brake upgrade
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 129
From: Conway, AR
brake upgrade
I want to upgrade brakes but not add rotating mass/weight to the car. It's a base model. If keeping the rear stock caliper is the best bet for a 17" wheel clearance...that's ok. The weld drag wheels for the front are 17" z06 offset that doesn't use spacers. So they would clear z06 or GS brakes easy (but they are heavy). My street wheels have all kinds of room (19/20...tsw panorama)
The car is an 09 base model.
I just need some direction on where and what to buy. I like the wilwood 6 piston offerings that sound like you can use a z51 rotor...I would have to get brackets for that though unless they come with. ( I can call LG). Looks like with that option on the front I'd keep a stock caliper and rotor on the rear.
bounce some stuff off of me. This will mainly be some drag strip driving 4 or 5 times a year...aggressive street for the main part. The car makes 672 at the wheel.
The car is an 09 base model.
I just need some direction on where and what to buy. I like the wilwood 6 piston offerings that sound like you can use a z51 rotor...I would have to get brackets for that though unless they come with. ( I can call LG). Looks like with that option on the front I'd keep a stock caliper and rotor on the rear.
bounce some stuff off of me. This will mainly be some drag strip driving 4 or 5 times a year...aggressive street for the main part. The car makes 672 at the wheel.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,684
Likes: 107
From: Opelika Alabama
well your telling us you know about horse power why would'nt you know brakes? #1 DO NOT INCREASE THE DIAMETER OF THE FRONT BRAKES WITHOUT INCREASEING THE REAR DIAMETER OR DO SOME SERIOUS CALCULATIONS ON BRAKE BAIS OR YOU WILL REGRET IT! that said the Z51 increase is nice see gene cully for brackets or the whole kit. personally I went with DBA slotted 4000 series{Z51 size} and hawk HPS pads, good thing for seat belts or I would have nose prints on the inside of the windshield.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 129
From: Conway, AR
Or the other option is to do a nice rotor and pad upgrade on the base brakes. someone else recommended keeping the stock rears and doing new rotors the same diameter as stock front and rear but upgrading with a wilwood front caliper.
Last edited by grocerygetter; Jul 23, 2015 at 11:07 PM.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,281
Likes: 518
From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
I want to upgrade brakes but not add rotating mass/weight to the car. It's a base model. If keeping the rear stock caliper is the best bet for a 17" wheel clearance...that's ok. The weld drag wheels for the front are 17" z06 offset that doesn't use spacers. So they would clear z06 or GS brakes easy (but they are heavy). My street wheels have all kinds of room (19/20...tsw panorama)
The car is an 09 base model.
I just need some direction on where and what to buy. I like the wilwood 6 piston offerings that sound like you can use a z51 rotor...I would have to get brackets for that though unless they come with. ( I can call LG). Looks like with that option on the front I'd keep a stock caliper and rotor on the rear.
bounce some stuff off of me. This will mainly be some drag strip driving 4 or 5 times a year...aggressive street for the main part. The car makes 672 at the wheel.
The car is an 09 base model.
I just need some direction on where and what to buy. I like the wilwood 6 piston offerings that sound like you can use a z51 rotor...I would have to get brackets for that though unless they come with. ( I can call LG). Looks like with that option on the front I'd keep a stock caliper and rotor on the rear.
bounce some stuff off of me. This will mainly be some drag strip driving 4 or 5 times a year...aggressive street for the main part. The car makes 672 at the wheel.
The AX6™ is specifically engineered for Autocross applications. A high torque brake compound delivering reliable and consistent performance over a very wide operating temperature range of 50°F to 1000°F + (10°C to 537°C+). The advanced compound matrix provides an excellent initial bite, high coefficient of friction at lower temperatures along with very progressive brake modulation and release characteristics. Many drivers use the AX6™ for street driving as well, even though Carbotech™ doesn't recommend street driving with AX6™ due to possible elevated levels of dust and noise. AX6™ is NOT recommended as a race compound in most applications.
F:AX6 $172 Less 5% R: AX6 $148 Less 5%.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I pretty much agree with Adam ^^^^, that keeping the stock size and going to a more aggressive pad is the correct solution for your requirements. However, I'd lean toward his Bobcat 1521(?) pads. They'd be fine on the street and almost overkill for the dragstrip.
I currently run cheap pads on the base rotors and can still make the first turnoff from a 126 mph pass. I'm planning on better pads when that time arrives again, because every other braking improvement change adds weight.
Big brakes are great for the ability to run cooler (fade resistant) on a road track where constant hard braking is the norm. For street and the dragstrip, it's a rare event to have even two hard stops without lots of cooling time in between.
I currently run cheap pads on the base rotors and can still make the first turnoff from a 126 mph pass. I'm planning on better pads when that time arrives again, because every other braking improvement change adds weight.
Big brakes are great for the ability to run cooler (fade resistant) on a road track where constant hard braking is the norm. For street and the dragstrip, it's a rare event to have even two hard stops without lots of cooling time in between.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 129
From: Conway, AR
For aggressive street I would get a new set of rotors OEM or Centric premium blanks no slots no holes and use a brake pad that works from dead cold like the Carbotech AX6 pad this is more than enough for street and will work great at the strip. This combo would probably run you $500 and your done.
The AX6™ is specifically engineered for Autocross applications. A high torque brake compound delivering reliable and consistent performance over a very wide operating temperature range of 50°F to 1000°F + (10°C to 537°C+). The advanced compound matrix provides an excellent initial bite, high coefficient of friction at lower temperatures along with very progressive brake modulation and release characteristics. Many drivers use the AX6™ for street driving as well, even though Carbotech™ doesn't recommend street driving with AX6™ due to possible elevated levels of dust and noise. AX6™ is NOT recommended as a race compound in most applications.
F:AX6 $172 Less 5% R: AX6 $148 Less 5%.
The AX6™ is specifically engineered for Autocross applications. A high torque brake compound delivering reliable and consistent performance over a very wide operating temperature range of 50°F to 1000°F + (10°C to 537°C+). The advanced compound matrix provides an excellent initial bite, high coefficient of friction at lower temperatures along with very progressive brake modulation and release characteristics. Many drivers use the AX6™ for street driving as well, even though Carbotech™ doesn't recommend street driving with AX6™ due to possible elevated levels of dust and noise. AX6™ is NOT recommended as a race compound in most applications.
F:AX6 $172 Less 5% R: AX6 $148 Less 5%.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,281
Likes: 518
From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
Unfortunately I do not sell the rotors but, I will pm a good source for them along with pricing for the AX6 and 1521. My fear is at 672 rwhp on the street AGRESSSIVE you will fade the 1521. I'm not asking you driving style on the street but I know 2-3 stops back to back from 150 -70 or 65 they will fade. At the strip the 1521 will be fine because its a 1 time shot with cool off. if you would like to chat more give me a call at 216-780-8825.
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Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,281
Likes: 518
From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
Tolero Apto Victum
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Woodlands TX