upgrade for C6 base brakes
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
upgrade for C6 base brakes
Looking to replace the brakes with an upgrade. I know I can get the brackets and rotors for the Z51 brake upgrade, but I would much rather do the C7 brakes. Does anyone know if they will clear the factory wheels on an 06' base model.
I searched many different ways of saying this and cant find it covered anywhere, so if this has been covered please don't flame me lol.
Thanks
I searched many different ways of saying this and cant find it covered anywhere, so if this has been covered please don't flame me lol.
Thanks
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 889
Likes: 13
From: Jax/St. Augustine FL
I can't comment on the C7 clearance but I can tell you that C6 Z06 or BBK's will NOT clear the base and Z51 rims. You could run spacers and longer studs but thats not an attractive option to me for safety and other concerns.
Personally I got C7 Style replica Rims so that I could clear my Z51 upgraded brakes that are now Z06 brakes up front and back. And the added benefit for you to your question is that the Base C7 rims are the same exact size and offset as our Base/Z51's.
Base C7 and Base C6 / Z51 C6:
18x8.5 +56 and 19x10 +79
The base C7 rims in either a OEM or replica will clear Z06/BBK/C7 brakes
Personally I got C7 Style replica Rims so that I could clear my Z51 upgraded brakes that are now Z06 brakes up front and back. And the added benefit for you to your question is that the Base C7 rims are the same exact size and offset as our Base/Z51's.
Base C7 and Base C6 / Z51 C6:
18x8.5 +56 and 19x10 +79
The base C7 rims in either a OEM or replica will clear Z06/BBK/C7 brakes
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I'm guessing this is a cosmetic upgrade you're wanting, since from a performance standpoint the difference between the JL9 and J55 rotors is minimal. There's a bigger difference between the J55 and J56, but certainly not enough to warrant the expense vs the cost of better pads for the JL9.
So if you want this for appearance reasons, just make sure it all fits and is compatible.
If it's for braking performance, check into brake pads that fit your requirements.
So if you want this for appearance reasons, just make sure it all fits and is compatible.
If it's for braking performance, check into brake pads that fit your requirements.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I can't comment on the C7 clearance but I can tell you that C6 Z06 or BBK's will NOT clear the base and Z51 rims. You could run spacers and longer studs but thats not an attractive option to me for safety and other concerns.
Personally I got C7 Style replica Rims so that I could clear my Z51 upgraded brakes that are now Z06 brakes up front and back. And the added benefit for you to your question is that the Base C7 rims are the same exact size and offset as our Base/Z51's.
Base C7 and Base C6 / Z51 C6:
18x8.5 +56 and 19x10 +79
The base C7 rims in either a OEM or replica will clear Z06/BBK/C7 brakes
Personally I got C7 Style replica Rims so that I could clear my Z51 upgraded brakes that are now Z06 brakes up front and back. And the added benefit for you to your question is that the Base C7 rims are the same exact size and offset as our Base/Z51's.
Base C7 and Base C6 / Z51 C6:
18x8.5 +56 and 19x10 +79
The base C7 rims in either a OEM or replica will clear Z06/BBK/C7 brakes
All standard (commonly called base) C6's from '05 to '13 used the same size wheel. Different styles were either standard or optional and totally independent of any other option.
C7's have 2 models as of the '15 MY. Stingray and Z06. There is no base C7.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Racer
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 446
Likes: 19
From: Minneapolis MN
Just to be clear and so as to not confuse future readers, let's get the terminology straight. There are no Z51 specific wheels or brakes, nor Z06 specific brakes. The Z51 you refer to was an option on coupes and verts '05-'09. The brakes that option used was named heavy duty and coded J55 and available on all C6's.. Both the Z06 and GS used brakes coded J56.
All standard (commonly called base) C6's from '05 to '13 used the same size wheel. Different styles were either standard or optional and totally independent of any other option.
C7's have 2 models as of the '15 MY. Stingray and Z06. There is no base C7.
All standard (commonly called base) C6's from '05 to '13 used the same size wheel. Different styles were either standard or optional and totally independent of any other option.
C7's have 2 models as of the '15 MY. Stingray and Z06. There is no base C7.
I want a Z06 brake kit for my 09 base C6 non Z51, which I understand requires rotors/pads/calipers/mounting bracket, and front 1/4 spacer for gumby wheels.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Just the fact that there is a name for the model to put in the order blank or title when asked for the year/make/model info, presents itself as more than Coupe or Convertible did for C6's. Those terms were usually reserved for the body style, not a model name.
GM (AFAIK) never used the term "base" as the name of a C6 for any reason. The lack of a model name prompted aftermarket suppliers to call it a base model to differentiate it from a Z06. Because the Z51 option was so popular, some catalogs listed it separately and it became, in the views of those owners, a de-facto model.
Now, aren't you sorry that you asked?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
So, would a base non Z51 be J54 then? J54, J55 would be "floating calipers" with interchangeable rotors/pads vs. J56 which have bigger "attached calipers", rotors and pads?
I want a Z06 brake kit for my 09 base C6 non Z51, which I understand requires rotors/pads/calipers/mounting bracket, and front 1/4 spacer for gumby wheels.
I want a Z06 brake kit for my 09 base C6 non Z51, which I understand requires rotors/pads/calipers/mounting bracket, and front 1/4 spacer for gumby wheels.
J56 brakes were used on the Z06, GS, and the one year special 427 models. As far as using those brakes on your car with whatever wheel, I can't assure it's a proper combination.
If you're wanting J56 brakes for cosmetic reasons, continue to search for someone with the same setup as you want to verify it works. So far Brians1 is saying no.
If you want better brakes for performance reasons, then simply get better pads than you can get at Autozone etc for your current JL9 brakes. There are a couple forum vendors that can supply your needs. The Chevy advertised stopping distance from 60-0 for a C6 Coupe was 113'. For a Z06, the distance dropped to 110'. Considering the Z06 had bigger brakes, tires, and was lighter, that extra 3' came at a big price.
