Thread: Upgrading Brakes

I am probably going to get some if not a lot of s*** for this, but here goes.

I am planning on doing the brake upgrade sometime in the near future hopefully, sometime in the summer, or whenever I have the money.

As of now, I have the factory OEM 16" wheels on my car, and I am probably going to get 18" in the future, but the 16's will always go on in the winter, which means I'll probably not be able to do the GXP upgrade.

That leaves me with three options, the stock replacement, the 12" upgrade, or the F-Body upgrade. As of now, I am really considering doing the F-Body upgrade and doing Option A, which is just picking up the F-Body Calipers and using them. Option B seems a little more expensive, and it's definitely going to be a little more complicated. With Option A, will I need the Banjo Bolt, or is that only for Option B? And with that, they mention something about this fitting on 16" wheels with the correct offset. Will this upgrade work with the OEM wheels?

With the rear brakes, it mentions something about the GXP caliper and brake set up, that will require 17" wheels, right? If so, do I just get new rotors and just to change them?

And since I am going to try and upgrade the brakes, I might as well get the SS Lines, do I need to know anything else about them?

The OP in the Big Bad Brake Thread recommends The EBC Red and the Hawk pads, is there one better than the other, or will either work? I was leaning towards the EBC Red, without knowing much about them to be honest.

One last thing...The E Brake doesnt work, not sure if it doesnt bite hard enough, or what but when I press the pedal down, the car still moves even without pressing gas. What could be the problem, and will that effect anything when upgrading or in general?

lets just say its alot simpler to do the 12'' brake upgrade! all you need to know is in the sticky at the top of the brakes and suspension page. but it all comes down to preference! do you want corvette calipers or keep your stock ones thats pretty much it! oh and i bet the corvette calipers are a little pricy!

I ve already read the Big Bad Brake Thread, and I wouldn't make a thread and ask these questions if I believed the thread answered those questions. I dont think the thread answered those questions, which is why I am asking them here.

I am not trying to be as ass or anything lol, so I hope you didnt get the wrong idea.

Originally Posted by Remnant King

I am probably going to get some if not a lot of s*** for this, but here goes.

I am planning on doing the brake upgrade sometime in the near future hopefully, sometime in the summer, or whenever I have the money.

As of now, I have the factory OEM 16" wheels on my car, and I am probably going to get 18" in the future, but the 16's will always go on in the winter, which means I'll probably not be able to do the GXP upgrade.

That leaves me with three options, the stock replacement, the 12" upgrade, or the F-Body upgrade. As of now, I am really considering doing the F-Body upgrade and doing Option A, which is just picking up the F-Body Calipers and using them. Option B seems a little more expensive, and it's definitely going to be a little more complicated. With Option A, will I need the Banjo Bolt, or is that only for Option B? And with that, they mention something about this fitting on 16" wheels with the correct offset. Will this upgrade work with the OEM wheels?

What about C5 calipers?

They offer better pedal feel than the F body... And work with the same 12" rotor.

How about 06+ monte carlo brakes? They work with the 12" rotors and offer you a dual pot caliper with larger pads than stock yet still use the stock bolts.

Originally Posted by Remnant King

With the rear brakes, it mentions something about the GXP caliper and brake set up, that will require 17" wheels, right? If so, do I just get new rotors and just to change them?

Nope, apparently rear GXP's will fit under OE 16's.

Originally Posted by Remnant King

And since I am going to try and upgrade the brakes, I might as well get the SS Lines, do I need to know anything else about them?

Make sure they're goodrich DOT approved lines.

Originally Posted by Remnant King

The OP in the Big Bad Brake Thread recommends The EBC Red and the Hawk pads, is there one better than the other, or will either work? I was leaning towards the EBC Red, without knowing much about them to be honest.

Both are great.

Originally Posted by Remnant King

One last thing...The E Brake doesnt work, not sure if it doesnt bite hard enough, or what but when I press the pedal down, the car still moves even without pressing gas. What could be the problem, and will that effect anything when upgrading or in general?

That requires diagnosis and should be repaired ASAP.

Originally Posted by RyanL

oh and i bet the corvette calipers are a little pricy!

The calipers are cheap, the pads aren't.

It seems the pads are around 40% more than stock pads in the EBC reds.

Since this is a street car, find some DOT 4 brake fluid and bleed until the fluid comes out as clean as it went in.

Then repeat every year or two.

Originally Posted by matt5112

What about C5 calipers?

They offer better pedal feel than the F body... And work with the same 12" rotor.

How about 06+ monte carlo brakes? They work with the 12" rotors and offer you a dual pot caliper with larger pads than stock yet still use the stock bolts.

With the C5 and Monte Carlo 06+ calipers, I would still be able to use my kind of pads right? And out of the three, which is the best in terms of stopping power? I am also guessing that I can buy those calipers new from the dealership if I wanted to, right?

Originally Posted by matt5112

Nope, apparently rear GXP's will fit under OE 16's.

That's definitely good to know, meaning for the rear I'll probably be doing that then.

Originally Posted by matt5112

Make sure they're goodrich DOT approved lines.

Pretty sure the ZZP ones are DOT approved since they were recommended in the thread?

Originally Posted by matt5112

Since this is a street car, find some DOT 4 brake fluid and bleed until the fluid comes out as clean as it went in.

Then repeat every year or two.

Why would I need to bleed when upgrading? Or am I supposed to be bleeding my current brakes too? I ve heard I only needed to bleed the brakes when there was air in the lines.

Originally Posted by Remnant King

With the C5 and Monte Carlo 06+ calipers, I would still be able to use my kind of pads right?

You need to buy the correct pads for those calipers.

In otherwords you'd have to "pretend" you have the vehicle your calipers would be from.

Originally Posted by Remnant King

And out of the three, which is the best in terms of stopping power?

I'd venture to guess the C5's would be the best.

Note thats just a guess.

Originally Posted by Remnant King

I am also guessing that I can buy those calipers new from the dealership if I wanted to, right?

Yup, or save money and buy them re-manufactured or used.

Originally Posted by Remnant King

That's definitely good to know, meaning for the rear I'll probably be doing that then.

The guy never got me pictures but he claims they fit no problem.

Originally Posted by Remnant King

Pretty sure the ZZP ones are DOT approved since they were recommended in the thread?

I guess? I'd rather spend extra to ensure they are a legimate product rather than something someone "made" in their garage.

Originally Posted by Remnant King

Why would I need to bleed when upgrading? Or am I supposed to be bleeding my current brakes too? I ve heard I only needed to bleed the brakes when there was air in the lines.

Brake fluid absorbs moisture.

It should be replaced every two years.

No one does this.

Ever.

You can check the moisture level using a voltmeter or a specialized device.

3% water is the limit.

Or just bleed your brakes one every spring and you will be essentially changing your fluid every two years.