Need someone that has done the C5 brake kit

[George Blake]

I need some help.
I did something different. I put WS6 brake CALIPERS on Chris's C5 adaptor and a C5 abutment. This makes a very rigid caliper setup. Here's the problem:

See over there on the right? Look how far the WS6 caliper sticks out past the abutment(bracket holding the caliper to the knuckle). This hits the inside front of my corvette rims. Not the edge. The inside from where the fins on the rim are. I have the saw tooth 1991-1993 17" diameter variety. What I need to know is if I go to an actual C5 caliper, if it will clear the rim. Can someone that had done this using the C5 kit and C5 calipers take a measurement from the edge of the abutment to the outermost edge of the caliper like in the picture so I can see if going to that will clear these rims before I go and buy more stuff to put these brakes on. The 17" diameter isn't the problem. It's the thickness of the caliper that is causing problems. I hate to put a spacer on the front wheels. It will keep the rim from being hubcentric on the wheel bearing hub. Please let me know if you guys can do this for me. I'm stuck until I can get this figured out. Please someone tell me if the calipers are thinner on the C5 caliper.

They look damn purty. I just won't give up my rims because of the headache I went through getting them. I basically have a ton of money in them after getting ripped off by Hboost who no longer comes around so I'm not giving up the rims.

 

[George Blake]

Re: Need someone that has done the C5 brake kit

I found this:

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.camaros.net/techref/articles/images/brake.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.camaros.net/techref/articles/brakes1.htm&h=323&w=346&sz=22&hl=en&start=47&tbnid=rjl8dadTUt4mwM:&tbnh=112&tbnw=120&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcorvette%2Bc5%2Bcalipers%26start%3D40%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

It looks like the c5 caliper is significantly thinner on the edge. I may have to go this route. This sucks. Anyone need Firebird WS6 calipers and abutments along with pads?:rant:
If someone can get me a dimension from the first post I'd REALLY appreciate it.

 

[91blazins10]

Re: Need someone that has done the C5 brake kit

Well if you have the c5 brackets im not sure they will work with the ws6 calipers. Im guessing those are the c5 rotors? I have the ls1 bracket kit and I know that with those calipers the instructions say to cut the spindle differently than with the c5 kit. Also make sure you use some thread locker on the bolts mine backed out a little and the caliper was just moving around NOT SAFE.

 

[ashman]

Re: Need someone that has done the C5 brake kit

not sure if this helps but, here's a pic of my C6 front caliper. it does look thinner

 

[4C FED]

Re: Need someone that has done the C5 brake kit

It doesn't look like your rotor is centered in the abutment in the top pic.
It has to be centered on the rotor.
To me, it looks like if you used thinner spacers (those round aluminum spacers) enough to center the abutment on the rotor, you would be good.
Try stacking washers to get the abutment centered (just for testing) and see if the problem goes away.
Also, are the brakes bled so that they would be in their normal working state? As the piston applies pressure it will move that edge that is hitting your wheel away from it.

 

[warmpancakes]

Re: Need someone that has done the C5 brake kit

the y are thinner george I went through the same thing i ended up with the SSBC tri power c5 calipers

 

[DanenGraham]

Re: Need someone that has done the C5 brake kit

It doesn't look like your rotor is centered in the abutment in the top pic.
It has to be centered on the rotor.
To me, it looks like if you used thinner spacers (those round aluminum spacers) enough to center the abutment on the rotor, you would be good.
Try stacking washers to get the abutment centered (just for testing) and see if the problem goes away.
Also, are the brakes bled so that they would be in their normal working state? As the piston applies pressure it will move that edge that is hitting your wheel away from it.

All of this

And i have camaro calipers on my 13" c5 rotor. Works great. 18" zo6 wheels

 

[George Blake]

Re: Need someone that has done the C5 brake kit

Thanks guys but Ken hit it on the head. The abutment is centered pefectly. Remember, if you don't have everything lined up perfectly, the new pads will NOT clear the rotor. Everything lines up perfectly but the shoulder on the Firebird caliper is just too beefy to clear the wheels. I do not have 18" Z06 wheels. I have 1993 ZR1 sawblades 17" diameter. The corvette caliper is much thinner and appears as though it will clear. I know it looks like it stick out alot but it's installed pefectly. C5 pads, C5 abutments, C5 rotors. I just used the firebird caliper. I used it because everyone said it was beefier. Well, it is beefier. But I don't have the type of wheel to clear this setup. I also looked on the LS1 boards and found where some could not go from C4 to C5 because of the size of their caliper and it wouldn't clear their wheels. If anyone wants to do the Firebird caliper with the C5 goodies, make sure you have wheels with offsets large enough to clear it.

Onc I get the C5 calipers, it looks like it'll clear the wheel fine. I'll post up some more pics when it's done.

Look at those pics of mine vs the C5 calipers. The C5 setup is MUCH thinner.

 

[George Blake]

Re: Need someone that has done the C5 brake kit

Did the tri power calipers bolt up to the C5 abutmnents? Their web site has zero information. Mainly just applications.

the y are thinner george I went through the same thing i ended up with the SSBC tri power c5 calipers

 

[4rs fed]

Re: Need someone that has done the C5 brake kit

i have the conversion at home i can take some pics of how far the corvette caliper sticks out past the abrutment if you want when i get home.
lemme know

Rob

 

[George Blake]

Re: Need someone that has done the C5 brake kit

i have the conversion at home i can take some pics of how far the corvette caliper sticks out past the abrutment if you want when i get home.
lemme know

Rob

That's outstanding. Yes. If you don't mind taking the wheel off. If you take a pic, can you put a tape measure or ruler up for reference?
I found the calipers at NAPA for $66 each. Semi loaded.
The firebird calipers are much bigger supposedly because they are gravity formed.
The corvette calipers are thinner because they are formed under pressure. At least that what several different sources are stating. It would explain why the vette C5 caliper is so much thinner.

 

['JustDreamin']

Re: Need someone that has done the C5 brake kit

The F-body calipers also have slightly bigger pistons than the C5 / C6 ones. I think its like 44mm vs 40mm or something along that lines, but don't quote me on it.

It ain't never easy, is it George.....

'JustDreamin'

 

[4rs fed]

Re: Need someone that has done the C5 brake kit

here is the corvette caliper pictures


Here you can see them almost straight on

my best shot of them without taking off the wheel

extra set i had on the bench

basically they are close to flat in the middle with the abrutment and then they stick out maybe 1/4 of an inch on the edges this is with brand new brake pads installed

 

[warmpancakes]

Re: Need someone that has done the C5 brake kit

The tri power calipers are a direct bolt on, Jegs stocks them they are like 500.00 though, I ended up ordering them powdercoated red , but they fit perfect and are real smooth Pics are here
http://www.detroitturbo.com/gallery/internationalhouseofpancakes?page=2 the other red caliper is a F body caliper I can take some of the tri power if you need them

 

[Mephisto]

Re: Need someone that has done the C5 brake kit

i hate being the one to resurrect old threads, especially for a simple question...

but i just want to clarify... the C5 kit requires at least 17" rims and the C6 kit requires 18" rims?

 

[thesyguy]

Re: Need someone that has done the C5 brake kit

I do not believe that there is a C6 kit yet. But the C5 kit definately requires 17's.

 

[JuStBlAzIN]

Re: Need someone that has done the C5 brake kit

I do not believe that there is a C6 kit yet. But the C5 kit definately requires 17's.

What he said. I am currently working on c6 z06 brakes on my truck. I will let everyone know what it takes when i am done.

 

[Mephisto]

Re: Need someone that has done the C5 brake kit

oh ok... i just saw Ashman's post with the C6 calipers and thought there was a C6 kit floating around somewhere. I already have 17's so i should be good to go with the C5 kit when I'm ready.
thanks for clearing that up.

 

[Syclone Rob]

Re: Need someone that has done the C5 brake kit

oh ok... i just saw Ashman's post with the C6 calipers and thought there was a C6 kit floating around somewhere. I already have 17's so i should be good to go with the C5 kit when I'm ready.
thanks for clearing that up.

From all the reading here, running c5 or the even larger c6 z06 calipers require a mininum 18" wheel...

 

[4C FED]

Re: Need someone that has done the C5 brake kit

C5's will work with 17" wheels. I had the 17" ZR1's on my Sy before I switched them out for the 18" Z06's.