did replace the hubs with SKF's and 2.5" ARP studs. Given that I track the car, it made sense. Again, if you're NOT tracking, then stock hubs will be fine, just change out the studs. Easy and not very expensive.
Good luck!
Tom
IF you plan on tracking, then I recommend moving up to Wilwood, AR, Brembo, etc. Lots of options depending on your wallet. I use Wilwoods and am quite happy with them. Nice bang for the buck.
Whatever you choose, you'll need additional clearance (bigger wheels or spacers) to clear the non-floating nature of big brakes. I just posted pictures of Ace Alloy R666s that I got on sale (year-end) that have a ton of room.
If you're just going to drive the car, spacers are the easy route. I have spacers on my split-Y wheels for puttering around town. I have wheels that fit correctly for the track.
I did replace the hubs with SKF's and 2.5" ARP studs. Given that I track the car, it made sense. Again, if you're NOT tracking, then stock hubs will be fine, just change out the studs. Easy and not very expensive.
Good luck!
Tom
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I did what you did and installed SKF hubs with ARP studs, but I did try to change wheels studs without taking the hubs off and if your steering knuckle is the same as mine, longer studs won't clear the angle needed to get them on in the front. Getting those three torx bolts out that hold the hub on are a real challenge. I never tried the rears studs, I just replaced the hubs.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
Likes: 3,629
Tgcounts, Ditto on that,
The brakes upgades are only going to work as well as the grip of the tires.
Once the tires stop gripping and the ABS kicks it, it pretty much over for any upgrade mods that you did to caliper and rotors for better braking.
The brakes upgades are only going to work as well as the grip of the tires.
Once the tires stop gripping and the ABS kicks it, it pretty much over for any upgrade mods that you did to caliper and rotors for better braking.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,564
Likes: 31
From: Land O' Lakes/Tampa Florida
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
No tracking just street use. If there isn't a gain to be made in braking then it seems like a lot of unneeded expense and labor that could be better utilized elsewhere. thanks gang.
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
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From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,509
Likes: 240
From: Coconut Creek FL
What would I need if anything to put front Z06 calipers and rotors on my 05 Z51 C6? The rims being 18" on both models shouldn't require new wheels I hope?
yeah i tried the search function, its hard to know what key words to use in search to bring up what you are specifically looking for.
yeah i tried the search function, its hard to know what key words to use in search to bring up what you are specifically looking for.
Here is my thread when I did this exact conversion on my 05 Z51. Awesome setup and many, many happy miles with some seriously large brakes!
PM me if you need any help/info!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,564
Likes: 31
From: Land O' Lakes/Tampa Florida
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
wow nice write up. now I see these lug nuts and spacers and longer studs, wont all this push the wheels outside the fender wells? I.m soon swapping over to an aftermarket wheel as well. Im assuming if the stockers will clear the Z06 calipers, the aftermarkets should as well.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,509
Likes: 240
From: Coconut Creek FL
wow nice write up. now I see these lug nuts and spacers and longer studs, wont all this push the wheels outside the fender wells? I.m soon swapping over to an aftermarket wheel as well. Im assuming if the stockers will clear the Z06 calipers, the aftermarkets should as well.
If you are going after market wheel set, be sure that they clear the big calipers- I chose to use the "Gumby" OEM wheel from the 08 and up Vette's. At that time, they were the only stock GM wheel that would clear the brakes using a spacer in 18/19"... The wheels are also forged so you get super strong wheels and in my opinion, the best looking base C6 wheels GM made... The big open spokes really show off this Z06 calipers!!