Brake Upgrade question...

[Bigdreams65]

I own a 1996 stock coupe. Automatic trans. I am looking to upgrade the brakes and was thinking of using slooted/drilled rotars and upgrading to the 96 GS calipers. My question is will the Calipers fit on my car?

Thanks and any advice is welcome.

bigdreams ;help

 

[lone73]

Rotors

Why do u want to upgrade the brakes? As an FYI I have brakes that are (I think) pretty typical for higher mileage C4's, that is, you have to STAND on them to engage the ABS. I tried drilled rotors and that helped until the rotors wore in, about 2000 miles. Then back to the "same old same old"... I'm not sure what the fix is but when the car was new it braked just fine. I'm now thinking about the vacuum level, maybe that's dipped a little from when it was newer.
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[NC-LT4]

Brake upgrade

I heard something about the hot set up for a c-4 brake upgrade was to use the c-5 calipers and rotors. Supposed to be bolt on but I haven't been able to verify it.
Does anyone this forum have any knowledge of this mod?
Thanks

 

[Bigdreams65]

Why do u want to upgrade the brakes? As an FYI I have brakes that are (I think) pretty typical for higher mileage C4's, that is, you have to STAND on them to engage the ABS. I tried drilled rotors and that helped until the rotors wore in, about 2000 miles. Then back to the "same old same old"... I'm not sure what the fix is but when the car was new it braked just fine. I'm now thinking about the vacuum level, maybe that's dipped a little from when it was newer.
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I want to upgrasde the brakes mostly for looks. I don't like the original callipers and rotors. I got some info on the C4 to C5 upgrade but I was told you need the ZR1 wheels to do this so your talking some major $$$ to do it. What I really want is the GS or special addition calipers. When you replaced your rotors did you replace the brake lines with braided? Thats part of my upgrade I'm thinking about

Thanks

 

[SG4206]

June issue of Corvette Fever has an articule on Vette Brakes C-5 on a C-4 swap. They were using 17" wheels on an '86 . It would be worth a call to VBP. Tremendous braking improvement. This increases braking area 25%.

 

[tlong]

The C5 brakes need ZR-1 wheels. Much $. The stock wheels hide the rotor and caliper so you'd need new wheels to show your beauty mod.

You have have J55 brakes on a '96. 13' front, 12' rear. Very good brakes now. The GS calipers will fit fine, but good luck finding them. No performance advantage with GS caliper, just the word Corvette (that makes them better, of course). I used Raybestos Brute Stop rotors and EBC pads and they haul it down sweet.

Get zinc plated rotors for no rust, powder coat your calipers whatever color you want, good pads and yes steel lines too. You will need spoke wheels for them to amaze your friends and petrify your rivals.

 

[SG4206]

The articule implies normal wheels can be used. Like I said ; a phone call to Vette Brakes will answer all your Questions.
I'm going to do this conversion on my '95 soon.

 

[tlong]

I have doubts about my short term memory but I'm going with C5 brakes needing ZR-1 wheels.

 

[Bigdreams65]

The articule implies normal wheels can be used. Like I said ; a phone call to Vette Brakes will answer all your Questions.
I'm going to do this conversion on my '95 soon.

I did contact VBP and they are the ones that told me I need to upgrade the wheels. Thats why I'm thinking the GS callipers and a 5 spoke wheel upgrade later in the future.

Thanks for the help everyone..

 

[Vettelt193]

Why do u want to upgrade the brakes? As an FYI I have brakes that are (I think) pretty typical for higher mileage C4's, that is, you have to STAND on them to engage the ABS. I tried drilled rotors and that helped until the rotors wore in, about 2000 miles. Then back to the "same old same old"... I'm not sure what the fix is but when the car was new it braked just fine. I'm now thinking about the vacuum level, maybe that's dipped a little from when it was newer.
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If you are having problems, it is probably a combination of old fluid and the rubber lines. If you flushed the fluid and went to braided lines, you would probably be surprised at the difference

 

[lone73]

Calipers

Bigdreams65,
I just went out and looked at my calipers, my car is a CE LT4 which I am told has the GS brakes. The fronts have the "corvette" lettering on them, the backs are plain, no lettering. I'd bet the back calipers are the same as what you have on there now. All 4 calipers are painted black. The lettering on the fronts is unpainted.

vettelt193,
Thanks, I'll give that a try. I've never messed with the brakes at all other than just to put pads and those drilled rotors on.
BTW, I'm using Performance Friction pads, I think they're called "PFZ's". I wonder if they brake differently from the EBC pads?

Thanks
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[Bigdreams65]

Bigdreams65,
I just went out and looked at my calipers, my car is a CE LT4 which I am told has the GS brakes. The fronts have the "corvette" lettering on them, the backs are plain, no lettering. I'd bet the back calipers are the same as what you have on there now. All 4 calipers are painted black. The lettering on the fronts is unpainted.

vettelt193,
Thanks, I'll give that a try. I've never messed with the brakes at all other than just to put pads and those drilled rotors on.
BTW, I'm using Performance Friction pads, I think they're called "PFZ's". I wonder if they brake differently from the EBC pads?

Thanks
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Thanks lone73...

I have to see if I can find a GS in my area and check it out. I was hoping to get the Corvette lettering on both fron and back.. If not I may just get a caliper paint kit and pint them black and stripe the ribs silver or red.. I guess this would dress them up pretty nice... I will also probably spirng for the rotors. Has anyone ever used powder coated rotors? I saw a web site saying the powder coat them and you never worry about rust again. Just curious if the powder coating would effect the brake performance..

 

[lone73]

Powder coat

I think you're thinking of powder coated calipers and *zinc* coated rotors. I have the zinc coating on my rotors and yes it is a nice addition. the coating wears off the rotor surface in a few hundred miles. Prevents rust on the rest of the rotor. They stay nice looking. I would definitely do it again. Got my rotors from irotors.com. Not the nicest, just the cheapest.

good luck bud...
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[-=Jeff=-]

Thanks lone73...

I have to see if I can find a GS in my area and check it out. I was hoping to get the Corvette lettering on both fron and back.. If not I may just get a caliper paint kit and pint them black and stripe the ribs silver or red.. I guess this would dress them up pretty nice... I will also probably spirng for the rotors. Has anyone ever used powder coated rotors? I saw a web site saying the powder coat them and you never worry about rust again. Just curious if the powder coating would effect the brake performance..

GS rear brakes are just lik eall other C4s except the GS ones are BLACK.. no Corvette Name on the rear calipers

 

[Bigdreams65]

GS rear brakes are just lik eall other C4s except the GS ones are BLACK.. no Corvette Name on the rear calipers

Thanks... thats the info I needed.. I will keep you posted on the upgrade as I get closer to it..

Enjoy....

 

[WhalePirot]

you have to STAND on them to engage the ABS.

The C-4 boosters are not the best, especially earlier ones, which is the source of 'power' in power brakes. True; vacuum leaks in the system can lessen the boost, as well.

The cure for the above is a new booster, not bigger rotors. Bigger brakes can actually diminish braking capability, if you think about the hydraulic side of it, according to a local manufacturer of brake systems. It takes a small amount of knowledge of how hydraulics work, relating to relative piston sizes. Applying the same (hydraulic) force (through the calipers) over a larger swept area lessens the pressure the pads exert on the rotor, which diminishes the braking power available. Larger pads and rotors may enhance stopping power or may not, depending on the actuating side of this two-part system.