Z07 brake job
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 2,455
Likes: 131
From: Lewisville, TX
Z07 brake job
I've looked but didn't see anything definitive for my specific question on doing a brake job on a Z07 car and that is, do you have to compress the pistons? One thread here I saw a guy say he did not compress but then a few posts later he said he has a piston spreader and that it was invaluable. A video I saw showed a Ron Fellows car getting a pad change and they looked like they just slid the pads in no problem. Just making sure if I need to get a specific tool or not, don't want to get stranded in the middle of the job so to speak. Thanks.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,584
Likes: 1,057
From: Between Boston and the cape
I just used my finger to push pad back. After you remove the old pads you could put 1 of the old pads on and use that to push piston back. Very easy. You won’t have a problem with it. The hardest part of the job is replacing the wear sensors.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 2,455
Likes: 131
From: Lewisville, TX
Why are the sensors a pain to replace?
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,584
Likes: 1,057
From: Between Boston and the cape
One side is hard to reach. I used needle nose pliers to pull them out. Also where they connect to pad I had difficulty putting them on correctly. 2nd time I did this it was easier.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 424
Likes: 124
One thing I've picked up over the years is anytime you push the pistons back in, you should crack the bleeders open to avoid pushing any contaminants and old fluid back through the system. Wasn't such a big deal before ABS, but modern systems are more susceptible to this issue, plus there is a hell of a lot more volume with these big calipers!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 40,995
Likes: 9,759
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
I push the pistons back in but don't open the bleeders. There can be quite a bit of pressure on the pads and pulling them out may be difficult. Just pushing them back a couple of millimeters will make it much easier to get them out. Before the pads can be removed you also have to punch out the caliper pins, remove the caliper cross bolt and remove the pad springs that hold the pads in place.
Hardest part of job is releasing the wear sensors from the connector on the cradle. The connector is hard to reach and partially wrapped into a harness so you have to reach in the length of your arm through the wheel well or reach the connector from under the car either way there is only sufficient room for one small hand. Luckily, only the inner pads at each wheel have the sensors so you only have 4 of them to play with. Other than the connectors and running the replacement wear sensor harnesses along the control arm it is like any other brake job.
Bill
Hardest part of job is releasing the wear sensors from the connector on the cradle. The connector is hard to reach and partially wrapped into a harness so you have to reach in the length of your arm through the wheel well or reach the connector from under the car either way there is only sufficient room for one small hand. Luckily, only the inner pads at each wheel have the sensors so you only have 4 of them to play with. Other than the connectors and running the replacement wear sensor harnesses along the control arm it is like any other brake job.
Bill
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,251
Likes: 217
From: 2007 Nat'l Corvette Challenge 11.50 index Champ. New Jersey
When I had my 2011 Carbon Edition C6Z and I changed the brake pads, I remember just leaving the wear sensors off and didn't have any lights or issues.
Is that not possible with the C7Z?
Ron
Is that not possible with the C7Z?
Ron
Last edited by Dr.Ron; May 18, 2020 at 07:55 PM.
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,878
Likes: 6,683
From: Bonneville Salt Flats
They have to be pushed back to make room for the extra thickness of the replacement pads... somehow. I've found about every different brake system requires a different technique and/or tool. Do what the others recommend who have done ones like yours, and don't put too much stock in videos not specifically geared toward teaching how to do precisely what you are interested in learning. All the best.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 118
Likes: 35
From: Denver Colorado
I just did my first pad change (fronts) a couple weeks ago on my '15 Z07 and I could not believe how easy it was. Brembos, where have you been all my life?!? Literally under 30 minutes including watching a YouTube video, jacking, wheel removal, pad swaps, wheels back on and torqued. I could easily push the pistons in with my fingers. The hardest part is that you push one in and another pops out. I eventually figured that pushing s-l-o-w-l-y was the best solution.
As a track guy, I would buy this car again just for the ease of brake swaps. The previous owner had the wear sensors disconnected from the pads and zip tied back as others have mentioned. I don't need a sensor to tell me when the brakes are worn so I just left the old ones right where they were.
Now when I can get the whole brake assembly with quick disconnect including the calipers and rotors like Corvette Racing... that will be the ultimate brake package. (Of course I'll have to make a lot more money to be tossing out calipers and carbon rotors at each brake change.)
As a track guy, I would buy this car again just for the ease of brake swaps. The previous owner had the wear sensors disconnected from the pads and zip tied back as others have mentioned. I don't need a sensor to tell me when the brakes are worn so I just left the old ones right where they were.
Now when I can get the whole brake assembly with quick disconnect including the calipers and rotors like Corvette Racing... that will be the ultimate brake package. (Of course I'll have to make a lot more money to be tossing out calipers and carbon rotors at each brake change.)
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 2,455
Likes: 131
From: Lewisville, TX
I just did my first pad change (fronts) a couple weeks ago on my '15 Z07 and I could not believe how easy it was. Brembos, where have you been all my life?!? Literally under 30 minutes including watching a YouTube video, jacking, wheel removal, pad swaps, wheels back on and torqued. I could easily push the pistons in with my fingers. The hardest part is that you push one in and another pops out. I eventually figured that pushing s-l-o-w-l-y was the best solution.
As a track guy, I would buy this car again just for the ease of brake swaps. The previous owner had the wear sensors disconnected from the pads and zip tied back as others have mentioned. I don't need a sensor to tell me when the brakes are worn so I just left the old ones right where they were.
Now when I can get the whole brake assembly with quick disconnect including the calipers and rotors like Corvette Racing... that will be the ultimate brake package. (Of course I'll have to make a lot more money to be tossing out calipers and carbon rotors at each brake change.)
As a track guy, I would buy this car again just for the ease of brake swaps. The previous owner had the wear sensors disconnected from the pads and zip tied back as others have mentioned. I don't need a sensor to tell me when the brakes are worn so I just left the old ones right where they were.
Now when I can get the whole brake assembly with quick disconnect including the calipers and rotors like Corvette Racing... that will be the ultimate brake package. (Of course I'll have to make a lot more money to be tossing out calipers and carbon rotors at each brake change.)